L'artiglio scarlatto

Universal once again brings Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce back as Holmes and Watson. This time the duo is listening to an expert talk about cults and so forth, and within moments they are thrust into a mystery of a woman's death supposedly by the hands of a ghost. They must travel to the town Le Mort Rouge(The Red Death) in Canada where the conference was being held. Rathbone is in fine form as Holmes. He seems to be so comfortable with this role by this point that his mannerisms just flow. As good as Rathbone is, it is the comic performance of Nigel Bruce as his bumbling sidekick Dr. Watson who really does a whale of a job stumbling and mumbling through his role. Bruce plays off Rathbone wonderfully, and he has a larger than life presence(steals many a scene too I might add). The rest of the cast is definitely all quality. The direction by Roy William Neill is first-rate. He directs very smoothly by enhancing the two central characters but also creating a very effective moody atmosphere. The story is imaginative and not derived from a Doyle story. I like the way that the scripter managed to put mystery writer G. K. Chesterton's name into the film. The last little monologue by Holmes at the conclusion of the film is a wartime thanks to Canada and how it acts as a link for mankind. Interesting tribute.