'The Spider Woman'.

I'm back with another review and this time it's 'The Spider Woman', starting the brilliant Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson.

The episode centres around what the police are calling 'pyjama suicides', mainly because the victims appear to have committed 'suicide' while in their pyjamas.

At the beginning of the episode we see various people jumping out of windows and people getting found dead (with a gun in their hand), which begs the question: why are they doing this?
Of course though, Scotland Yard still rule them 'suicides', while thus happening, they're wondering where Sherlock is?

We get to see a lovely little clip and Sherlock and John fishing, and Sherlock obviously knows about the pyjama suicides. But instead of simply travelling back to London with Watson to investigate, he fakes his own death (he falls into a stream).

This ends up with Watson packing up his things, which I though was emotional because you can tell that Watson clearly misses Holmes.. But, you see, if you're a Sherlock fan, one thing you have to realise is that Sherlock is never really dead. This being up a comical moment when a 'delivery man arrives at 221b with a parcel, I could that Sherlock in disguise from the second he enters the room, but obviously, Watson has no idea. After the man mocks Holmes, Watson punches him and the man then laughs and reveals himself to be Holmes. But my own problem with this scene is that Watson does not react like he should. Instead on being shocked and possibly swearing at Holmes, he simply sits down and utters the famous sentence, 'I'll never forgive you for this, Holmes' and everything is back to normal. Watson could of at least punched him again.

Anyway, the Holmes investigates the suicides and again puts on a disguise in the form of Rajini Singh, a distinguished Indian officer, which he does perfectly. He encounters the woman who is believes is the killer. And we find out her motive.

In typical Sherlock style, Holmes stays in a hotel room, knowing that the killer is coming for him. After all the tension, it's revealed that a very big spider gets released into the room and bites his victims and the venom puts the victim in that much pain, that they, well you know. But don't worry, Sherlock kills the spider (Yes!) I won't tell you the exact ending or who the exact killer is because I want you to be as surprised as I was.

The episode had a nice pace to it which makes you guessing until the end with twists and turns and one really clever attempt killing Holmes and Watson, all I'll say for that attempt is candy and gas.

The plot was relatively new, as not many detective stories feature venomous spiders.

I also like the fact that we get a little Jack the Ripper mention from Sherlock.

Overall, I recommend that you watch the episode.

Rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe.

Thank you for reading.

Terribly sorry about that short hiatus.

Hello there, fellow Sherlock Holmes fan.

Now, my last blog entry was on the 22nd February, 2012, which in blogger terms, was a pretty long time ago.

Now, the whole point of this blog is two review every single Sherlock Holmes episode,which is what I plan on doing and I will complete the enormous task!

I will continue by reviewing the rest of the Basil Rathbone movies. So, expect some reviews up within the next couple of days/weeks.

I am sorry for the short haitus and things will be back to normal shortly.

Thank you for reading this blog.

Mark.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) review.

Sherlock Holmes - Basil Rathbone.
Dr. John Watson - Nigel Bruce.

This 1 and 20 minute episode was Basil Rathbone's first episode as the great detective, but did get manage too pull it off? Of course he did?

The over story is pretty simple. On the moors at Baskerville mysterious deaths are taking place and hence this get!s called the Baskerville curse.

The story starts with Sir Charles Basjerville running and eventually falls and has some kind of heart failure problem, and as a result of this, dies. Now, everyone watching this is probably convinced that Sir Charles is running away from some kind of Hound, hence the title of this episode.

Anyway, the coroner says that Sir Charles died as a result of heart failure. After that, Dr. Mortimer agrees with this, so where does he go? Well, there's only place a man in his situation can go, 221B Baker Street.

From, there, Mortimer convinces Holmes to help him protect Henry Baskerville, who is Sir Charles Baskerville's nephew.

The story then moves to Baskerville where Holmes sends Watson to accompany Mortimer and Baskerville, while Holmes 'stays at Baker Street'.

From there, the trio investigate a series of noises and sightings.

But, what I love about this story, is the fact Sherlock Holmes went to Baskerville after all, he was clever disguised as a tramp, which he pulled off very convincingly, even the accent he put on.

Anyway, the story concludes with Henry having a little walk on the moor, by this time, Holmes and Watson have figured it out and end up racing to save Henry. So, who is the killer? Barryman, he had brought the most vicious dog had could find and lock it in a undergoing hiding place on the moor, and it turns out that Barryman was the one that stole Henry's shoe from earlier in the story, so he goes to get the Hound and let's it sniff Henry s shoe, so it pick up Henry's scent. Barryman then releases the Hound and it goes to find Henry, meanwhile Holmes and Watson are still racing across the moor to save Henry.

Eventually, the Hound catches up to Henry, and they both have the best fight that has ever been made in silent movies, the director of the episode, does a clever thing where the episode keeps from Henry fighting the Hound to Holmes and Watson racing to save Henry, which they do.

After this, they all go back to the Baskerville house and Holmes does the famous scene where a detective sits everyone down and talks them through his solution.

