'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.