The Woman in Green

Plot synopsis:
When several women are murdered and their forefingers severed, Holmes and Watson are called into action, but Holmes is baffled by the crimes at the start. Widower Sir George Fenwick (Paul Cavanagh), after a romantic night alone with his girlfriend Lydia Marlowe (Hillary Brooke), is hypnotized into believing that he is responsible for the crimes. He is certain that he is guilty after he awakes from a stupor and finds a woman's forefinger in his pocket. His daughter comes to Holmes and Watson without realizing that Moriarty's henchman is following her. She tells Holmes and Watson that she found her father burying a forefinger under a pile of soil. She has dug up the forefinger and shows it to them.
Fenwick is then found dead, obviously murdered by someone to keep him from talking. Holmes theorizes that Moriarty, who was supposed to have been hanged in Montevideo, is alive and responsible for the crimes. Watson is then called to help a woman who fell over while feeding her pet bird. He leaves, and minutes later, Moriarty appears and explains that he faked the phone call so he could talk to Holmes. When Moriarty leaves, Watson arrives. Holmes explains what Moriarty did, notices that a window shade that was shut in the empty house across the street is now open, and tells Watson to investigate.
Inside the empty house Watson, looking through the window, believes that he sees a sniper shoot Holmes in his apartment. Holmes then appears at the house and explains that he put a bust of Julius Caesar there because of the bust's resemblance to his own face (Holmes realized that as soon as he sat there, Moriarty would have him killed). Inspector Gregson takes the sniper, a hypnotized ex-soldier, away, but the sniper is later killed on Holmes's doorstep.
Holmes now realizes that Moriarty's plan involves:
1) killing women and cutting off their forefingers,
2) making rich, single men believe they have committed the crime,
3) using this fake information to blackmail them, and
4) counting on the victims being too terrified to expose the scheme.
He befriends Lydia, whom he had seen with Sir George at a restaurant, suspecting that she is in cahoots with Moriarty. She takes him to her house, where he is apparently hypnotized. Moriarty enters and has one of his men cut Holmes with a knife to verify that he is hypnotized. He then tells Holmes to write a suicide note (which he does), walk out of Lydia's apartment onto the ledge, and jump to his death.
Watson and the police then appear and grab the criminals. Holmes then reveals he was never really hypnotized, but secretly ingested a drug to make him appear as if he had been hypnotized and also insensitive to pain. Moriarty then escapes from the hold of a policeman and jumps from the top of Lydia's house to another building. However, he hangs onto a pipe which becomes loose from the building, causing him to fall to his death.

Tags: good versus evil, murder

Review:
It's an excellent film of the splendid Sherlock Holmes Basil Rathbone series including two first-range nasties : one man , Henry Daniell as Doctor Moriarty and one woman, Hillary Brooke as an illusionist with malignant aims.In the flick appears the usual of the Arthur Conan Doyle's novels : Mycroft (Sherlock's brother), Dr.Moriarty, Mistress Hudson , and of course Doctor Watson.The film has a creepy atmosphere , it's in black and white with lights and shades that originate an eerie setting.Set design is of first rate , the movie is very atmospheric ,the dark and gloomy slums of London are very well designed.Basil Rathbone's interpretation is magnificent, he's the best Sherlock Holmes in the cinema , likeness to Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett in television.Basil Rathbone as Holmes plays in a clever, broody and impetuous manner.Nigel Bruce plays as Watson with humor, goofy and joy , he's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes.Rating : Better than average , 7/10 .
"The Woman in Green" is one of the numerous Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce appearing as Holmes and Watson.
After Holmes figures it all out, he must still try to catch the criminals, and there is an interesting final sequence in which Holmes himself is in great danger.Rathbone and Bruce always make a good team even with the most routine stories, and this one is bizarre enough to hold attention in its own right.
Hillary Brooke is also pretty good as his attractive and dangerous accomplice.Though not one of the greatest Holmes films, "The Woman in Green" has most of the features that Holmes fans look for, and it should not disappoint them..
