The Woman in Green

source: The Woman in Green

Trailer—The Woman in Green

The Woman in Green

Watson is the best part of this story. Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell) go at it again, but it is the humor of Watson that makes it all worthwhile. Of course, Moriarty has a beautiful accomplice in Lydia Marlowe (Hillary Brooke), who uses her wiles to try and trap Holmes, if that were possible. Watson (Nigel Bruce) seems to have all the best lines as he is hypnotized and sent on a wild goose chase. He just never seems to have a clue about what is going on. Holmes is not Holmes without him, and he knows it.

As a youngster viewing this film in the 1940's, I was always spellbound by the great acting of Basil Rathbone, (Sherlock Holmes),"The Comedy of Terrors,'64 along with Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson),"Dressed to Kill",'46. In my opinion, they were a great team who portrayed exactly who Sherlock Holmes really was as a person and the goofy portrayal of Dr. Watson. It was a big treat to view all of the many pictures they performed in and this picture was one of their great accomplishments. I thought that Henry Daniell (Prof. Moriarty), "The Sun Also Rises",'57 was one of the best actors to show the evil that Holmes & Dr. Watson had to face. Henry Daniell played many roles as a Nazi in many WWII pictures and was a true demon of a person on the screen. These classic films of Sherlock Holmes will be enjoyed for many many generations to enjoy. These same actors played these same roles on RADIO and our imaginations went wild listening to them!

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) step in to help Scotland Yard when a series of murders hits London. They're all women and their right forefingers are missing! It seems an evil, beautiful woman named Lydia (Hillary Brooke) and Prof. Moriarty (Henry Daniell) have something to do with it... Very good entry in the series. It's well-done with some very inventive direction (for this series) from Roy William Neill--especially during the hypnotism scenes. Rathbone is good as always; Brooke is very beautiful and just great and Daniell seems rather subdued. Bruce once again plays Watson as a buffoon--but I blame the screenwriters more than him. And we don't have the annoying Inspector Lestrade in this one. Worth catching.

Sherlock Holmes is called in following a series of gruesome murders in which each victim has a finger cut off, and uncovers Professor Moriarty behind a sinister plot involving hypnotism and blackmail. A very enjoyable little Sherlock Holmes mystery, with a great script by Bertram Millhauser. Rathbone is as searing as ever in his masterful portrayal of Holmes, Brooke is a charming femme fatale and Daniell a terrific Moriarty, both having appeared in smaller parts in previous entries in this series. There's also a wonderful photographic effects sequence by John Fulton when Brooke hypnotises Holmes. Neill turns in a brisk, polished thriller, with wit and style to spare.

Thank heaven for "Dr. Watson." Sometimes I think if it wasn't for his humor, some of these Holmes movies would be too boring to give them a second look. However, I am a fan of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce mysteries, even if a couple of them, such as this one, are a bit slow. Most are much better than this one. Most of the Holmes movies have at least one interesting villainous character, here being the famous Dr. Moriarity (not played well by Henry Daniell) and "the woman in green" (played well by Hilary Brooke, but no hint of green or mention of that in this black-and-white film.) This Sherlock Holmes' episode was just too monotonous with the only entertainment provided when Dr. Watson (Bruce) was mumbling and bumbling around, which included being hypnotized. Bruce really was an underrated star feature in these Holmes movies even though I enjoy Rathbone best as the great sleuth.

......very enjoyable. Hilary Brooke is seductive, Henry Daniell is a terrific Moriarty, as always Rathbone and Bruce are tops as Holmes and Watson. Here you get to see them trailing a string of hypnotist-induced murders, reminders of the Ripper killings to a degree. Be sure to pay attention to a couple scenes, the Sniper and the Hypnotist demo. Both are what made this series are keeper. As always they don't pad it w/ unneeded scenes or characters, so you can get your Rathbone fix in about an hour or more. There are a few noir touches and of course, the patriotic ode to London at the end. *** outta ****

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) once again faces off with his nemesis Professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell), as well as a beautiful hypnotist (Hillary Brooke), in this entertaining entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. Henry Daniell was probably my favorite Moriarty from the series. He wasn't hammy at all. The guy just oozed intellectual evil. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are excellent as Holmes & Watson, as usual. Purists balk at Bruce's Watson but I think he's lots of fun and immensely likable. Hillary Brooke has one of her better roles here. Some good direction from Roy William Neill. This is one of the Universal Holmes films now in public domain so make sure you watch a good copy.