Woman in Green

Rating:
Summary: A Hypnotic Mystery!!
Review: +++++

(Note that this review is for the DVD "The Woman in Green" that was released by "Delta Music" in 2004.)

This movie is not based on a story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 to 1930) but is just based on the characters created by him.

In this movie, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) with his sidekick Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) come to the rescue as Scotland Yard is stumped by the unusual crimes of a blackmailing murder ring. Holmes also encounters his arch nemesis Professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell) and a "women in green" (Hilary Brooke) who subdue their victims through hypnosis.

Rathbone captures the essence of the famous gumshoe in his performance. Bruce as his bumbling aid also gives a good performance. As well, Daniell as Holmes' archenemy and Brooke as the mysterious lady give convincing performances.

This movie is like a time capsule of 1940s London. As well, the background music adds to each scene.

The only problem I had with this movie was with the story. As indicated above, this movie is not based on a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story and it shows. I felt that the story was a bit
too unrealistic.

Finally, extras include two original Sherlock Holmes radio broadcasts. I found these interesting.

In conclusion, this is a fun movie that every Sherlock Holmes fan should own!!

(1945; 70 min; black and white; full screen)

+++++


Rating:
Summary: Nothing less than 4 stars
Review: As a great fan of original Sherlock Holmes episodes I think pretty much all of Sherlock Holmes are 4 out of 5 stars. But I think this one might be 41/2 stars. With a origial plot that any criminal would like to do (if you hypnotism really worked on someone who didn't want to be hypnotized.) Ever since I was seven-years-old I liked this movie more than some color movies and loved the radio episodes starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. You should a least see this movie some how.

From The Back of The MY Box. I changed some word around
"The original Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are back once again doing battle against a contemporary day Jack the Ripper! The clues left next to the scene of the crime point a finger at a major member of Parliament, but Holmes believes there's something a bit odd going on possibly his arch nemesis, Professor Moriarty might somehow involved! The trail leads the world's record detective to a group of blackmailers using the shadowy art of hypnotism, and as previously deuced, led by the evil professor! Woman In Green is a great detective story, full of trilling mystery and wonderful story telling."

Cast list

WOMAN IN GREEN Staring BASIL RATHBONE? NIGEL BRUCE With HILLARY BROOKE? PAUL CAVANAGH HENDRY DANIELL? EVE AMBER SALLY SHEPHERD ? MATTEW BOULTON Based on the Characters Created by SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE Produced and Directed by ROY WILLIAM NEIL

Rating:
Summary: Predictable fun
Review: Dead women are missing fingers all over London. The police are baffled as there is no pattern to the madness. Sherlock Holms on the other hand knows that it is the alleged to be dead Moriarty and the fingers point to a more sinister crime.

Rating:
Summary: Sinister
Review: Holmes uncovers another sinister plot. As a Basil Rathbone as Holmes fan, I can never get enough of these films. This was not one of the better entries in the series but enjoyable nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: Nearing the End
Review: Rathbone and Bruce made 14 Holmes and Watson films; it's a real shame that four of the weakest are in the public domain and keep turning up while the rest are out of print. This one, from late in the series, at least has the virtue of a script by Bertram Millhauser, who wrote the best of them and was most responsible for the distinctive tone of the series: sly humor mixed with slightly horrific mystery. Two of his most memorable creations, the Spider Woman and the Creeper, went on to lives of their own in other Universal horror movies. As for The Woman in Green, it's a blend of Jack the Ripper and Conan Doyle's "The Empty House," with a nice film noir ambience and some clever twists. Unfortunately, the ending is lame and one senses the fact that, after seven years, 10 films, and hundreds of radio broadcasts, Rathbone has begun to weary of playing Holmes. Film trivia note: someone colorized this a few years ago, and didn't even bother to put Hillary Brooke in a green dress. Go figure.

Rating:
Summary: Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty
Review: The title of this Sherlock Holmes adventure, "Woman in Green," refers to the character played by Hillary Brooke (who previously had a minor supporting role in "Voice of Terror"), but the star villain is actually Holmes' arch-nemesis, the diabolical Professor Moriarty. The last time he clashed with the great detective in "Secret Weapon," the greatest criminal mastermind in all of fiction plunged to his death in an elevator shaft. And yet his resurrection here, never explained, doesn't really feel like a cheat, certainly not with the great Henry Daniell in the role. Few actors could convey evil as effectively, and he makes you believe Moriarty could survive anything. In his autobiography, Basil Rathbone praised Daniell's Moriarty as the best, high praise indeed when one considers his competition includes both George Zucco and Lionel Atwill.

Daniell's presence is the one element that elevates this otherwise standard Holmes thriller to a position near the top of the heap. Still, the standard was pretty high with this series thanks to the superb direction of Roy William Neill and the always electrifying performance of Basil Rathbone. Less appealing this time around is Nigel Bruce's Dr. Watson who bumbles more than ever and, in an amusing yet somehow cruel scene, is publicly humiliated when he's hypnotized for laughs after protesting that anyone with even an "ounce of character" could never be put under a spell. By this time in the series, one wishes the good doctor was shown a bit more respect.

