DRESSED TO KILL

US, 1946, Black and white.
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morrison.
Directed by Roy William Neill.

Dressed to Kill is one of the last of the Basil Rathbone-Nigel? Bruce Sherlock Holmes stories. It is as entertaining as any in the series. Basil Rathbone is the serious Holmes, Nigel Bruce is the blustering and bumbling Dr Watson. (The film's plot has a resemblance to the plot of the later spoof on Sherlock Holmes and Watson, Without A Clue.)

1. The popularity of the Sherlock Holmes stories? Mysteries? The characters of Holmes and Watson? Villains? The popularity of this series? Updated - how effectively?

2. B-budget, black and white photography, studio sets? The atmosphere of England? The two stars and their status?

3. The quality of the plot, the mystery? The unravelling of the mystery, the clues, the confrontations?

4. The prison, the making of the music boxes, the auction, the sales, the pursuit of the music boxes - and the subsequent murders? The message in the music box, the code with the music? The plates for counterfeit five-pound notes?

5. The prisoner in the prison, his communicating to his associates? Hilda Courtney, her glamour, her ability for disguise (as the charwoman)? The two men who worked for her? The murder of the music box collector? Her confrontation with Holmes? Leading him into the trap? Killing him? Going to Dr Johnson's house, the arrest? The two men who worked with her, their brutality?

6. Sherlock Holmes, playing the violin, his concentration, solving cases, relationship with Watson? Following clues, the music boxes, Stinky and his situation, going to his house? His death? Tracking down addresses, the auctions? The little girl and the visit of the charwoman? The cigarettes and his investigation? Collaboration with the police? With Hilda Courtney, the gang attempting to kill him, his shrewdness in escaping, the clues, the confrontation? Giving the credit to Watson?

7. Watson, bumbling, writing the stories, offering ideas without realising their implications? His gossiping? The visit of Hilda Courtney and the smoke bomb? Taken from his story?

8. The police, their collaboration with Holmes? The crisis for the British government?

9. Entertaining mystery, the popularity of Holmes and Watson?