This is one of the weakest Basil Rathbone-Sherlock Holmes films. It's still okay (I like all of them) but it ranks at the bottom if you're looking for an interesting "whodunnit."
Two things, I think, made this sub-par: 1 - the villains weren't evil enough, didn't do enough and didn't create enough tension and; 2 - this was almost a musical instead of a mystery. There were no less than four complete songs sung in this film. Even Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) gets in the act with a song - and he's very good, if that was really him. Marjorie Riordan sang the other three.
In addition, the ending wasn't that satisfactory, either. Yet, despite all that, Watson's typical stupidity and humor made it fun in spots but that's about it. Not recommended unless you're stuck with it as part of a four-disc set as I am, as part of the Sherlock Holmes Restored Collection. (At least the picture was clear.)
Two things, I think, made this sub-par: 1 - the villains weren't evil enough, didn't do enough and didn't create enough tension and; 2 - this was almost a musical instead of a mystery. There were no less than four complete songs sung in this film. Even Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) gets in the act with a song - and he's very good, if that was really him. Marjorie Riordan sang the other three.
In addition, the ending wasn't that satisfactory, either. Yet, despite all that, Watson's typical stupidity and humor made it fun in spots but that's about it. Not recommended unless you're stuck with it as part of a four-disc set as I am, as part of the Sherlock Holmes Restored Collection. (At least the picture was clear.)