The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

I have already enjoyed watching Sherlock Holmes. I will continue to buy he’s movies.

Adapted from a stage play based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's works, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" stands on its own as classic entertainment for detective fans of all ages, and may well represent the peak of the vintage 14-film series from the 1930's and 40's featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.As the legendary sleuth, Basil Rathbone further illustrates his mastery of the role with a dominating performance, which even includes a vaudeville song & dance turn in disguise. Nigel Bruce offers ample support as the ever-loyal Dr. Watson, who doesn't appear as the bumbling sidekick he would later become in the series. Ida Lupino portrays Holmes' latest client, Ann Brandon, while George Zucco appears as this film's devious Professor Moriarty.Set authentically in the Victorian era, the story begins with Moriarty managing to elude justice (in the form of a hangman's noose) once again on a legal technicality, despite Holmes' best efforts. Afterwards, two separate plots (one of murder, one of theft) are soon rapidly afoot, but only Holmes realizes that Moriarty is somehow manipulating these diabolical events from behind the scenes.Amidst the sinister fog of London's nights, Holmes is subsequently pushed to his limits attempting to keep his lovely client out of harm's way from a ruthless assassin, while trying to locate Moriarty in time in order to thwart his arch-nemesis' greatest scheme yet.Lovingly restored by UCLA, this film is greatly entertaining and highly recommended!

This was the second, and perhaps the best, of the Holmes movies featuring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. Like its predecessor, The Hound of the Baskervilles, the movie is set in Victorian times, rather than the later Rathbone movies that updated Holmes and Watson to the Twentieth Century. Nigel Bruce pays Dr. Watson with a vigor and not for the comic relief, as he did in the later films with Rathbone. The quality of the print is beautiful, although not as beautiful as gorgeous Ida Lupino, who plays a young lady who is stalked by a killer. Toss in some dastardly plans by the redoubtable Professor Moriarty (George Zucco) and you have a perfect Holmes mystery. The best part of this movie is Rathbone's peerless performance. After watching this one, you'll have no doubt whom the best movie Holmes was. One of the best things about owning a DVD version is optional commentary that can be turned on. Watch the movie for the entertainment first, and then watch it again while listening to the commentary. This is a must for any fan of the world's most famous detective.

1939's "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" features the crisp direction and artful cinematography of Hollywood's most prestigious productions of the time, coupled with exciting thriller elements (a larger-than-life villain, mysterious clues, chases and confrontations in a dark castle, etc. ) straight from the adventure serials of the day. It's quite a mix. Based on a stage play inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's many Sherlock Holmes tales (though the play didn't adapt any specific stories), "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is the second of the fourteen Holmes/Watson thrillers starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. I pull these wonderfully restored (thanks UCLA!) films off the shelf every couple of years and re-watch them with continued pleasure.

Although "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1939) was the first of the Rathbone-Bruce pairings of Doyle adaptations, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" should by no means be overlooked. Purists should be aware that this movie is based on William Gillette's stageplay of the early twentieth century, not on any of the canonical stories or novels by Doyle. On the other hand, "Adventures" gives us Rathbone in his second outing, already perfecting what may be the definitive cinematic Holmes (and given more time on onscreen than in "The Hound"), Bruce as a lovable, doddering Watson, the lovely Ida Lupino, and George Zucco as the nefarious Moriarty. The film, like Doyle's stories, is set in the Victorian era, well paced, moody, and quite entertaining.

Claimed to have closed captioning! It did not! Even with hearing aids, I need close captioning to enjoy a movie.

Going to tell you the same thing for every Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce "Sherlock Holmes" movie I purchased! They're all GREAT! I've been a fan of these movies and those actors since I was a child and that's been a whole lot of years! I now own every one they ever made with those two actors. Not interested in the others. Going to London on vacation next year and even plan to stop by and visit the "Sherlock Holmes Museum" there on--you guessed it--221 B Baker Street! :-D

Bought as a gift