☆ ☆ ½
The Woman
in Green (1945) – R. W. Neill
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr.
Watson (Nigel Bruce) tangle with Professor Moriarty who was previously thought
dead in Montevideo (although Holmes suspected otherwise). Now, he has masterminded a blackmail scheme
that tricks wealthy men into thinking they have murdered young women and cut
off their pinky finger (finding this in their pocket the next day). How is this done? Through hypnotism, my friend, which (of
course) Watson has total disdain for, resulting in one of those scenes where
Bruce can play the total buffoon (while hypnotized). Fortunately, the blackmailed men aren’t doing
the actual killing – they just think they have.
Holmes figures out that the hypnotist is a beautiful woman (in green)
and the finale involves her believing she has triumphed over Holmes by giving
him cannabis japonica and forcing him out onto a dangerous ledge – but
fortunately he quickly substitutes another drug and is only pretending. That wily Holmes! And now perhaps Moriarty really is dead
(!?!). A solid entry in the long-running
series, although not its peak.
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