The Fatal Hour

The body of Detective Dan Grady is found in the bay.  Captain Bill Street (Withers) was Dan's best friend and takes the news to heart.  He vows to find the truth and bring Dan's murderer to justice.  Mr. James Lee Wong (Karloff) volunteers to help with the investigation, while reporter Bobbie Logan (Reynolds) looks for her own answers.  They learn that Dan was investigating smugglers, and travel to the last place he was seen alive, the Neptune Club.

The Neptune Club is full of shady characters, including the disreputable owner Harry Lockett (Puglia), femme fatale Tanya Serova (Chevret), and her wealthy boyfriend Frank Belden Jr. (Reynolds).  They also discover that Dan was in possession of a priceless gem, which sends them to the jewelry shop owned by Belden's father Frank Belden Sr. (Atchley).  Can they solve the case before more bodies pile up?


This is the 4th of 6 films based on the "James Lee Wong" series.  Hugh Wiley wrote 12 short stories about Mr. Wong for Collier's Magazine from 1934-1938.  Monogram Pictures produced the films: Mr. Wong, Detective in 1938, The Mystery of Mr. Wong in 1939, Mr. Wong in Chinatown in 1939, The Fatal Hour in 1940, Doomed to Die in 1940, and Phantom of Chinatown in 1940.

The Good:
Boris Karloff starred in 5 of the 6 Mr. Wong films.  He is good in the role, smart and methodical and you trust that he will solve the case.  Once again he doesn't disappoint.  Grant Withers has good chemistry with Karloff, and his Captain Street gets a larger role here.  They utilized Marjorie Reynolds better in the film, and while I still don't love the character, I like Bobbie Logan more here.

The Bad:
The film is too short.  They tell the story, with all it's twists and turns in the 68 minutes of the film.  It cuts out the fluff, which is great... but it leaves you wanting more.

Other Comments:
-The mystery is good.  It seems predictable, but there are twists that you don't expect.
-Another interesting entry in the series.

The Fatal Hour (1940) 68 minutes
Director: William Nigh
Starring: Boris Karloff as James Lee Wong
Marjorie Reynolds as Roberta "Bobbie" Logan
Grant Withers as Captain Bill Street
Charles Trowbridge as John T. Forbes
Frank Puglia as Harry Lockett
Craig Reynolds as Frank Belden Jr.
Lita Chevret as Tanya Serova
Harry Strang as Detective Ballard
Hooper Atchley as Frank Belden Sr.

Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green

"Everything that I have to say to you has already crossed your mind."

"And my answer has no doubt crossed yours."

Several women are killed and their finger severed.  Scotland Yard Inspector Gregson (Boulton) asks for Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Bruce) to take the case.  They cannot find an obvious connection between the victims, and another woman is killed.

Meanwhile, Widower Sir George Fenwick (Cavanagh) wakes in a strange hotel with no recollection of what happened or how he got there.  His last memory is of having a drink with Lydia Marlowe (Brooke), but when he tries to figure out what happened, he is blackmailed by a mysterious man.


This the 11th of 14 Sherlock Holmes films, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. 

The Good:
The cast is great.  Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are an iconic duo, and once again they deliver strong performances.  Henry Daniell is icy and menacing, without going overboard, as Professor Moriarty.  Hillary Brooke is mesmerizing as Lydia and Eve Amber is unsettling as Maude.  The setting is dark and creepy and everything works.

The Bad:
Inspector Gregson is a good character, but I miss Inspector Lestrade (played by Dennis Hoey).  While I appreciate that the story, written by Bertram Millhauser, is short and to the point, I wanted a little more.

Other Comments:
-This film is mostly an original idea, but it borrows some material from 2 Sherlock Holmes stories: "The Final Problem" and "The Adventure of the Empty House."
-While the film was originally presented in black and white, there is a colorized version available.  I don't think the color adds anything, other than the knowledge that the character of Lydia has the titular green dress.  I also don't think the color detracts from the film, but I prefer to watch these films in the original black and white.
-Professor Moriarty made 3 appearances in the series and was played by a different actor each time.  This was the final appearance of the character, following George Zucco in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Lionel Atwill in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon.
-This is Henry Daniell's 3rd appearance in the series (Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror and Sherlock Holmes in Washington), and he played a different character each time.
-A good film, but not the best in the series.

Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green (1945) 68 minutes
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
Hillary Brooke as Lydia Marlowe
Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty
Paul Cavanagh as Sir George Fenwick
Matthew Boulton as Inspector Gregson
Eve Amber as Maude Fenwick
Frederic Worlock as Dr. Onslow