The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)

"Elementary, my dear Watson."

After Professor Moriarty (Zucco) is acquitted of murder charges, he challenges nemesis Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone).  Moriarty vows to destroy Holmes and then retire to focus on science.

An old friend, Sir Ronald Ramsgate (Stephenson) asks Holmes and Dr. Watson (Bruce) to protect an emerald from the Crown Jewels.  Holmes agrees, but is more interested in their next guest: Ann Brandon (Lupino).  Ann is worried about her brother, Lloyd (Willes), who received an ominous drawing that was also sent to their father before his death.  Her fears are not shared by Jerrold Hunter (Marshal), her fiance and the family lawyer.  Holmes believes Moriarty is involved and takes the case.  Can he protect the Brandon family, guard the Crown Jewels, and stop Moriarty?


This is the second of 14 Sherlock Holmes film starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.  The first two films were produced by 20th Century Fox and were set in the same time period as the original novels.

The Good:
Once again Rathbone and Bruce excel as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.  As Holmes in disguise, Rathbone sings "I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside" at a party, and then reveals his identity to the audience and the character.  He is good in both roles.  George Zucco is a good Moriarty; he is smart and conniving and a challenge for Holmes.  It is an enjoyable entry in the Holmes' film series.

The Bad:
The story is fine, but I wish it was a little longer.  Parts of the story feel like they could be fleshed out more.  I did not enjoy Ida Lupino as Ann Brandon.  I don't know if it's the actress or the character, but she was a weak point in the story.

Other Comments:
-The film is set in the 1890s, which is the time period the Holmes stories were written.  This is an original story, although it shares the title with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1892 short story "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes."
-This film features the iconic Holmes' quote above, which was ranked #65 on the American Film Institute's (AFI's) 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes.
-This is the last Rathbone/Bruce film to have Holmes don the iconic deerstalker hat.  While the hat would appear in subsequent films, he would not wear it again.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) 81 minutes
Director: Alfred L. Werker
Starring: Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
Ida Lupino as Ann Brandon
George Zucco as Professor Moriarty
Alan Marshal as Jerrold Hunter
Terry Kilburn as Billy
Henry Stephenson as Sir Ronald Ramsgate
E.E. Clive as Inspector Bristol
Peter Willes as Lloyd Brandon