The Woman in Green

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.

There is a vile murderer lose in London, not since the terror of Jack The Ripper has London been subjected to such gruesome doings. The killers trademark is that he severs the forefingers of his victims, the police are baffled. Enter Holmes and Watson, called into action once again, but even the intrepid Holmes is baffled. There is more to the case than meets the eye, and could there be on old adversary behind the murders?.

The Woman in Green is the eleventh of the fourteen Sherlock Holmes film's starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, and the eighth of the eleven directed by Roy William Neill. Partly based around Arthur Conan Doyle's-The Adventure of the Empty House, The Woman In Green {ambigious title in context of the films content} continues the dark path trodden in the previous film, House of Fear (1945). As Holmes ruefully observes another female victim on the slab in the mortuary he muses "fiend that did this," and then promises to crack the case. It's Holmes obsession with the case, and the macabre nature of the story that carries the audience thru it's very chatty first half. That the darkness lifts at the midpoint is no bad thing due to the introduction of a rather well known foe from Holmes' past. However one has to wonder, as good as the "twist" is, if the film would have been better off staying in darker territory? You see the second half eases in tone as Watson slips into, what is admittedly always great fun, comedy mode and the babe of the piece {a smashing Hillary Brooke} becomes focal along with he who shall not be named. It works of course, this is Holmes trying to crack a devilish case, one that will encompass a new form of trickery in the pantheon of villainy. And then there is some fabulous shots used by Neill, one particular sequence involving swirling water and a white flower is very memorable. While the ending, in true Holmes, Watson and villain style, does its job all told. It's just one can't help feeling that this should have been far better than it eventually turned out to be. Still a fine series entry mind, and arguably the last time a Rathbone film had that delicious dark undercurrent to it. 7/10

......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 ****

It's an excellent film of the splendid Sherlock Holmes Basil Rathbone series including two first-range nasties : one man , Henry Daniell as Doctor Moriarty and one woman, Hillary Brooke as an illusionist with malignant aims.

In the flick appears the usual of the Arthur Conan Doyle's novels : Mycroft (Sherlock's brother), Dr.Moriarty, Mistress Hudson , and of course Doctor Watson.

The film has a creepy atmosphere , it's in black and white with lights and shades that originate an eerie setting.

Set design is of first rate , the movie is very atmospheric ,the dark and gloomy slums of London are very well designed.

Basil Rathbone's interpretation is magnificent, he's the best Sherlock Holmes in the cinema , likeness to Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett in television.

Basil Rathbone as Holmes plays in a clever, broody and impetuous manner.

Nigel Bruce plays as Watson with humor, goofy and joy , he's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes.

Rating : Better than average , 7/10 . Well worth watching .

I'm a big fan of the Basil Rathbone/Sherlock Holmes series. This review is of the restored black and white 35 mm version issued in 2003. Having watched all of the Holmes films on TV or videotape, with bad prints and lousy sound, this restored version is the one to see. The restoration is perfect and shows the visual beauty of the film which is without question.

Basil Rathbone immortalized Sherlock Holmes in 14 films. The Woman in Green was the 11th in the series. There is a hint of tiredness in Rathbone's portrayal in this one. The story is interesting and involves severed fingers, the sinister Professor Moriarty and the mysterious Woman in Green. Henry Daniell is a good Professor Moriarty and Hillary Brooke as The Woman in Green is mysterious and seductive. As always, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as bumbling Dr.Watson are fun to watch.

At 68 minutes the film is short. As with all Holmes films, we wish for more. By all means see it.