Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Legacy posts about films from the silent and classic Hollywood film eras.
Dressed to Kill (1946) is the fourteenth and final Sherlock Holmes film (affiliate link) starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. Universal Pictures released the last film in the series on June 7, 1946. Once World War II ended, the series returned to non-war related crime stories. Cyril Delevanti plays a thief serving at Dartmoor
In one of the last films in the series, British authorities recruit Sherlock Holmes to protect the young heir to a European throne. Universal Pictures released Pursuit to Algiers (1945) on October 26, 1945. Basil Rathbone returns for the twelfth of fourteen times as Sherlock Holmes. Nigel Bruce again plays his assistant Dr. John Watson. As the film begins, Sherlock
On March 16, 1945, Universal Pictures released The House of Fear (1945), the eighth of twelve Sherlock Holmes films (affiliate link) produced by the studio. Basil Rathbone returned as Holmes for the tenth time. Rathbone played Sherlock Holmes twice for Twentieth Century – Fox before Universal started producing the series. Despite its late entry into the series, the film stands
Arthur Wontner is arguably the best film portrayer of Sherlock Holmes. His fifth and final outing as Holmes in Murder at the Baskervilles (1937). The film (affiliate link) was released in the United Kingdom in 1937 but was not released in America until January 15, 1941. Wontner was excellent as usual but Murder at the Baskervilles is the weakest offering
Reginald Owen stars as Sherlock Holmes in one of the early American talking motion picture adaptations of Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet (1933) (affiliate link) sees Holmes trying to solve murders among a group of confederates. Arthur Wontner starred in several successful English adaptations of the series, which probably inspired Hollywood to follow suit. Unfortunately, Reginald Owen did not
Black Raven (1943) is a “B” film (affiliate link) from Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC). George Zucco plays Amos Bradford aka the Raven, the owner of the Black Raven Inn. Bradford ends up hosting several unexpected guests, who are escaping a raging thunderstorm. The storm washed out all the bridges and stranded the visitors, which include a couple trying to elope,
On July 5, 1937, Associated British Picture Corporation released Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1937), one of the last Bulldog Drummond feature films (affiliate link). In this film, John Davis Lodge plays Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond. Drummond is vacationing, when a Scottish scientist escapes from a couple of secret agents. The scientist throws a rock through the window of Drummond’s cabin.
The Thirteenth Guest (1932) is the film version of an Armitage Trail story. Monogram Pictures released the early “B” film (affiliate link) starring Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot. Ginger Rogers was only 21 at the time but would go on to great stardom as Fred Astaire’s most regular dance partner. Lyle Talbot made a living through most of the late
Roland V. West directed fourteen films in his career. Critics consider three of his films to be excellent. West directed the silent thriller The Bat in 1926. West directed his most acclaimed film, Alibi (1929), which resulted in an Oscar nomination for his friend Chester Morris. In 1930, West and Morris again collaborated on his last classic, The Bat Whispers,
Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935) (affiliate link) is one of the five Sherlock Holmes films starring Arthur Wontner as Sherlock Holmes. Director Leslie S. Hiscott adapted the Sherlock Holmes novel The Valley of Fear but added to the story to give Professor Moriarty and Col. Sebastian Moran roles in the story. A significant portion of the movie is the retelling