Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942)

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson must protect a Swiss inventor of an advanced bomb sight from falling into German hands.

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Edward T. Lowe Jr. (screenplay) (as Edward T. Lowe), Scott Darling (screenplay) (as W. Scott Darling)

Stars:

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Atwill

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Doctor Watson
Lionel Atwill	...	Moriarty (as Moriarity)
Kaaren Verne	...	Charlotte Eberli
William Post Jr.	...	Dr. Franz Tobel
Dennis Hoey	...	Lestrade
Holmes Herbert	...	Sir. Reginald
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Hudson
Whit Bissell	...	London Bobbie (uncredited)

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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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes character | dr. john watson character | six word title | psychotronic film | stuffed in a trunk | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 2018, the UK film channel "Film 4", showed a version of this film, and at least one other 1940s Universal Rathbone Sherlock film, with a modern end card "NBC Universal Television Distribution". This would make sense, as although the film would be (out of copyright) public domain in the USA, in a large portion of the world the film would still be in active copyright to Universal Pictures. Besides which, as its a Universal Picture, they would have access to their own highest available quality masters.

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Goofs

When Sherlock in his Lascar disguise goes on his pub/bar crawl, in the second pub, the Golden Hawk, the dartboard he stands in front of is hung wrongly, with #20 at 1-o-clock instead of 12-o-clock.

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Quotes

Dr. John H. Watson: Woman? What woman?
Sherlock Holmes: She's blonde. Five foot six, full lipped and very affectionate.
Dr. John H. Watson: Oh, really?

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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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Connections

Spoofed in Meitantei Holmes: Listen! The Tribute to Moriarty (1985)

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Soundtracks

Rule Britannia
(1740) (uncredited)
Music by Thomas Augustine Arne
Played in the score when London is shown

User Reviews

"I shall be conscious long after you're dead, Moriarty."

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) smuggles a Swiss inventor of a new bombsight into England and out of Nazi hands. But when the inventor is kidnapped right from under the nose of Scotland Yard, Holmes discovers it's not just the Nazis he has to contend with but his old nemesis Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) as well.

The second in Universal's highly enjoyable Sherlock Holmes series is also the first directed by Roy William Neill, who would direct every Universal Holmes film after this. This is also the first appearance of Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey), a pleasant addition to the series. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are excellent, as usual. Rathbone gets to dress up in a few disguises, which are fun. He's still sporting that silly haircut from Voice of Terror. Lionel Atwill is a good Moriarty. Not the series' best but still very good. Any movie that features Basil Rathbone vs Lionel Atwill is one where you will be entertained.

For some reason, as with other WWII Holmes movies, a lot of reviewers seem to really hate the idea of Sherlock Holmes fighting against the Nazis or for England. They claim Holmes was never intended for "propaganda" and that he should be left to simple detective stories. Someone should have told Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that when he wrote "His Last Bow," a WWI-era story which saw Holmes helping his country catch German spies.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Indonesian

Release Date:

12 February 1943 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sherlock Holmes e a Arma Secreta

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1