
“The struggle of super-minds in the crime of the century!”
Having once again avoided criminal conviction, Professor Moriarity develops a murderous plan to “finish off” his last major nemesis, Sherlock Holmes, by making him fail to prevent the perfect crime. Does it involve a family curse, the crown jewels of England, or something else…
Release Date: 9/1/1939
Runtime: 85 minutes
Languages: English
Director: Alfred L. Werker
00Companies: 20th Century Fox
Countries: United States of America
CinemaSerf
My personal favourite of these Rathbone/Bruce combinations. This time, the fiendishly clever Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) intends the crime of the century and so has Holmes and Watson distracted by an ominous series of murders whilst he sets about perpetrating his true desire. Henry Stephenson also chips into this accomplished murder-mystery that keeps you guessing for quite a while. The atmosphere of a foggy London all adds to the dramatic effect of this film and Rathbone and Bruce are clearly now on their way to establishing their own, definitive, characterisations of their fictional alter-egos.

Basil Rathbone
Sherlock Holmes

Nigel Bruce
Dr. Watson

Ida Lupino
Ann Brandon

Alan Marshal
Jerrold Hunter

Terry Kilburn
Billy

George Zucco
Professor Moriarty

Henry Stephenson
Sir Ronald Ramsgate

E. E. Clive
Inspector Bristol

Arthur Hohl
Henchman Bassick

May Beatty
Mrs. Jameson, Brandon Housekeeper

Peter Willes
Lloyd Brandon

Mary Gordon
Mrs. Hudson
1994