Henry Daniell is a good Professor Moriarty and Hillary Brooke as The Woman in Green is mysterious and seductive.
Sherlock Holmes matches wits with THE WOMAN IN GREEN, a nefarious female who may possibly be involved in a string of ghastly London murders.Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce return once again to the roles for which they were most famous -- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusty companion Dr. Watson.
Although the film is short on excitement and could definitely use a more satisfying climax, Rathbone & Bruce are never boring, perfectly portraying Holmes' superior intelligence and Watson's amiable bumbling.One of the most enjoyable aspect of the Holmes films is the occasional vivid characterization provided by very fine supporting players.
Hilary Brooke is seductive, Henry Daniell is a terrific Moriarty, as always Rathbone and Bruce are tops as Holmes and Watson.
Daniell's Moriarty is a bit too average - I never got the impression of an evil or dangerous man who was a match for Holmes.Overall this is a good entry in the series.
There is more to the case than meets the eye, and could there be on old adversary behind the murders?.The Woman in Green is the eleventh of the fourteen Sherlock Holmes film's starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson, and the eighth of the eleven directed by Roy William Neill.
Most are much better than this one.Most of the Holmes movies have at least one interesting villainous character, here being the famous Dr. Moriarity (not played well by Henry Daniell) and "the woman in green" (played well by Hilary Brooke, but no hint of green or mention of that in this black-and-white film.)This Sherlock Holmes' episode was just too monotonous with the only entertainment provided when Dr. Watson (Bruce) was mumbling and bumbling around, which included being hypnotized.
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) step in to help Scotland Yard when a series of murders hits London.
As a youngster viewing this film in the 1940's, I was always spellbound by the great acting of Basil Rathbone, (Sherlock Holmes),"The Comedy of Terrors,'64 along with Nigel Bruce (Dr. Watson),"Dressed to Kill",'46.
Basil Rathbone's performance is splendid just like always and Henry Daniel does a fine job as the third actor to play Holmes main nemesis Professor Moriaty.
Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell) go at it again, but it is the humor of Watson that makes it all worthwhile.Of course, Moriarty has a beautiful accomplice in Lydia Marlowe (Hillary Brooke), who uses her wiles to try and trap Holmes, if that were possible.Watson (Nigel Bruce) seems to have all the best lines as he is hypnotized and sent on a wild goose chase.
Seven years and 11 movies later from when they first started, it is only natural that Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's movies together as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson would show signs of weakness.
William Neal's direction is as tired as Rathbone's performance but still, mainly due to a solid script that finds Holmes investigating a series of murders (the most gruesome and mysterious since the days of Jack the Ripper, as he tells us) that lead him to a ring of blackmailers and hypnotists and an old friend he thought dead, Woman in Green remains watchable and enjoyable throughout..
The daughter of one of the men asks Holmes for help, and this leads him to an attractive woman - apparently in green, but it's hard to tell because the film is black and white - who lures the men to her apartment and hypnotizes them.The earlier films such as "Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror" were pure propaganda, but I didn't find them any less entertaining, and as Holmes is a real classic character, he fits well into the WW II era, as Cumberbatch does today, texting with his cell phone and using computers.
Rathbone's Holmes is in top form, Bruce's Watson manages to be sensible at least half the time, and Henry Daniell's Moriarty (cited by Rathbone as his favorite of the three Professors who played opposite him) is a sinister delight to watch...cold, calculating, and emotionally anemic, he is the perfect counterpoint to Rathbone's Holmes.On the technical side, the film is on a par with most of the series...very capably made, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances.
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.
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....
Holmes' suspicions prove correct, of course: Moriarty is indeed still alive, carrying out a dastardly blackmail plot which involves beautiful hypnotist Lydia Marlowe (Hillary Brooke) tricking wealthy men into believing that they are murderers.This may be the 11th adventure for Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson, but there is very little indication of the kind of malaise that all too often strikes long running movies series.
