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.
