Dr. Tobel has invented a revolutionary bomb sight that will change the course of the war against the Germans if Sherlock Holmes can outwit Professor Moriarty, played by a rather blustery Lionel Atwill. (They never could really flesh out the Moriarty character very well on screen).
It's a better than average Holmes adventure with Basil Rathbone descending into the London underworld in disguise when the scientist in his charge winds up missing. It's a chess game with Moriarty until the end, and Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade, a perennial foil in these films, actually make themselves useful and save Holmes from certain death when locked inside of a crate bound for a one way sea voyage.
There are some subleties in this one as well- a light jab pointing out the frugality of a Scottsman at an auction, and during Holmes' and Moriarty's discussion about different means of effecting death, Holmes brings up the possibility of draining a man's blood drop by drop. Moriarty replies, "The needle to the last, eh?" -no doubt a quick reference to Holmes' drug use.
I've never had a problem with bringing Holmes and Watson into the "modern" era, although I know it's wrankled some Holmes purists over the years. I think he was well suited for the 1940s, a perfect hero type for wartime England and the USA.
It's a better than average Holmes adventure with Basil Rathbone descending into the London underworld in disguise when the scientist in his charge winds up missing. It's a chess game with Moriarty until the end, and Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade, a perennial foil in these films, actually make themselves useful and save Holmes from certain death when locked inside of a crate bound for a one way sea voyage.
There are some subleties in this one as well- a light jab pointing out the frugality of a Scottsman at an auction, and during Holmes' and Moriarty's discussion about different means of effecting death, Holmes brings up the possibility of draining a man's blood drop by drop. Moriarty replies, "The needle to the last, eh?" -no doubt a quick reference to Holmes' drug use.
I've never had a problem with bringing Holmes and Watson into the "modern" era, although I know it's wrankled some Holmes purists over the years. I think he was well suited for the 1940s, a perfect hero type for wartime England and the USA.