Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) User Reviews (83)

First-rate Holmes movie with an exceptional villain and patriotic feeling in WWII

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 19 July 2007]

This jingoist outing concerns the usual battle Holmes vs. Moriaty , but this time in an effort to save the British war against the Nazis . Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and Watson (Bruce), the detecting duo living in 223 Baker Street , again are up against their old enemy Dr. James Moriarty (Lionel Atwill , he earlier performed Mortimer in Hound of the Baskerville , 1939). The film starts in Switzerland where Holmes saves from the Nazis to an inventor scientific of a bomb-sight , named Dr. Tobel (Post). Back in London , Tobel hand over four parts of the device to diverse scientists . But Doctor Tobel is kidnapped by Moriarty . Sherlock must solve his disappearance and some vitally important . Sherlock helps Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard (Dennis Hoey , this was was the first of Universal's Sherlock Holmes series in which he appeared) resolve the case . Holmes only holds a clue left by his girlfriend (Kareen Verne) , the detective with an extraordinary mechanism gets decode it . But scientists dead bodies are accumulating , they have appeared murdered and Moriarty knows the keys , as well . Holmes disguised as a sailor goes out to investigate , finding the Moriarty's shelter . The picture is based on ¨The dancing men¨ by Arthur Conan Doyle . This is a Rathbone-Bruce effort for the WWII along with ¨The voice of terror¨ in which we are asked for believe the magnificent detective could have lived in this century . Both stories are completely patriotic and flag-waging movies . In fact , on the end there's an advertising about buying of war bonds with evident propaganda .

The movie is an excellent Holmes thriller with gripping wartime setting , unanswered mysteries and unstopped suspense . In the film appears the ordinaries from Holmes series : his nemesis Moriarty , Mistress Hudson , Inspector Lestrade (a funny Dennis Hoey) and , of course , the bumbling Dr. Watson . Basil Rathbone performance is splendid , he's the best cinema's Holmes , similar to television's Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett . Rathbone as whimsical sleuth is top notch , he's in cracking form , intelligent , broody and impetuous . He's finely matched in battle of wits with Moriarty , his arch-enemy , a first-range villain : Lionel Atwill . Nigel Bruce plays Watson with humor , jinx , goofy and mirth . He's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes. Besides , appearing briefly distinguished secondaries as Paul Fix and Whit Bissell . This classic gets an atmospheric black and white cinematography , but available colorized in a horrible version . Adequate music score fitting to suspense by Frank Skinner . This was the second Holmes feature to be produced and professionally realized at Universal and it was the first to be directed by Roy William Neill , the usual saga director and habitual in the Universal monsters movies .

"I shall be conscious long after you're dead, Moriarty."

[utgard14 · 7/10 · 9 June 2014]

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) smuggles a Swiss inventor of a new bombsight into England and out of Nazi hands. But when the inventor is kidnapped right from under the nose of Scotland Yard, Holmes discovers it's not just the Nazis he has to contend with but his old nemesis Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) as well.

The second in Universal's highly enjoyable Sherlock Holmes series is also the first directed by Roy William Neill, who would direct every Universal Holmes film after this. This is also the first appearance of Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey), a pleasant addition to the series. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are excellent, as usual. Rathbone gets to dress up in a few disguises, which are fun. He's still sporting that silly haircut from Voice of Terror. Lionel Atwill is a good Moriarty. Not the series' best but still very good. Any movie that features Basil Rathbone vs Lionel Atwill is one where you will be entertained.

For some reason, as with other WWII Holmes movies, a lot of reviewers seem to really hate the idea of Sherlock Holmes fighting against the Nazis or for England. They claim Holmes was never intended for "propaganda" and that he should be left to simple detective stories. Someone should have told Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that when he wrote "His Last Bow," a WWI-era story which saw Holmes helping his country catch German spies.

Holmes fights WWII

[preppy-3 · 7/10 · 18 March 2004]

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) have been hired by the British government to protect a Swiss scientist Dr. Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.). He has a bomb that the British want to win the war. Unfortunately the evil Dr. Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) is working with the Nazis and will stop at nothing to get the doctor--and his invention.

