The Sherlock Holmes Collection

Professor Moriarty
I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed this adventure of Sherlock Holmes. What I could not get over was how much Basil Rathbone reminded me of Jarod in The Pretender. This is the second of the beloved Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce collaborations.

Being new to the Sherlock Holmes movies, this was my first and I must say it will not be my last. The misty streets, horse drawn carriages and complete atmosphere of this movie makes it a perfect period suspense drama.

In this movie, the diabolical Professor Moriarty has an evil plan to steal the "Star of Delhi" and he tries to distract Holmes in a wicked game of symbolism and deception. He knows how to play with Holmes mind and almost succeeds. Holmes is of course rather nonchalant about the entire affair and would rather protect the beautiful young heiress (Ida Lupino) who is in certain danger and is constantly running to Holmes begging for protection and answers to the mind games Professor Moriarty is also playing...

It's a pity they didn't keep making them like this
Most say that the Rathbone/Bruce "Hound of the Baskervilles" is their best effort, but I beg to differ. This movie is, in my opinion, much better. There is just the right amount of intrigue and adventure. On another level, it's a pity that this is the last high-quality Holmes film Rathbone and Bruce made. The others were all grade B. One wonders why they didn't utilize the writers of their radio show in order to come up with better movie scripts after the film series switched hands from 20th Century Fox to Universal. It was partly because of this that they "updated" Holmes and Watson's adventures, making them take place in the 1940s. These were also the people who contributed to making Bruce's Watson such an idiot (even though he does have some terribly funny moments). This started the public viewing of Watson as an empty-headed bungler, which was NOT the Watson of Doyle's invention. Although this film is of higher quality, it still does have its share of flaws, though they're sparse...

Was a Christmas gift
this set of old Sherlock Holmes movies was a gift and it got here in time for the holiday and these movies are very good.

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