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Storyline
Working for the British government, Sherlock Holmes manages to spirit Dr. Franz Tobel out of Switzerland and into England before the GESTAPO are able to get to him. Tobel has devised an immensely accurate bomb site and while he is willing to make it available to the Allies, he insists on manufacturing it himself. Soon however, he vanishes and it is left to Homes, assisted by the bumbling Dr. Watson, to decipher a coded message he left behind. Holmes soon realizes that he is up against his old nemesis, Professor Moriarty.
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garykmcd
Plot Summary
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The lines that Holmes quotes at the end of the film are a condensed version of
William Shakespeare's lines from Richard II. [Richard II, 2.1, 40-51]
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Goofs
As Holmes and Dr. Tobel approach 221B Baker Street for the first time, Dr. Tobel trips over rubble and Holmes says "You must get used to our London blackouts." But as soon as they enter the flat, Holmes turns on the lights with the window curtains open - a clear breach of blackout procedure. Nor do Dr. Watson or Mrs. Hudson close the curtains or say anything when they enter.
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Quotes
Professor Moriarty:
Closer to the end, Holmes. Closer and closer. Each second a few more drops leave your desiccated body. And you can feel 'em can't you? You're perfectly conscious aren't you, Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes:
I shall be conscious long after you're dead, Moriarty.
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Crazy Credits
Opening credits prologue: SWITZERLAND
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Alternate Versions
Also available in a computer-colorized version.
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Soundtracks
Sobre las Olas (Over the Waves)
(1887) (uncredited)
Music by
Juventino Rosas
Heard as Sherlock Holmes leaves the Golden Hawk
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Details
Release Date:
12 February 1943 (USA)
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Company Credits
Technical Specs
Sound Mix:
Mono
(Western Electric Recording)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) begins this story in disguise, helping to smuggle famous physicist "Dr. Franz Tobel" (William Post) out of Switzeralnad and under the watchful eye of the Nazis, who want his bomb sight plans. The Allies obviously want it, too, and Sherlock is there to help. Dr. Tobel has invented an instrument which greatly aids in the accuracy of aerial bombardment.
Holmes and Dr. Tobel arrive safely back at Baker Street but the scientist would rather be alone, for some mysterious reason, although he had promised the English to help them, not the Germans. He stays true to that promise but there are some desperate moments for Holmes and the English along the way.
It's an entertaining film and one in which our famous detective uses not one but three different disguises. He needs all the help he can get when he goes up against his arch-rival, "Professor Moriarity." One complaint: if Moriarity was that evil, he would have dispensed with Holmes without batting an eyelash, instead of giving him openings to escape. It's pretty sad, too, when the usual dim-witted Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) has to rescue his boss from certain death a couple of times!
Yes, there are some credibility issues in this story but if you can put your brain on hold a few times, it's a fun film to watch....and it looks beautiful, thanks to the great restoration job done on this DVD. It makes the old print come alive with some wonderful visuals, particularly the night-time shots.
One other note: whoever did the English subtitles in here misspelled or misinterpreted at least a half dozen words. It's very sloppy work, and not the first time I've encountered this watching the entire series on the restored DVD set.