Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in their final film as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This time, the duo is on the tracks of a gang stealing music boxes that mysteriously hold key information that will lead to much money. The music boxes are made in prison by a bank robber, who encodes the clues, but they are sold at an auction before his partners can buy them. There's nothing they won't do to get their hands on the boxes, including murder. There's not much new in this film that hasn't been seen in the other films of the series, although the music box angle is an interesting way of transferring information. Rathbone doesn't play this one with much energy ... maybe he was getting tired of the role, while Bruce is his usual, bumbling self. Although hardly the best in the series, fans of the duo will want to check it out.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in the last of 14 feature films they collaborated on in this entertaining series made between 1939 and 1946. "Dressed to Kill was however not one of their finest flicks.

The plot revolves around a group of three music boxes constructed by an inmate at Dartmoor prison. This particular inmate stole and hid a set of engraving plates for 5 pound notes. Within the music boxes are clues designed to reveal the whereabout of the missing engraving plates.

The music boxes are put up for auction and when their purchasers start winding up murdered, Holmes and Watson begin to investigate. An old school chum of Watson's, "Stinky" Emery, a music box collector, becomes one of the victims. Soon Holmes' attention is captured by a suspicious trio, a distinguished looking retired colonel, a fetching dark haired young woman and a boorish, knife throwing cab driver. Holmes must match wits against this dangerous group to solve the mystery.

+++++

(This review is for the DVD version of this movie by "FOCUSfilm" entertainment and released July 2001.)

This movie is, according to the opening credits, adapted from a story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930). This was the last movie in which Basil Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes. (This was also the first time I saw Rathbone play Holmes.)

This movie is concerned with stolen counterfeit Bank of England money plates. Of all things, cheap, identical music boxes that play an old Australian song and that were made in prison by the same inmate seem to hold the key to the plates' hidden location. Also interested in these music boxes are three of this inmate's partners in crime: Mrs. Hilda Courtney (Patricia Morison), Colonel Cavanaugh (Fred Worlock), and Cavanaugh's driver Hamid Yard (Harry Cording).

When murders start occurring, Scotland Yard is called in to investigate. As well, the super-sleuth along with his trusty sidekick Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) helps with the investigation. An attempted murder also occurs.

My favorite quotation said by Sherlock in this movie:

"The truth can only be found by the painstaking elimination of the untrue."

Basil Rathbone captures the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Nigel Bruce as his bumbling aid also gives a superb and, to me, an unforgettable performance. Also, look for the fine performance of Patricia Morrison as the "femme fatales."

This movie is like a time capsule of 1940's London. As well, the background music adds to each scene.

The DVD picture quality is practically perfect. There are no distracting artifacts. However, voices at the beginning of this movie are a bit muffled but this gets better as the movie progresses.

Finally extras include a theatrical trailer, still gallery, and seven original radio broadcasts of "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (3 ½ hours) starring Rathbone and Bruce. I found these interesting.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie that I feel serves as an excellent introduction to Basil Rathbone portraying Sherlock Holmes!!

(1946; 70 min; 12 scenes; black and white; full screen)

+++++

"By now Mr. Holmes has exchanged his violin for a harp!" -- Mr. Courtney

"You're assuming heaven is his destination?" -- Hilda Courtney


To most of us on the planet, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are the only Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson we can accept as the famous duo. This entry in the "B" series from Universal is a bit unusual, sort of a hybrid between the two "A" pictures made at Fox and the fun "B" franchise which came afterward. It retains some of the humor and fun of the latter, but also has a more straightforward story in the Holmes vein, due mostly to it being based on one of Conan Doyle's stories, albeit updated to modern London. Viewers will find amusing Holmes teasing Watson about his latest story, A Scandal in Bohemia appearing in The Strand magazine!

This one starts off with the production of music boxes in prison which find their way to auction. Though plain and ordinary looking, the tune is quite unusual, and apparently of great value. When Watson's old pal Stinky is murdered over the one he purchased, Holmes manages to outwit a formidable foe in the lovely but black hearted Mrs. Courtney (Patricia Morison) and obtains one of the three sold at auction. He discovers a code within the Australian tune and the game is afoot to prevent another murder and financial disaster for England.

Morison was quite lovely and proves a worthy opponent for our favorite Londoner, actually besting him at one point with a cigarette, and nearly disposing of him! Directed by Roy William Neill as usual, fans of the "B" films may find this a bit less energetic than some of the others, having more in common in tone with the two made at Fox. It is quite enjoyable, however, and has a terrific line from Watson at its conclusion you will relish. A fine entry in the Universal franchise, and one fans must have.

