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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Play trailer Poster for The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 1939 1h 25m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 78% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) square off against their archenemy, Professor Moriarty (George Zucco), who has designs on the Tower of London's Crown Jewels. As a perfect distraction from Moriarty's schemes, Holmes and Watson are contacted by a woman (Ida Lupino) who claims that her family is in danger after her brother receives the same warning message her father got 10 years ago -- just before he was brutally murdered.
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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 01/24/2018
It is not the sort of thing to be considered as a Work of Art: my point is simply that it is an exciting story told with more real movie art per foot than seven reels of anything the intellectual men have been finding good this whole year or more. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Feb 6
5/10
This isn’t the intricately brilliant premise one might hope for from a Holmes tale, even if this depiction of Holmes is thoroughly entertaining and iconic. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 02/28/2023
5/10
Its detective mystery remains tied to dull situations that do not involve any substantial revelation or intrigue. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 12/28/2009
B+
Superior mystery film. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Turner Classic Movies Online 12/06/2009
Basil Rathbone still remains the definitive screen Sherlock Holmes for many of the character's fans. Go to Full Review
Mark Bourne DVDJournal.com 04/06/2006
Director Alfred L. Werker shows off a flair for the material, and we get scenes that appear composed, lit, and shot expressly for the most evocative publicity stills. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ted B @Movieaddicted May 24 3.5 stars; A very good cat-and-mouse detective plot between Sherlock Holmes and his arch-rival, Professor Moriarty. This was a case where the mystery was not who the villain was, but what his secret plot was. This series, with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, is the definitive Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. It is these two actors I think of when the names of Holmes and Watson are mentioned. See more nicki r 12/12/2024 It's very good and it has a comedic effect that I found heartily entertaining. The resemblance to the actual Holmes is remarkable. See more Jay W 12/01/2024 "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is the sequel to "The Hound of the Baskervilles" which both came out in 1939. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce reprise their roles as the iconic duo and this time they try to take down the villainous mastermind Professor Moriarty. This movie was a real delight from beginning to end. The audience is let in on just the right information to go along with the mystery and have some great moments of suspense. The movie does an excellent job balancing elements of comedy, action and mystery. The plot consists of two main mysteries. One mystery is an attempted murder on May Beatty, and the other is Moriarty prepping the "crime of the century". And both crimes are engaging to see unfold. There is just two glaring problems with this movie. One is its generic title. This title does nothing to make it stand out from the other dozens of representations. But the more major problem is in the ending. Spoiler free, it isn't the content of the ending, it is all in the way it is edited. If you've seen it, you will know exactly the edit I mean. Can I allow 2 seconds of the film take away from the whole picture? Well, yeah, a little bit. This is one Sherlock Holmes best adventures, if you are searching for a good mystery, your search is over. See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic 03/13/2023 A film that really doesn't offer no mystery and is the most straight forward checkers game between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty. See more Kyle E 11/15/2022 I cannot praise this masterpiece of a series enough. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it whatsoever. In fact every one of the Sherlock Holmes are superb, but this is the definitive one. The plots are in general true to the books, which are just as excellent, save a couple of wholly forgivable liberties. The scripts are sharp, classy and sophisticated, and all the adaptations have a certain atmosphere to them, and that is exactly what I want. The music is just outstanding, not only beautiful but very haunting, and the background music is rich and just adds to the atmosphere of the series. And the scenery, camera work and costumes are flawless. As for the acting, one word, superlative. Jeremy Brett is without doubt the best Sherlock Holmes ever, he is just perfect as the character. He is true to the character of the books, while making some subtle differences along the way. This is all to do with interpretation, and where I am concerned, this is one masterful interpretation of a truly complex character. David Burke is suitably intelligent as Watson; while I am more familiar with Edward Hardwicke, Burke is just as good. Many great actors and actresses have come and given memorable appearances, and I cannot decide who impressed me most, because they were all great. All in all, an absolute must-see. It is a television masterpiece. 10/10 Bethany Cox See more Frances H 03/05/2022 A good outing for Sherlock and Watson, but not the best. One thing I don't care for in this series is that Dr. Watson is made a comic character and a figure of fun. That's why I prefer the Jeremy Brett and Edward Hargraves series over this one. See more Read all reviews
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) square off against their archenemy, Professor Moriarty (George Zucco), who has designs on the Tower of London's Crown Jewels. As a perfect distraction from Moriarty's schemes, Holmes and Watson are contacted by a woman (Ida Lupino) who claims that her family is in danger after her brother receives the same warning message her father got 10 years ago -- just before he was brutally murdered.
Director
Alfred L. Werker
Screenwriter
Edwin Blum, William Absalom Drake
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 1939, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 30, 2021
Runtime
1h 25m
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