SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON
US, 1943, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Lionel Attwill, Denis Hoey.
Directed by Roy William Neill.
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon is based on Conan Doyle's story, 'The Dancing Men.' It is updated for World War Two and this adventure with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce is part of the war propaganda. Once again, Sherlock Holmes is a master of disguises, Dr Watson is particularly obtuse. Lionel Attwill appears as the sinister Moriarty. The film is brief and brisk, has questions about bombing plans and international espionage.
1. Entertaining Sherlock Holmes story? Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce embodying Holmes and Watson? A war propaganda mystery?
2. B-budget production, black and white photography, make-up and impersonations? Musical score?
3. The title, the basis in Conan Doyle's story with the code of the dancing men?
4. The focus on Holmes, his presence in Switzerland, his disguise, with the Nazi spies? With the professor? His plan in rescuing him, taking him to England? Watson's failure in looking after him? His getting out? His disappearance? The fourfold plan, the kidnapping, Holmes and his searching for Moriarty, his disguise as a sailor, being taken to Moriarty? The confrontation, Holmes in the box and his potential death? The rescue, the confrontation, the trapdoor and his defeating of Moriarty? His techniques in detect~ ion, personality, elementary?
5. Dr Watson and his being particularly obtuse, loyalty to Holmes, collaboration with Holmes, with Scotland Yard? Inspector Lestrade and his involvement?
6. The professor, his plan, getting out of Switzerland, his friend and his love for her, the code of the dancing men, Moriarty getting it first, Holmes retaliating? The various scientists with the plan? Their murders? The final victim and his being saved?
7. The RAF, the bomb tests, the political involvement? The war effort?
8. The popularity of the Sherlock Holmes series, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce? The updating of Conan Doyle's stories?
