The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Movie, 1939, Victorian London, Set in 1894, the Crown Jewels
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is #2 of 26 in release order and #15 of 26 in chronological order in the Sherlock Holmes.
The story
Having once again avoided criminal conviction, Professor Moriarity develops a murderous plan to “finish off” his last major nemesis, Sherlock Holmes, by making him fail to prevent the perfect crime. Does it involve a family curse, the crown jewels of England, or something else…
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes recap
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) is Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce's second film as Holmes and Watson and their last for 20th Century Fox, with George Zucco as Professor Moriarty. In 1894, Moriarty is acquitted of murder at the Old Bailey for lack of evidence and trades insults with Holmes on the courthouse steps. Ann Brandon comes to Baker Street because her brother has received the same drawing of a man with an albatross around his neck that her father received before he was murdered. Holmes is too late to save her brother, who is strangled, and goes undercover as a music-hall singer at a garden party to protect Ann.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ending explained
Holmes catches Ann's attacker, Gabriel Mateo, who wanted revenge for his father's murder by Ann's father over a South American mine and was urged on by Moriarty. Holmes realises the Brandon case is a distraction from Moriarty's real target, the Crown Jewels, and races to the Tower of London, where Moriarty falls during their struggle, apparently to his death.
Where to watch The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is streaming on Hoopla and Fawesome in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 80%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Hound of the Baskervilles, before Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror.
- Chronological order: after The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, before Sherlock: The Abominable Bride.
What to watch before The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), which The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) continues.
Cast
- Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes
- Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson
- Ida Lupino as Ann Brandon
- Alan Marshal as Jerrold Hunter
- Terry Kilburn as Billy
- George Zucco as Professor Moriarty
- Henry Stephenson as Sir Ronald Ramsgate
- E. E. Clive as Inspector Bristol
- Arthur Hohl as Henchman Bassick
- May Beatty as Mrs. Jameson, Brandon Housekeeper
- Peter Willes as Lloyd Brandon
- Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson
Directed by Alfred L. Werker.