Sherlock Holmes: The Woman In Green (1945) starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Hillary Brooke, Henry Daniell
The Woman in Green is a very enjoyable Sherlock Holmes murder mystery. There are serial murderrs, with the corpse having been mutiliated. Who’s behind it? Why?
I smell the faint, sweet odor of blackmail.
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone)
At the beginning of The Woman in Green, Sir George Fenwick meets an attractive young woman. He’s a member of Parliament. In addition to being a lovely young woman, she has an interest in hypnosis. Would he like to come back with her to her apartment for a demonstration? Being a warm-blooded male …. Of course he would!
Paul Cavanaugh
looking into the water
But, it’s actually an honest invitation. She really does have an interest in hypnosis, and wants to demonstrate it. Look into the water …. Look at the reflections in the water …. Which Sir George does. And things begin to grow fuzzy for poor Sir George.
The next morning, he wakes up in a strange room. And, he finds something truly disturbing in his pocket. A severed human finger! And he remembers nothing from the night before. What did he do? How did this happen? He has no choice but to go back to the titular woman in green, and find out what she knows about it.
Enter Professor Moriarty
Once he shows up unannounced at her room, she acts shocked. She tells him that he was acting strangely, dangerously. She asked him to leave, and he did. But she does know someone who might be able to help. A college professor of mathematics. Professor James Moriarty!
At this point, it’s clear to the audience, but not yet Sir George, what really happened. Professor Moriarty is blackmailing Sir George. In exchange for his silence, he wants “small” favors. Unspoken at the time, but Moriarty will let Sir George know at the appropriate time …
Holmes and Watson
This entire time, Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson have been investigating a series of grisly murders. Each one has the corpse mutilated. With a finger severed! Clearly, Professor Moriarty has been pulling this con on multiple other influential people as well.
Then, a lovely young lady comes to call on them at their famous residence, 221B Baker Street. There’s a funny moment, when Watson only becomes interested enough to come to the window, when Holmes informs him that their new client is a very attractive young woman.
Cast of characters
- Basil Rathbone (The Comedy of Terrors) … Sherlock Holmes
- Nigel Bruce (Sherlock Holmes Faces Death) … Dr. Watson
- Hillary Brooke (The Enchanted Cottage) … Lydia Marlow
- Henry Daniell (The Great Dictator) … Prof. Moriarty
- Paul Cavanagh (Tarzan and his Mate) … Sir George Fenwick
- Matthew Boulton … Inspector Gregson
- Eve Amber … Maude Fenwick
- Frederick Worlock (Terror by Night) … Onslow
- Coulter Irwin … Williams
- Sally Shepherd … Crandon
- Mary Gordon (Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon) … Mrs. Hudson
Editorial review of Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green courtesy of Amazon.com
Four women are brutally murdered, and Scotland Yard thinks it is the random work of a madman. Holmes and Watson are on the case and they may just come upon the evil Professor Moriarty! One of the finest of the Basil Rathbone Nigel Bruce films. Sherlock Holmes is Beautifully restored and in Vibrant Color!