The Woman in Green (1945)

Touches You

Crappy film

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Blistering performances.

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) once again faces off with his nemesis Professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell), as well as a beautiful hypnotist (Hillary Brooke), in this entertaining entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. Henry Daniell was probably my favorite Moriarty from the series. He wasn't hammy at all. The guy just oozed intellectual evil. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are excellent as Holmes & Watson, as usual. Purists balk at Bruce's Watson but I think he's lots of fun and immensely likable. Hillary Brooke has one of her better roles here. Some good direction from Roy William Neill. This is one of the Universal Holmes films now in public domain so make sure you watch a good copy.

Basil Rathbone Started to Show a bit of Age in the Previous Film as He does here, as His Face began to Sag a bit and the Eyes Sunken. But that is just the Human Condition and the Point is Only Made to Show that the Great Actor and Iconic Sherlock Holmes was Human and might have Contributed Somewhat to His Admittance, Off Screen, that He was becoming Weary of the Role. Maybe He just Refused to Admit that He was just Aging.But the Good Fellow Traveled On with Nigel Bruce as Watson in this Very Good and Entertaining Entry with some Excellent Mood and Lighting, a Gruesome Crime Spree, and a Slinky, Sophisticated Female Foe. And oh yes, Moriarty (Henry Daniell) is Resurrected for Added Gravitas.Holmes is Offered Cannabis, but Prefers a Pain Pill and Watson is Mesmerized at the Mesmer Club and is Assured that one of HIs legs is Waterproof. It is at the Club where Holmes meets Hillary Brooke, the Titled Character, and the End Game is Afoot.Enjoyable Episode with a bit of Bite and a Few Striking Scenes, the Abandon Dark House, the Hypnosis Floating Flower Scenes, and a Chilling Opening Act Featuring Paul Cavanaugh. Holmes Verbal Abuse of Watson in this One is Minimal to Nonexistent.

Now, how many times have we seen Professor Moriarty 'die' before our own eyes? And now we learn that he's allegedly been hanged in Montevideo a year ago - and yet, when an eerie murder series starts in London, with the victims all being young women from completely different backgrounds, and from their bodies always being one finger missing, instead of a 'homicidal maniac', as Watson suggests, Holmes again is sure that his literally... indestructible arch-enemy is at his diabolical work again...His investigations lead him to believe that hypnotism is involved (which makes Watson even more disbelieving...) - and he finally decides to let himself be 'hypnotized' as well by that mysterious 'woman in green' who's obviously collaborating with Moriarty...A clever and rather creepy plot, some pretty suspenseful moments; but otherwise, especially for those who've seen many 'Sherlock Holmes' adaptations, more or less routine stuff: Holmes against Moriarty - once again...

*Spoiler/plot- The Woman In Green, 1945, Sherlock Holmes is called to solve the "finger murders," a series of brutal and seemingly unconnected killings of women in London, and finds a beautiful hypnotist and his old enemy, Professor Moriarty, lurking in the shadows.*Special Stars- Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Henry Daniell and Hillary Brooke star.*Theme- Holmes solves every crime, eventually.*Trivia/location/goofs- Hillary Brooke is delightful. Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's brother is mentioned, but not seen in this movie. Dr. Watson was supposed to remove his trousers under hypnosis, but he only lifts his trouser leg in the final film. Dr. Moriarity falls to his death, or did he? *Emotion-An enjoyable mystery in the Rathbone Holmes series. Several plot devices from many Holmes stories are incorporated into this film and this film has enough drama and intrigue to satisfy everyone.