Dressed to Kill (1946)

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),

Stars:

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morison

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. John H. Watson
Patricia Morison	...	Mrs. Hilda Courtney
Edmund Breon	...	Julian 'Stinky' Emery (as Edmond Breon)
Frederick Worlock	...	Colonel Cavanaugh (as Frederic Worlock)
Carl Harbord	...	Inspector Hopkins
Patricia Cameron	...	Evelyn Clifford
Holmes Herbert	...	Ebenezer Crabtree
Harry Cording	...	Hamid
Leyland Hodgson	...	Tour Guide
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Hudson
Ian Wolfe	...	Commissioner of Scotland Yard

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.

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Plot Keywords:

music box | sherlock holmes | thief | robbery | collector | 

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Taglines:

Queen . . . of a Crime Cult !

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Genres:

Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 June 1946 (USA)

Also Known As:

Prelude to Murder

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min 72 min (video) 76 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Black & White and Color) Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last of four titles in Basil Rathbone's Holmes films to feature actor Ian Wolfe in a supporting role.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

'Stinky' Emery: [remarking on one of his music boxes] Charming, isn't it?
Holmes: Quite!
Watson: [bored] They all sound to me like a lot of mice running about a tin roof.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in On the Road (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Londonderry Air (Danny Boy)"
Music (17th century) attributed to Rory Dall O'Cahan
Played on violin zt Baker Street by Basil Rathbone

User Reviews

Can you name that tune?

Basil Rathbone stars in his fourteenth and final movie as Arthur Conan Doyle's super detective Sherlock Holmes. An interesting plot and mystery for Holmes and his faithful assistant Dr. Watson(Nigel Bruce)to solve. The title I assume must be referring to the winsome antagonist(Patricia Morison)that tries to find three music boxes before Holmes. Three identical music boxes were made by a prison inmate and sold at auction to three different collectors in London. One of the boxes was traced to one of Watson's old schoolmates(Edmund Breon), who is murdered and robbed of the newly purchased music box. The plot thickens as Holmes and Watson discover that the musical boxes contain more than just playing an old Australian folk song. Also in the cast are: Fredrick Worlock, Patricia Cameron and Carl Harbord.