Eventually, he reveals Barryman as the killer, but he gets away, but not for too long, when Holmes blows his whistle, which signals too all the police to catch Barryman.

So, the overall story was great. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made good use of Holmes's skills.

The fight between Henry and the Hound looked convincing enough.

Overall, this is a fantastic story that you should definitely watch.

8/10.

Thank you for reading.

- MW.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 1939 film Review

Hi there, fellow Sherlock'ians and welcome to my latest post.


So, I knew I had to watch Basil Rathbone in action and Sherlock Holmes and how could I resist anymore. On recommendation of my fellow Sherlock Holmes podcaster, I was advised to watch ''The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 1939 film'' starring Basil Rathbone. So I have and here's my little review of it.


Quick Cast List:


- Basil Rathbone
- Nigel Bruce
- Ida Lupino
- George Zucco
- Alan Marshal

So, we start this film off with Moriaty in court, he is being charged with a murder in which is actually did commit, but due to the lack off evidence the Judge regrettably has to let him go..... ENTER HOLMES AND WATSON... Can they save they day? Holmes claims to have new evidence, but the Judge can't do nothing about it and is forced to let Moriaty go.... What a great way to start a movie, by letting the main villain go because of lack of evidence.

Now, as you can see, Moriaty and Holmes share a carriage, Moriaty offers to take Holmes to 221b Baker Street. When viewers were watching this film in the early 40's they must of found it so weird, seeing the main villain and the main characters in the same carriage talking to each other, but that is what makes this scene so interesting..... What are they talking about? Well, go and find out, you can find it on Youtube.

Now, we see Moriaty at his house, at we found out what his plans are! His plans to give Holmes 2 ''toys'', one which will distract him from the other one. Basically Moriaty gets one of his 'henchmen' to delivery a note to a woman which will set up a series of events in which Holmes will try to solve and this is to distract his from Moriaty's big plan.

So, this all sets up a series of events. A woman named Ann Brandom has come to see Holmes and Watson at 221b Baker Street. She tells him that her brother Lloyd has received a strange note (The picture above) - a drawing of a man with an albatross hanging around his neck - identical to one received by her father just before his brutal murder ten years before.

So, eventually Holmes deduces that Ann's brother, Lloyd is in serious danger, however, sadly Holmes, Watson and Ann are tool ate and arrive at the crime scene to after Lloyd is killed. The result? Murdered by being strangled and having his skull crushed.

Shortly after, Ann receives a drawing but it has the date ''May 13th''which will be the following night in which Ann will be attending a garden party, initially Ann does not want to go because of the note, but Holmes insists on her going.

Holmes also attends a garden party, being disguised as a music-hall entertainer which I literally did not guess, Holmes really is the master of disguise. Holmes thinks that Ann could be killed.

After all the guests leave, the lady of the house insist that Ann stay overnight, however when Ann get's to the room, she hears the music playing outside, she rushes out and the butler informs her that someone is outside waiting for her, Ann, quickly thinks that it is Holmes, but when she arrives outside,no one is there and a chase between her and the killer ensure.

 Holmes eventually hears her cries from a nearby park in which he successfully captures her assailant, who turns out to be Gabriel Mateo, out for revenge on the Brandons for the murder of his father by Ann's father in a dispute over ownership of their South American mine. His murder weapon was a bolas. Mateo also reveals that it was Moriarty who urged him to seek revenge. 

Holmes then realises that Moriarty is using the case as a distraction from his real crime, a crime that will stir the British Empire - an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels, which I thought resembled ''The Great Game'' (BBC Sherlock S1 EP3) where Moriaty distracts Holmes.

 Holmes rushes to the Tower of London to prevent the crime, and during a brilliant struggle Moriarty falls, presumably to his death. 

In the end, Ann get's married, so it's an happy ending! Well, what were you expecting? It was made by an American Company, afterall!

So, for me, this was an excellent film and Basil Rathbone is now in my top favorite actors who have played Sherlock Holmes.

Between him and Jeremy Brett, it's difficult to say who was the better Holmes.

Thank you for reading.

Mark Lee Wright.

Sherlock Holmes 'Baffled'

Hello fellow Sherlock'ians and welcome to my first blog post!

So, before I review my first piece, I just want to introduce you to what I'm going to be doing over the next couple of months.

As you can read from the description at the top of my blog, I have said that I am going to review every SINGLE Sherlock Holmes episode... PLUS Film... I will try absolute best to do this in order.

So, here's my first review.

And it's of course the acclaimed FIRST Sherlock Holmes film. It was filmed in 1900 (111 years ago!)

The film is only a minute long but is a piece of history for any Sherlock Holmes fan.

It shows Sherlock Holmes being 'Baffled' by a disappearing 'bandit'.

The 'bandit' keeps disappearing as Holmes tries to stop it, but can't quite seem too, and the bandit ends up escaping.... and that's it!

As I've said, it's only just about a minute long, but it's a piece of history for any Sherlock Holmes fan.

One last thing, I'm sorry about the watermarking on the video, but it was the only clear and best quality video I could find.

Thank you for reading my first blog post!

By,

Mark L. Wright