After a temporary war-time dip in quality, the great sleuth's adventures quickly returned to form, and although this case might be missing the wonderful Gothic elements that typify the best of Holmes' cases (most notably, fog), its nastier-in-tone-than-normal plot still delivers more than enough intrigue, suspense and danger.Holmes' re-acquaintance with Moriarty is perhaps the film's highlight, Henry Daniell's devilishly devious quarry using Watson as insurance, leaving the detective frustratingly unable to act against him; Hilary Brooke is also excellent—extremely alluring yet completely wicked, she is the perfect partner-in-crime for the malevolent professor.
The Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce team is always a joy to watch, and Henry Daniell is a fittingly sinister Dr. Moriarity, but this film seemed a tiny bit less exciting than Hound of the Baskervilles, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes or Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman (my favourite!)..
"The Woman in Green", which ranks as the eleventh adventure in the series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, is one of the most original and genuinely chilling entries in the entire cycle and especially horror fans will remember this story, as it features the return of Dr. Moriarty and an ingenious serial-killer premise.
Henry Daniell's portrayal of Dr. Moriarty is a terrific one and that sure isn't obvious, since the role was previously played by the brilliant George Zucco (in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes").
The titled Woman in Green is played by the sexy Hillary Brooke, who is partnered with Holme's arch-enemy Professor Moriarty(Henry Daniell).
And we aren't treated to very much signature background music while we watch Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) tackle a murder mystery involving a mysterious female (Hillary Brooke) and Professor Moriarty (now played by Henry Daniell).
The Woman in Green marks a cinematic landmark for me personally; as it's the last film in the classic Rathbone Sherlock Holmes series that I needed to see, and I must say that the run has ended on a high!
While this isn't the best in the series; the team of Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce and Roy William Neill et al have put together yet another excellent adventure for the super sleuth and his dippy sidekick, which includes the return of the fiendish Dr Moriarty!
The film once again sees Basil Rathbone in his trademark role, while Nigel Bruce supports him excellently, and the two share that great chemistry that makes this series what it is.
Scotland Yard, as usual, is baffled, and, as usual, turns in desperation to Sherlock Holmes.Though a rather late entry in a series which many feel lapsed in quality through time, The Woman in Green is actually one of the better movies in the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes series.
Bruce's Watson is particularly endearing in his fumbling assistance, and though this is not one of Rathbone's best portrayals of Holmes -- one gets the feeling he's starting to go through the motions this late in the game -- his characterization benefits greatly by for once having a really effective feminine foil: Hilary Brooke as the evil, sophisticated blonde mesmerist proves a credible enemy.
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce is great as always in this murder-mystery concerning a Woman in Green.
After ten films together, the chemistry between Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce translates into a convincing on-screen friendship as the iconic Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson; the genuine affection between the two partners in crime-solving is palpably evident in their eleventh outing, "The Woman in Green." Watson is evidently touched when Holmes openly admits he let a villain escape in order to save his dear friend's life.
THE WOMAN IN GREEN (Universal, 1945), produced and directed by Roy William Neil, the ninth installment of the modernized "Sherlock Holmes" mysteries for Universal (1942-1946), and eleventh featuring Basil Rathbone (Sherlock Holmes) and Nigel Bruce (Doctor Watson) in their legendary roles, is, regardless of contradictions from previous theatrical episodes, another interesting entry in the series.
Along with some repeat performers in support, Hillary Brooke and Henry Daniell, who've assumed other character parts from earlier products in the franchise, would become central figures this time around, matching wits with the famed detective in another baffling mystery.The opening passage starts with an off-screen narrator, Inspector Gregson, filling in to what's to be presented as the police force come to the Scotland Yard building entrance: "I won't forget that morning, not if I ever live to be 100.
While there's an interesting segment where Watson gets hypnotized at the Mesmer Club by Doctor Onslow (Frederick Worlock), the true highlight belongs to Holmes when going into a trance by one of Moriarty's assistants, the titled character, who's never referred to in the story as "The Woman in Green." While Mary Gordon returns as Mrs. Hudson, series regular Dennis Hoey is absent this time around as Inspector Lestrade.Distributed to home video in the 1980s, and eventually DVD, THE WOMAN IN GREEN, which has fallen into public domain, has appeared on numerous television and cable television channels over the years, one of them being Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: March 8, 2004).
