Chirphymium
It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
ThedevilChoose
When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
LeonLouisRicci
This is the Second and Best of the Three Basil Rathbone Movies with Holmes set During WWII. Although the Conceit of Modernizing Sherlock has Purist Pontificating Endlessly about the Blasphemy, Truth is that the Rathbone-Bruce Series Probably did more to Reinstate Arthur Conan Doyle's Consulting Detective to the Public's Consciousness than Anything Else.The Updated Movies were All Fun and with Rathbone's Energetic Performances and a Striking and Sometimes Dark Style were just Dandy. Here He dons Three Rather Impressive Disguises (a Holmes trademark), is Near Horrific Death on Two Occasions, and must in the End Battle Wits with His Arch Nemesis Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill).Some of the Military Stuff is Clunky and the there is a Weak Female Participant, but it is the First in the Series to Include Holmes Link to Scotland Yard, Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey), "Always glad to have you hanging around Mr. Holmes". Listen Up for the Throwaway Lines, one about that Well Known German Author William Shakespeare and the other about the Needle. Yes, Fun Stuff.
SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain
Sherlock and Watson's second wartime adventure. This time the forced patriotism isn't as prevalent which gives way to an interesting story that uses the wartime backdrop to great effect. Holmes, once again played by the phenomenally good Rathbone, helps a scientist with a Secret Weapon to escape Switzerland without running foul of Nazis. Once back in England, the scientist develops his weapon for the British government but an old nemesis of Holmes' is back to wreak havoc. The film has the typical but always amusing banter between Holmes and Watson, with Lestrade also given a number of key scenes to play off the pair. The mystery itself is a bit up and down at times. We are told the answer before Holmes or Moriarty work it out which means they are playing catch-up with us. Also with the short running time there is no time for any character development. It is all exposition. Character was particularly important here, as one could argue against the scientist's choices in how he deals with the situation. A fun and fast paced entry.
ShootingShark
During WWII, Sherlock Holmes manages to smuggle a key scientist out of Switzerland. The scientist promises his revolutionary bomb-sight design to the Allies, but before long he has been kidnapped by the evil Professor Moriarty …This is the first of eleven Sherlock Holmes movies directed by the talented Neill, and is one of the best. It showcases many of the most enjoyable features of the series; Rathbone in a variety of disguises, breathless plotting, great B-movie supporting players (in this case Atwill and Herbert), fiendish villains, dank fog-shrouded sets and bewildering clues. Rathbone's seemingly never-ending energy propel it forward, his hawkish stare and quiet intelligence more than compensating for the sometimes lacklustre production values. This film marks the first of Hoey's sextet of agreeable appearances as the flat-footed Inspector Lestrade. Very loosely based on the Arthur Conan Doyle short story Dancing Men.
ackstasis
As much as I appreciate Universal's decision to resurrect the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes films during World War Two, I can't agree that fighting Nazis was the master detective's true calling. By adapting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's wonderful stories into propagandistic anti-German spy movies, the early Universal films inevitably lose sight of what Holmes is all about – solving mysteries. In 'Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943),' there is never any doubt as to who is performing evil deeds against the Allied cause, and Holmes' battle of wits with long-time nemesis Professor Moriarty plays out more like a James Bond flick than anything else. Nevertheless, Rathbone's spot-on characterisation of the title character makes the film quite worthwhile, and it's no surprise that the film series would continue for a further ten installments (in the next three years!). Fortunately, for those who can't stomach the war propaganda, you need only wait until 'Sherlock Holmes Faces Death (1943)' for the detective to return to what he does best.Swiss scientist Dr Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.) has just escaped to London after Nazi spies attempted to steal his idea for a revolutionary bomb-sight, a weapon with the potential to alter the course of the war. He agrees to make the technology available for Allied use, but insists on absolute secrecy while the components are assembled. When Tobel goes missing, it falls to Sherlock Holmes and his bumbling sidekick Dr Watson (Nigel Bruce) to follow the clues, and it doesn't take long to ascertain that the man behind this sinister business is none other than Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill). The film, directed by Roy William Neill – who helmed all but one Universal Holmes film – was ostensibly based upon Doyle's "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," though there is little resemblance aside from the complex cypher than Holmes and Moriarty must decode {the previous installment, 'Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)' didn't have much in common with "His Last Bow," either}.It's a pity that Basil Rathbone isn't really well-known outside of his Sherlock Holmes character, and I'd really like to explore the other work in his career. He does good, villainous work in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938),' but his excellent performance in this series suggests an abundance of talent that would have translated very well into other settings. Just watch the effectiveness of Holmes' disguise as a coal-faced ex-con drunkard, and the unfettered rage that seems to throb in his eyes and voice. Nigel Bruce's Watson is a little more bumbling than usual, and doesn't really contribute anything to the mystery except for some comic relief. Dennis Hooey debuts the canonical character of Lestrade, the cocky Scotland Yard detective whose ineptitude is proved each time Holmes makes a deduction. Lionel Atwill is adequate as the evil Moriarty, but doesn't quite come across as intelligent and omniscient as he's probably supposed to. For Holmes enthusiasts, 'Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon' is worth watching, but it's not the best you'll find.