Moving Sherlock Holmes to the 1940s sounded like a stupid idea but it does work for one reason--Basil Rathbone. Arguably he is the BEST Sherlock Holmes ever put on the screen. He plays the character so well (and accurately) that it doesn't matter what era he's solving crimes. As for Nigel Bruce as Watson...everybody has problems with it. He plays Watson as a bumbling old fool...that is NOT the Watson of the books. You seriously wonder why Holmes puts up with him. Still, he does grow on you (in a way). Then there's Atwill having a whale of a time playing Moriarty--the discussions and battle of wits between him and Holmes are just great! I've never liked Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade--he's such an idiot. Makes Watson look like a genius. And Post Jr. is pretty good as Tobel (even though his accent amusingly keeps changing!).

This movie is done elaborately and runs only a little over an hour. Still, it does have it's slow spots and I never understood the secret code section.

Still, worth catching if just for Rathbone and Atwill.

Enjoyable Holmes outing

[bob the moo · 25 December 2003]

In the midst of WWII, Holmes is involved in the protection of a scientist working on a secret weapon that may prove to be a turning point against the Nazi's. When the scientist and his formulae goes missing, Holmes becomes involved in a rush to rescue the man and prevent nemesis Professor Moriarty getting hold of the rest of the formulae.

Although I'm not a major fan of the Holmes films where he finds himself in the modern day world, this is one of the better ones I have seen thus far. The plot is a little thick at the start but really gets going when the scientist goes missing. The investigation by Holmes is very engaging and the climax has a nice couple of scenes where Holmes and Moriarty match wits.

Rathbone makes a good Holmes as always and here he happily hasn't as bad a haircut as he did in some of the modern films. Bruce is much better than usual - he is less of a mug and is made less fun of by Holmes, he actually shows a bit of sense about him. Indeed so does Lestrade (Hoey), so often a comedy figure, it's nice to see him involved a bit more than usual! Atwill's Moriarty is good but I always saw him as a leaner, meaner man - Atwill looks more like Watson than Sherlock, even though their battle of wits is good I never felt that he was any match for Holmes, never mind being a nemesis.

Overall I enjoyed this film. It does have a small bit of propaganda at the very end but, unlike some of the other films, doesn't ram it down your throat - by making it about Moriarty rather than Nazi goons, the film works better. It has a slow start but it opens up to be very enjoyable.

Rip-Roaring Forties Sherlock Holmes Adventure With Rathbone Never Better

[ShootingShark · 6/10 · 19 March 2009]

During WWII, Sherlock Holmes manages to smuggle a key scientist out of Switzerland. The scientist promises his revolutionary bomb-sight design to the Allies, but before long he has been kidnapped by the evil Professor Moriarty …

This is the first of eleven Sherlock Holmes movies directed by the talented Neill, and is one of the best. It showcases many of the most enjoyable features of the series; Rathbone in a variety of disguises, breathless plotting, great B-movie supporting players (in this case Atwill and Herbert), fiendish villains, dank fog-shrouded sets and bewildering clues. Rathbone's seemingly never-ending energy propel it forward, his hawkish stare and quiet intelligence more than compensating for the sometimes lacklustre production values. This film marks the first of Hoey's sextet of agreeable appearances as the flat-footed Inspector Lestrade. Very loosely based on the Arthur Conan Doyle short story Dancing Men.

There'll Always Be an England (thanks to Sherlock Holmes)

[lawprof · 7/10 · 15 February 2004]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a fair number of Sherlock Holmes accounts but the popularity of the famous detective insured that sequels in both print and on film would extend far beyond the author's works.

In "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon," Holmes, Basil Rathbone, patriotically serves British intelligence in order to secure a Swiss scientist's desperately needed bombsight. The film is from 1942 and I wonder if the producers and writers realized how vital bombsight secrets were (the American Norden bombsight was guarded almost as zealously as the new radar sets that would change the course of World War II).

Holmes and his faithful but expectedly bumbling companion, Dr. Watson, Nigel Bruce, battle Dr. Moriarty, Lionel Atwill. As evil as Moriarty has always been it's a bit of a shock to see he's signed up with Hitler. Has the man no vestige of decency? I guess not. But Atwill is deliciously evil.

