The Woman in Green (1945)

Sherlock Holmes investigates when young women around London turn up murdered, each with a finger severed. Scotland Yard suspects a madman, but Holmes believes the killings to be part of a diabolical plot.

Director:

Roy William Neill

Writers:

Bertram Millhauser (original screenplay), Arthur Conan Doyle (based on the story "The Adventures of the Empty House" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Stars:

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Hillary Brooke

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. Watson
Hillary Brooke	...	Lydia Marlow
Henry Daniell	...	Professor Moriarty
Paul Cavanagh	...	Sir. George Fenwick
Matthew Boulton	...	Inspector Gregson
Eve Amber	...	Maude Fenwick
Frederick Worlock	...	Onslow (as Frederic Worlock)
Coulter Irwin	...	Williams (as Tom Bryson)
Sally Shepherd	...	Crando
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Hudson

Storyline

Holmes and Watson investigate a series of bizarre and apparently unconnected murders, and the death of a possible suspect. The trail leads to a society of hypnotists and a mysterious, glamorous woman. The fiendish Dr James Moriarty, though reported hanged in Montevideo, is suspected of being involved.

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Plot Keywords:

irish whiskey | body mutilation | professor moriarty character | sherlock holmes character | dr. john watson character | 

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Taglines:

From Her LIPS - Poison That Bred MURDER!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 July 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Invitation to Murder

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

68 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Breen Office ordered two cuts from the original script. First, the victims were supposed to be young girls. That was ordered to be changed to young women although Dr. Simnell's bizarre doll fetish may be a leftover from the initial concept. In addition, during the scene in the Mesmer Club, Watson was supposed to take off his pants, not just roll up his pant leg.

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Goofs

When Holmes is walking along the terrace wall, his arms are by his sides, However, in the next shot, immediately Dr. Watson enters, Holmes is standing still with his hands in his pockets.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Inspector Gregson: [voiceover] I won't forget that morning, not if I live to be a hundred. I counted the men as they marched out of the Yard. They'd hardly slept for weeks. We at the CID had slept even less, for the nightmare that kept us awake was all the same nightmare. That's why we weren't surprised when the Commissioner asked us up to the conference room for a bit of a talk. He'd talk to us plenty, we knew that. But it didn't help any to know what was ahead of us.

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Crazy Credits

In the cast list at the end, Professor Moriarty's name is misspelled as professor Moriarity.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in computer-colorized version.

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Connections

Followed by Dressed to Kill (1946)

User Reviews

Holmes Versus Moriarty, Round Three

Sherlock Holmes matches wits with THE WOMAN IN GREEN, a nefarious female who may possibly be involved in a string of ghastly London murders.

Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce return once again to the roles for which they were most famous -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusty companion Dr. Watson. Although the film is short on excitement and could definitely use a more satisfying climax, Rathbone & Bruce are never boring, perfectly portraying Holmes' superior intelligence and Watson's amiable bumbling.

One of the most enjoyable aspect of the Holmes films is the occasional vivid characterization provided by very fine supporting players. One of the very best was Henry Daniell, whose silky voice and air of sinister sophistication could be so valuable in a mystery drama. He had previously appeared in the series twice, but this was the first time he would play the Napoleon of Crime -- Professor Moriarty. Daniell's scenes with Rathbone approach something very special; unfortunately the script does not let them go quite over the top.

In the title role, lovely Hillary Brooke never loses her icy cool. Her best moment comes as she calmly utilizes her hypnotic prowess over Holmes. Also adding to the fun are Paul Cavanagh as a desperate knight, Sally Shepherd playing a baleful maid & Frederick Worlock portraying a mesmeric expert.

Dear Mary Gordon returns as Mrs. Hudson. Matthew Boulton plays a sturdy but uninteresting Inspector Gregson. And that's an unbilled Percival Vivian enlivening his brief unbilled role as Moriarty's mad little doctor.

This film, which included elements of Conan Doyle's 'The Final Problem' and 'The Empty House,' followed THE HOUSE OF FEAR (1945) and preceded PURSUIT TO ALGIERS (1945).