Dressed to Kill (also known as Prelude to Murder or Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Code in the UK), is the last of fourteen films starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson. Though not directly based on any of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes stories, the film features several references to “A Scandal in Bohemia”, with Holmes and Watson discussing the recent publication of the story in The Strand Magazine, and the villain of the film using the same trick on Watson that Holmes uses on Irene Adler in the story. The plot also bears some resemblance to “The Adventure of the Six Napoleons”.
Three cheap musical boxes (each one playing a subtly different version of “The Swagman”), manufactured in Dartmoor Prison, are sold at a local auction house. However, a criminal gang is determined to steal and recover all three, even if it means committing murder. Sherlock Holmes tries to recover the music boxes and crack the secret code contained in the tune before the gang can get what they want.
—
Directed and produced by Roy William Neill, written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (story), Frank Gruber and Leonard Lee, starring Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce and Patricia Morison, music by Jack Brooks.
—
Source: “Dressed to Kill (1946 film)” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 21 June 2012. Web. 1 July 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dressed_to_Kill_(1946_film).
source
OMG, Mille merci…
just great!!! it is all about the dialogue…
I miss Dennis Hoey ( Inspector Lastrade ). Too bad Dr Watson has to be portrayed as such an idiot. Why would Holmes live with such a dim whit is the biggest mystery to me.
I've just finished re-watching all 14 films (after about 20 years since I last saw them) and they hold up better than I expected. The Universal films may have been 'B' movies, but the cast and crew were always doing the best with what they had and Rathbone and Bruce were consistently strong. Since films don't need Watson as the narrator, I can forgive the changes made to Bruce's Watson since you need comic relief (especially at that time and given how pretty grim some of the film's were intended to be). Sad to think that Rathbone got so typecast as Holmes that his career suffered, because he was top class in any role.
2
I love Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. My brothers and I grew up on them
Such a clever story and as always Rathbone and Bruce were the brilliant actors.
12:46– oh how I would love to have a music box like that!
Did you catch at 1:01:20– Dr. Watson touches her knee, then says "oh, sorry " lol.
Happy 101 Birthday Miss Morison!
you can't beat these two they were great together alot better than the new show elementary! the only thing good about the new show is lucy lu
No One Ever could hold a Candle to them. They became the Characters. Very Rare. Even when i read Arthur Cannon Doyles. Works i think of them thru out. Perfect.
P.S. In case ya didnt Know Sherlock had a Drug problem. Listen closely he asks Watson for the Needle.
My favorite Sherlock Holmes movie!
Love the song.