Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill

"However, it's a mistake to accept something that's true merely because it's obvious."

Incarcerated thief (Cyril Delevanti) makes three music boxes, which are sold at an auction.  Each box is purchased by a different person: a collector, a woman, and a little girl.  The collector, "Stinky" Emery (Breon) invites his good friend Dr. Watson (Bruce) and Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) to see his collection.  Holmes is intrigued by the box.

Later that evening, Stinky is visited by Hilda Courtney (Morison), who is also interested in the music box.  Stinky is murdered and a music box is stolen from his collection.  Holmes and Watson take the  case and believe there is more to the music box.  They start looking for the other two boxes to find the deeper mystery.  But they are not the only ones looking for the boxes.  Hilda and her cronies, Colonel Cavanagh (Worlock) and Hamid (Cording), are also seeking the music boxes.  Can Holmes and Watson find the boxes and learn their secret first?


This was the final Sherlock Holmes film made with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in the lead roles (they made 14 Holmes films in total).

The Good:
While actors Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce were growing tired with playing these characters, none of that wear shows in the film.  They are still iconic and fascinating characters.  The story keeps moving and the villain is strong.  Patricia Morison's Hilda Courtney knows the reputation and methods of the heroes and meets them at every turn.

The Bad:
The side characters are not memorable.  In fact, I don't remember much about the side characters.  There was good potential, but too many people without personalities.

Other Comments:
-While she is referenced early in the film, I wish they had used Holmes nemesis Irene Adler as the female lead.  The character of Hilda Courtney is very similar to Adler, and is a worthy adversary for Holmes, but I wish they had just used Adler.
-The scene with Watson trying to distract the little girl is painful.
-As a whole, it is an ok movie and an ok mystery, but earlier films have been stronger.

Dressed to Kill (1946) 76 minutes
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
Patricia Morison as Hilda Courtney
Edmund Breon as "Stinky" Emery
Frederick Worlock as Colonel Cavanaugh
Carl Harbord as Inspector Hopkins
Patricia Cameron as Evelyn Clifford
Holmes Herbert as Ebenezer Crabtree
Harry Cording as Hamid