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Dressed to Kill (1946)

APPROVED 72 min  -  Mystery  -   7 June 1946 (USA)
6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 2,648 users  
Reviews: 48 user | 17 critic

Sherlock Holmes sets out to discover why a trio of murderous villains, including a dangerously attractive female, are desperate to obtain three unassuming and inexpensive little music boxes.

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (story), Frank Gruber (adaptation), and 1 more credit »

Stars:

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce and Patricia Morison
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47 photos | 7 videos | 2 news articles | full cast and crew »

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Related Videos

Dressed to Kill -- Two people die after buying musical boxes. Sherlock Holmes traces the boxes to a criminal in prison who is there for stealing printing plates. Could this provide the solution to his crime? Dressed to Kill -- A set of cheap music boxes that people are willing to kill for puts Sherlock Holmes on the case. Dressed to Kill -- A transsexual murders one of his psychiatrist's patients, and now he's after the prostitute who witnessed it.
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
Basil Rathbone ...
Nigel Bruce Nigel Bruce ...
Patricia Morison Patricia Morison ...
Edmund Breon Edmund Breon ...
Julian 'Stinky' Emery (as Edmond Breon)
Frederick Worlock Frederick Worlock ...
Colonel Cavanaugh (as Frederic Worlock)
Carl Harbord Carl Harbord ...
Inspector Hopkins
Patricia Cameron Patricia Cameron ...
Evelyn Clifford
Holmes Herbert Holmes Herbert ...
Ebenezer Crabtree
Harry Cording Harry Cording ...
Hamid
Leyland Hodgson Leyland Hodgson ...
Tour Guide
Mary Gordon Mary Gordon ...
Ian Wolfe Ian Wolfe ...
Commissioner of Scotland Yard
Full cast and crew »
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Storyline

A convicted thief in Dartmoor prison hides the location of the stolen Bank of England printing plates inside three music boxes. When the innocent purchasers of the boxes start to be murdered, Holmes and Watson investigate. Written by Col Needham <col@imdb.com>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Sherlock Holmes | Music Box | Murder | Thief | Auction  | See more »

Taglines:

Queen . . . of a Crime Cult !

Genres:

Mystery

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Prelude to Murder See more »

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

(video version)  | (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Black & White and Color) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

During the UCLA Sherlock Holmes Restoration Project (1993-2003) they were unable to find any 35mm elements of the main title for this film. The restored version uses a blow-up from a used 16mm television syndication print which was dissolved into the proper point. The main title of the restored version shows a decrease in resolution, increased grain and a reduction in image registration. See more »

Goofs

Anachronisms: One of the scenes depicts a "General" omnibus carrying passengers on a normal route. The movie is set post-WWII London (1946). The London General Omnibus Company went out of service in 1933. See more »

Quotes

Colonel Cavanaugh: [to a handcuffed Holmes, who is hanging from a beam] You find yourself like Mohanmmed's coffin, Mr. Holmes, suspended between Heaven and Earth.
See more »

Crazy Credits

This movie's final credit sequence rolled over a scene of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce leaving Dr. Johnston's house. This sequence was later removed by a TV distributor and has been replaced with a THE END frame from one of the earlier Sherlock Holmes films. See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes (1985) See more »

Soundtracks

"London Bridge is Falling Down"
Traditional children's song
Played on a music box at the toy store See more »