Rating:
Summary: The Woman in Green
Review: This is one of the better Sherlockian adventures, boasting nice Neill direction, some suspense, foggy London atmospherics, typical lively performances by Rathbone and Bruce and a good (if slightly predictable, to Holmes fans) script. It also features the man who many believe to be the definitive Moriarty- Henry Daniell. Not nearly as good as "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" but better than "Terror By Night." Definitely worth it for fans of the series.

Rating:
Summary: Scotland Yard calls in Holmes to solve a murder spree
Review: While The Woman in Green is not based on any of the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, it does manage to place Sherlock Holmes in his element, trying to figure out the diabolical plot behind a series of gruesome murders. Scotland Yard, despite investigators' best efforts, is clueless, so Inspector Gregson sucks up his pride and seeks the help of the inhabitant of 221B Baker Street when a fourth young lady falls victim to the gruesome killer. Each of the victims has had her right forefinger removed, and there seems to be nothing else linking the victims. Holmes just so happened to see Sir George Fenwick in the company of a young lady when he first spoke with Gregson. When Fenwick becomes a related victim in the murder spree, Holmes' mental gears begin turning, and he soon comes to believe that none other than Professor Moriarty, his arch nemesis (who was supposedly hanged the previous year) is behind the murders. Blackmail and hypnotism lie at the heart of the plot, and Holmes is determined to bring Moriarty to justice - to succeed, he will have to parry the wiles of a femme fatale (who is certainly no Irene Adler, I must say).

While this story lacks the inner complexity and authentic aura of a Conan Doyle original, it is a satisfying, enjoyable adventure. Basil Rathbone carries the air of Holmes throughout the film, Hillary Brooke makes a formidable female challenger in the form of Lydia Marlowe, and Henry Daniell turns in an impressive performance as Professor Moriarty. I can't help but have mixed feelings about Nigel Bruce's performance as John Watson here. One hates to see Dr. Watson portrayed as such a bumbling old dodder, but at the same time one can't help but be entertained by his comical demeanor in this film. He is constantly mumbling underneath his breath, and his continued disparagement of the science of hypnosis earns him a moment of public embarrassment. The comical element culminates in a truly classic exchange with the great detective in the film's final moments.

The Sherlock Holmes films of the 1940s starring Basil Rathbone are essentially a Holmesian subgenre of their own. The Woman in Green's story doesn't have the bite of an actual Conan Doyle creation, but this is a pretty appealing substitute for the real thing. Likewise, it showcases Basil Rathbone's performance as the great detective - until the advent of Jeremy Brett, Rathbone was the face of Sherlock Holmes to many.

Rating:
Summary: Rathbone Made A Great Holmes
Review: With all due respect to Jeremy Brett and others who have taken on the role of Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone was simply the best. He seemed to really BE Holmes. He not only looked like the character as Conan Doyle described him, he also had the mannerisms and demeanor cold. What I have never really understood was the decision to have Nigel Bruce play Watson as something of a buffoon. I don't mind a little humor in a story, but Doyle's written tales got on fine without it, and injecting it into these movies added a light touch that, while pleasant, wasn't necessary. And Doyle's Watson was capable of his vulnerabilities and lovable moments without being so foolish.

Rathbone and Bruce made a whole series of Holmes movies together. "The Woman In Green" is not the best of these by any means, but it is not the worst, either. During WW II there was an unfortunate (though understandable) move to bring Holmes forward in time and make a Nazi fighter out of him. That was unfortunate. The best of the series are those that were closest to actual Doyle stories. "The Hound of The Baskervilles", for example.

This one has Holmes out of his milieu, but not fighting Nazis. Hilary Brooke is fine as the mysterious and seductive "woman in green" and the fingers missing from the series of victims add to the suspense, but there is never much mystery as to who the killers are. The real issue is how Holmes will succeed against them.

As a Holmes story, this is only mediocre. There is suspense, but not much mystery, and Holmes is out of his proper context. Rathbone's portrayal of Holmes gets it four stars. If you're into Sherlock Holmes, or you just like vintage suspense movies, "The Woman In Green" is fun. Add it to your collection, but only if you've got "Hound Of The Baskervilles" already.

Rating:
Summary: Holmes Squares Off Against the Best Moriarty
Review: Yes, after having seen Lionel Atwill and George Zucco step up to the plate as the nefarious master criminal Moriarty, I can safely say that Henry Daniell brings the most to the role. ....

As slight as the story line may be (hypnotized men of means/rank are made to believe they committed murder and then are blackmailed), I must recommend you study the acting very carefully. Rathbone (Holmes), Bruce (Watson) and Daniell (Moriarty) are really doing an awful lot in the way of characterization. I love how Rathbone just hides a smile when he looks at the dunderheadings of Bruce.... These men are real pros, imbuing the scene with real tension. Daniell is particularly good, when his mouth drawn up grimly as he spars verbally with Rathbone. ...

I enjoyed "The Woman in Green" much more than I had expected to, thanks to the first-rate acting. Nice to know that some childhood favorites still hold up when you see them years later!