"By now Mr. Holmes has exchanged his violin for a harp!" -- Mr. Courtney

"You're assuming heaven is his destination?" -- Hilda Courtney


To most of us on the planet, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are the only Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson we can accept as the famous duo. This entry in the "B" series from Universal is a bit unusual, sort of a hybrid between the two "A" pictures made at Fox and the fun "B" franchise which came afterward. It retains some of the humor and fun of the latter, but also has a more straightforward story in the Holmes vein, due mostly to it being based on one of Conan Doyle's stories, albeit updated to modern London. Viewers will find amusing Holmes teasing Watson about his latest story, A Scandal in Bohemia appearing in The Strand magazine!

This one starts off with the production of music boxes in prison which find their way to auction. Though plain and ordinary looking, the tune is quite unusual, and apparently of great value. When Watson's old pal Stinky is murdered over the one he purchased, Holmes manages to outwit a formidable foe in the lovely but black hearted Mrs. Courtney (Patricia Morison) and obtains one of the three sold at auction. He discovers a code within the Australian tune and the game is afoot to prevent another murder and financial disaster for England.

Morison was quite lovely and proves a worthy opponent for our favorite Londoner, actually besting him at one point with a cigarette, and nearly disposing of him! Directed by Roy William Neill as usual, fans of the "B" films may find this a bit less energetic than some of the others, having more in common in tone with the two made at Fox. It is quite enjoyable, however, and has a terrific line from Watson at its conclusion you will relish. A fine entry in the Universal franchise, and one fans must have.

When I was about 10 I got really into the Sherlock Holmes/Dr. Watson stories. I can remember talking about them with my grandmother who used to tell me that she loved the Basil Rathbone Holmes movies. This was back before VCRs and DVD players so at the time there was no way for me to be able to see the movies themselve, so I had to take her word for it.

Still, those conversations stuck in the back of my mind, so when I saw this movie for sale I decided to order it, if for no other reason out of respect for my grandmother.

I'm glad I did. This is one of the better Sherlock Holmes stories, involving the elusive Professor Moriorty, a baffled Dr. Watson and Holmes acting as mysterious as ever - yet figuring it all out in the end.

Rathbone does a great job in the role and I can see why my grandmother was impressed.

Hold tight. The terrifying and notorious elevator scene would be enough to recommend this gripping thriller - and that's only the beginning! Hitchcock rip-off? Hardly (if anything, it owes something to Bunuel). If you were frightened by "Scream," that's kid-stuff compared to this classic shocker.

It is remarkable to me just how much these early Sherlock Holmes' movies influenced the later James Bond films. Ian Fleming makes reference to Sherlock in From Russia With Love, where the Russians refer to the English as having a Sherlock Holmes mentality with regard to James Bond within the British Secret Service.

More remarkable to me is the trademark of - as Dr. Evil would put it - putting Sherlock Holmes in an easily escapable situation by planning an overly elaborate and exotic death and then not actually witnessing his demise but assuming that all goes to plan. I mean, this is Sherlock-Freaking-Holmes here, don't you think that he's going to think of a way out of that garage?

At this stage in the game, without Professor Moriarity to chase around, Holmes is usually pitted against a femme fatale, as in the case of this movie. It is another pleasant mystery in which Holmes must crack a code and then rescue the MacGuffin before the bad guys do. I especially appreciate the nod to Samuel Johnson and Boswell, whose relationship was the precursor to Holmes and Watson.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce receive a desultory sendoff in their final Sherlock Holmes entry for Universal. Despite the efforts of director Roy William Neill and a good supporting cast, "Dressed to Kill" (1946) feels like a "B movie" throwaway with its flat scripting and recycled Frank Skinner music from "Son of Frankenstein." A dull end to a memorable series.

The Basil Rathbone - Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films were moved from Victorian England to WWII England. Also, like the James Bond films, the only thing similar to the books is the title. If you are looking for faithful adaptation of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books then get the Jeremy Brett Mystery series. If you are looking for some great acting and good period mysteries, the Rathbone - Bruce series is great.

A murder occurs but the only thing missing is a music box. Not a valuable or unique music box but an ordinary plain music box. Holmes is able to acquire two similar music boxes and finds that the songs are the same but not. But without the other two boxes, he cannot solve the mystery. The bounty is the location of stolen Bank of England engraving plates. This is one of the best (and the final) of the series and features Patricia Morrison as the seductive Hilda Courtney.

The transfer quality is fairly poor but not awful. These are the kind of films that are not usually subject to restoration and the deteriorated status is that of wear and age. I have seen a new collection but they are quite expensive. So if you just want to have a copy of the films just to enjoy these mysteries, these are fine.

Of course, for most Basil was Sherlock Holmes, this was probably the first films that he had a chance to a role that he could use his substantial talent. Before these, he was usually the bad guy or a minor supporting player. He was an accomplished swordsman and the joke was he constantly had to lose to actors that he could beat blindfolded. So Basil made these quickie films much more depth than they would otherwise have.