The story is reasonably fast-paced as Holmes and Watson seek to recover stolen bombsight components before they can be delivered to a U-boat. Rathbone is his usual suave self and several Holmsian disguises are well carried out.

This and other 1940s Holmes stories are now available on DVD and oldies.com has put out a very nice four-disc set in a wooden box: this film is included along with a bonus CD of an interview with the aged Doyle. The set retails for about $26 in major DVD and CD stores but I found this and other sets from oldies.com at a warehouse club for $14.98. The transfers are very good.

Very nice and relaxing late night viewing.

7/10.

A solid wartime adventure for Sherlock Holmes

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 11 October 2017]

After spiriting a Swiss scientist Dr Franz Tobel to Britain under the noses of the Gestapo it looks as if the RAF are going to get his revolutionary new bomb sight. Of course nothing is that simple; Tobel insists in being in charge of its manufacture and divides the sight into four parts each to be made by separate scientists whose identity only he knows. Just in case anything happens to him he gives a coded note to his fiancée which is to be given to Sherlock Holmes if anything happens to him. Not long afterwards Tobel disappears and so does the note… luckily Holmes can read the message from the imprint of the code so the race is on to decode it. Who will solve it first Holmes or his arch-nemesis Moriarty?

This Sherlock Holmes adventure, made during the War, unsurprisingly has the Nazis as the bad guys even if the dastardly Moriarty is the main villain Holmes must face. The central mystery is intriguing; most notably the code that must be cracked. There are some impressive false starts as it keeps looking as though things will go wrong for Tobel before he is actually kidnapped and when he is the tension rises nicely until Holmes and Moriarty are face to face and it looks as though Holmes is doomed… at least to anybody who hadn't seen a single Sherlock Holmes story! Basil Rathbone does an impressive job as Holmes and Lionel Atwill is suitably menacing as Moriarty, there is also solid enough support from Nigel Bruce and William Post Jr as Watson and Tobel. Overall I rather enjoyed this and certainly recommend it to fans of Sherlock Holmes or anyone looking for an inoffensive mystery.

Middling effort.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 8 March 2004]

The first two Rathbone/Bruce movies were pretty good. Not just because they were in period but because their production values were good and because some effort went into the script. Only the first, "The Hound of the Baskervilles", was based on a Conan-Doyle novella. The second was a pastiche made famous on the stage by Gillette.

Then the franchise was moved to Universal Studios and a series of mostly declining quality was established. This was an early example. It's not terrible, not embarrassingly bad, it just loses something in being updated to the 1940s and in not having the atmosphere Conan-Doyle managed to inject into his characters and into the atmosphere itself. Not to mention some of Conan-Doyle's sometimes unwittingly delicious bon mots -- "The wind sobbed like a child in the chimney."

"The Secret Weapon" doesn't tell us much we don't already know about Holmes and Watson. There is a variation on Conan-Doyle's "Dancing Men" but not really much else that's too interesting. I never cared much for Lionel Atwill as an actor, and he looks especially clunky as Moriarty. Moriarty should be a reptilian ectomorph with an oscillating head.

Still, this is okay for fans of the series. Homes wears his hair combed from back to front on the sides, which is a little different. I wish the code had allowed him to do some cocaine once in a while. The best of the Universal films was unquestionably "The Scarlet Claw," so if you have to choose, choose that one to watch.

Not A Lot Of Credibility But A Whole Lot Of Entertainment

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 16 January 2007]

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) begins this story in disguise, helping to smuggle famous physicist "Dr. Franz Tobel" (William Post) out of Switzeralnad and under the watchful eye of the Nazis, who want his bomb sight plans. The Allies obviously want it, too, and Sherlock is there to help. Dr. Tobel has invented an instrument which greatly aids in the accuracy of aerial bombardment.

Holmes and Dr. Tobel arrive safely back at Baker Street but the scientist would rather be alone, for some mysterious reason, although he had promised the English to help them, not the Germans. He stays true to that promise but there are some desperate moments for Holmes and the English along the way.