Tidy little Sherlock Holmes entry in the Universal series with BASIL RATHBONE and NIGEL BRUCE (more bumbling than usual) confronting the man behind a series of gruesome murders involving mutilation.
There's no Inspector Lastrade here, but there is Professor Moriarty (HENRY DANIELL), appropriately sinister and clever in the sort of role that suited him in the forties.The femme fatale of the title role is HILLARY BROOKE, who appeared in three of the Holmes films, always in a different role.
Women across London are being found murdered and Sherlock Holmes is invited to solve the crimes which have a strange quality in that the victims have their forefinger cut off This is another of the films featuring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson .
this is another film in the sherlock holmes series with Basil Rathbone as Mr. Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson.
The eerie Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty is the best thing in this film adaptation of the Doyle story, "The Empty House." Rathbone and Bruce still work as Holmes and Watson, but you can see how the series is fading..
Roy William Neil directed Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson.
The movie is the eleventh film to star both Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively.
The movie is not directly based on any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories and books on Sherlock Holmes, the movie is credited to have an original screenplay, but several of its scenes can be said to have been lifted from "The Final Problem" and "The Adventure of the Empty House." The movie plot starts with a string of random murders of women who then have their forefingers severed.
Woman in Green, The (1945) *** (out of 4) Eleventh film in the Basil Rathbone series has him once again playing Holmes and this time trying to crack the mysterious case of women being murdered and having their right forefingers cut off.
Brooks' housekeeper (subbing Mrs Danvers) and the actual murderer (only briefly seen) complete the Gang of Four.Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson are as usual marvellously embroiled in solving a series of particularly gruesome crimes - apparently the censors had their say - of murder and mutilation of young women in London.
But what she to do with the Jack the Ripper fiend, now terrorizing London?Of the 12 Universal entries in the Sherlock Holmes cycle, all starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, The Woman in Green, alas, proves to be one of the weakest.
Sherlock Holmes is called in following a series of gruesome murders in which each victim has a finger cut off, and uncovers Professor Moriarty behind a sinister plot involving hypnotism and blackmail.A very enjoyable little Sherlock Holmes mystery, with a great script by Bertram Millhauser.
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and his assistant Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) are called in by Scotland Yard to help solve the most atrocious series of murders since Jack the Ripper.
Holmes comes to believe that the murders are incidental to a more sinister scheme, and what he discovers is a plot involving hypnotism and blackmail; behind it all is his chief nemesis, the diabolical Professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell).For his part, Moriarty engages the beautiful Hillary Brooke as his "Woman in Green", though that's a moot point since the black and white film never references her choice of attire.
Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are good as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.The standout for me in the film is Hillary Brook.
All in all this a good entry in the Sherlock Holmes Basil Rathbone films, but not the best.
The Woman in Green Above average fare for the eleventh of fourteen films with personal favorites Rathbone and Bruce and accolades to Hillary Brooke as Lydia and, of course, Henry Daniell as Moriarity.
The cast does a solid job with Basil Rathbone impressing as Holmes and Nigel Bruce being a good Watson; he provides most of the films laughs without being reduced to a mere comedy sidekick.
*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.
Holmes is convinced that there is some sort of logical plan behind the apparent madness & senseless murders & after a meeting with the evil professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell) he is sure of it...Produced & directed by Roy William Neill The Woman in Green was the eleventh Holmes film out of a series of fourteen made between 1939 & 1946 to star Rathbone & Bruce as Holmes & Watson, it's not the best but it's not the worst either.
The acting is good with he usual likable performances from Rtahbone & his comedy sidekick Bruce.The Woman in Green is a good Holmes murder mystery, it's not the best this series has produced but it's not the worst either.
The Woman In Green is definitely one of the lesser entries in the Sherlock Holmes film series.
This was a very disappointing Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes story.
Instead, try seeing any of the other Basil Rathbone movies from the series, or, better yet, see one of the Jeremy Brett versions for a real look at Sherlock Holmes..