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This spiffy little entry in the Sherlock Holmes franchise starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, who will forever be Holmes and Watson to moviegoers the world over, has a good cast and story and loads of atmosphere that make it one of the best in the series.
London is being terrorized by a Jack the Ripper type killer preying upon young women; murdering then mutilating them by severing the right forefinger from each victim. Scotland Yard is at a loss to find the killer or prevent the murders from continuing. It is time to call in the one man who may be able to put an end to the terror, Sherlock Holmes.
A chance encounter at Pembroke House where Holmes sees an attractive woman named Lydia (Hillary Brooke) will be the key to what's really behind the slayings, which as Holmes explains to his old pal Watson, may involve something far more sinister than plain old murder. Every Holmes devotee knows only one mind could devise something more sinister than murder, but wasn't Moriarity hanged in Montividio?
This fast paced and exciting entry is a lot of fun for Rathbone and Bruce fans as the two have some fine moments together. The story is full of dark alleys and London fog. The morgue, hypnotism, and a deadly confrontation between Holmes and his long-time "acquaintance," Professor Moriarity, on a dangerously narrow ledge overlooking London, make this one a fine Holmes' tale well-told.
Henry Daniel is the definitive Moriarity and Hillary Brooke adds flavor in this story of blackmail and murder, all tied to hypnotism. Paul Cavanagh is good as Sir George Fenwick, who awakes one morning after a date with Lydia with no memory of where he's been. His only clue is a bloody finger in his pocket and the newsboy's chant outside his window about the latest victim.
Eve Amber has a small but nice role as Sir George's daughter Maude, who comes to Holmes worried about her father. Holmes suspects she has reason to worry and those suspicions are proven valid when her father's body is discovered by Holmes and Watson, clutching a matchbook from Pembrose House.
There are two confrontations between Holmes and Moriarity in this one for us to enjoy. Also included in the jam-packed 68 minutes is a niftily, and quite humorously thwarted, assination attempt on Holmes' life. Watson and an army sniper named Williams may be easy fodder for hypnotism, but is Holmes impervious to Lydia's charms?
This one is great fun and gets the highest rating for being a fine and entertaining "B" entry for Holmes' fans to enjoy.
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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.Best Deals for Sherlock Holmes Woman in Green (1945)
Many people here have covered the actual film content, I just wanted to mention that I have seen many colorized films over the years and have not been very pleased with the results until I saw this new version of Woman in Green, it's The Best Colorized film I have ever seen, stunning natural color that I feel really adds to the viewing pleasure of the film, I watched this on my 7ft screen projected from a dlp projector, and it was fantastic quality, I hope there will be more of these classic old movies released in both original black and white for the purists, but also in these wonderful colorized versions, well done to all the technicians involved in this disk.Honest reviews on Sherlock Holmes Woman in Green (1945)
Some purists insists these old classics be kept black and white as filmed. I can understand that, and, in theory, agree, but I found the quality of this colorized version of The Woman in Green remarkable! If I wasn't already aware of the movie I would think it had been filmed in color! I think it adds to the viewing experience, making the characters more life-like and believeable. It helps bring the menance of the mutilated London murder victims, oddly missing a finger, seem even more subtle, yet immediately menacing and you can still enjoy the original version also on this disk if your prefer. Highly recommended.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sherlock Holmes Woman in Green (1945)
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.
