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NR | 1h 4m | Crime, Drama, Mystery | 1945
Hollywood’s version of London’s fog drifts past streetlamps and swallows suspicious figures in overcoats. Mix in sinister characters and unsolved crimes, and audiences had plenty of reasons to keep their eyes on screens.
The British capital was particularly well suited to the detective stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous character, the intrepid Sherlock Holmes.
When Universal Pictures released “The Woman in Green” in 1945, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce had already become familiar faces to moviegoers through their portrayals of Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively. This was their 11th cinematic outing together in a series that eventually reached 14 films.
Director Roy William Neill returns to direct, working from an original screenplay penned by Bertram Millhauser, who draws upon Doyle’s characters. At 64 minutes long, the film has little time to waste, which is probably just as well, considering how quickly trouble tends to find these two distinguished gentlemen.
Part of the fun is watching people attempt to fool one another while remaining perfectly polite. A gentleman harboring ulterior motives might exchange a few friendly pleasantries, all the while wondering whether the fellow across from him has already figured out what he’s up to.
When Holmes encounters his old enemy Professor Moriarty (Henry Daniell), the possibilities become particularly entertaining. Moriarty is the sort of nasty fellow who could threaten someone’s life while sipping afternoon tea.
Murder Comes Calling
Well-to-do widower Sir George Fenwick (Paul Cavanagh) has what appears to be a perfectly enjoyable evening in London with a charming woman named Lydia Marlowe (Hillary Brooke). Unfortunately, he awakens the next morning in unfamiliar surroundings, unable to remember much of what happened after their meeting.
A newspaper vendor announces that yet another in a series of murders has been committed. When Sir George reaches into his coat pocket, he discovers a rather horrifying souvenir. It’s the sort of discovery that can ruin a gentleman’s morning, especially when he has no idea how it got there.
Elsewhere in London, Scotland Yard has been struggling to catch the murderer responsible for the deaths of multiple young women, each missing her forefinger. Inspector Gregson (Matthew Boulton) asks Holmes to assist.
As Holmes pursues the few clues available, the possibility of hypnotism enters the investigation. This raises some uncomfortable questions about how much a person can be persuaded to believe or do. Meanwhile, the villain himself, Professor Moriarty, has his own interests in the goings-on, and Holmes must be especially careful about whom he trusts.
Old-Fashioned Detective Story
Neill knew how to make rooms and passageways look suspicious. With the help of cinematographer Virgil Miller’s black-and-white photography, the fashionable clubs and dimly lit interiors of London acquire a sinister appearance. Even ordinary conversations can become unsettling when the characters seem to know more than they’re willing to reveal.
This sort of filmmaking rewards both patient and perceptive viewers. Someone sitting comfortably in an armchair can seem perfectly respectable until the camera catches an unpleasant expression on his or her face. The shadows and carefully arranged lighting do much of the work.
A good mystery can provide an enjoyable evening through clever writing, intriguing characters, and an atmosphere that keeps viewers wondering. Millhauser’s screenplay gives the characters plenty of opportunities to deceive one another through ordinary interactions. The hypnotism business occasionally stretches credibility, although it makes an entertaining addition to the mystery.
The violence in “The Woman in Green” is brief and serves the plot, while the detective work offers plenty to think about.
Watching this film series, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed trying to solve the cases right along with Holmes. Of course, he usually gets there first, which is probably why Scotland Yard keeps calling him.
“The Woman in Green” is available on GanJingWorld.
‘The Woman in Green’
Director: Roy William Neill
Starring: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Hillary Brooke
Not Rated
Running time: 1 hour, 4 minutes
Release Date: July 27, 1945
Rated: 4 stars out of 5
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