It's an entertaining film and one in which our famous detective uses not one but three different disguises. He needs all the help he can get when he goes up against his arch-rival, "Professor Moriarity." One complaint: if Moriarity was that evil, he would have dispensed with Holmes without batting an eyelash, instead of giving him openings to escape. It's pretty sad, too, when the usual dim-witted Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) has to rescue his boss from certain death a couple of times!

Yes, there are some credibility issues in this story but if you can put your brain on hold a few times, it's a fun film to watch....and it looks beautiful, thanks to the great restoration job done on this DVD. It makes the old print come alive with some wonderful visuals, particularly the night-time shots.

One other note: whoever did the English subtitles in here misspelled or misinterpreted at least a half dozen words. It's very sloppy work, and not the first time I've encountered this watching the entire series on the restored DVD set.

Modern Holmes works surprisingly well

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 17 December 2016]

This fast-paced adventure yarn is pretty cracking entertainment, filled with twists, turns, clues, and action. This was produced as a war-time piece of propaganda; putting Holmes and his associates in a contemporary setting was perhaps a controversial idea for purists on reflection but it makes for some interesting situations. Still, it paves the way for some stirring speeches on the greatness of Britain and the evil of the Nazis. Fans of Conan Doyle's original stories should be grateful that, although moved to war-time Britain, a lot of the themes from THE DANCING MEN are kept in the film. The short running time means that the action and twists are coming constantly, there is no time to pause for thought. Events culminate in a gun battle, the likes of which you wouldn't expect in a Sherlock Holmes film, and they also saw fit to throw in a few perils straight out of the serials which have Holmes being saved from death by the skin of his teeth (the blood-draining climax comes to mind).

Basil Rathbone seems to be really enjoying himself as Holmes here, whether it be delivering his witty lines or dressing up in all manner of guises. He's full of vitality, seemingly bounding around the screen at every opportunity, his energy rubbing off on the rest of the film. Nigel Bruce is a good foil for Rathbone as Watson, proving a few chuckles, and Dennis Hoey excels as Inspector Lestrade in a comic relief role. But it's the presence of horror stalwart Lionel Atwill who really shines as the sinister Professor Moriarty, relishing his evil turn at every opportunity - all that he needed was the twirling moustache and his comic-book image would have been complete. This may not be profound or intelligent entertainment, but it's fun and well-made and has survived the test of time well. Definitely worth a watch for mystery fans. Although not the best of the Rathbone/Holmes cannon, this is good stuff.

Sherlock Holmes versus...the Nazis?

[james_oblivion · 5/10 · 13 February 2006]

It was an interesting enough idea, I suppose, to set a series of Sherlock Holmes films in the "modern day"...at the time, the WWII era...but those who are familiar with the first two Rathbone/Bruce films might be thrown off by it. When the rights passed from Fox to Universal, the two stars were retained, but apparently our two heroes stepped through a hole in the space-time continuum. The Fox films were Victorian period pieces, whereas Universal took the opportunity to utilize Sherlock Holmes in the series of modern-day B-movies into which this entry falls, several of which were fairly standard wartime propaganda...pretty much the order of the day for Hollywood films circa 1942-1945.

While the film may boast some entertainment value, the plot is actually quite silly. Sherlock Holmes (sporting a remarkably bad haircut) has been charged with the task of guarding Dr. Franz Tobel, the inventor of a bomb sight (which, when you see it, will give you an idea of what the film's budget was) that will apparently revolutionize airborne warfare. Holmes's task is to keep Tobel safe (at which he fails) and to keep the bomb sight out of the hands of the Nazis. When Tobel is abducted, Holmes must unravel a coded message before his arch-nemesis, Professor Moriarty does. Though the credits state that the film is an adaptation of Conan Doyle's story, The Dancing Men, only the code itself is taken from said story. And a small reference to another story, The Empty House, also shows up early in the film. Apart from that, you'll find no Conan Doyle here.

Interestingly enough, what makes Tobel's bomb sight so remarkable, apart from the fact that the bombs seem to land where they're supposed to, is never expounded upon...leaving the viewer to assume that both Allied and German bomb sights were abysmally inaccurate, as both sides are clamoring to get their hands on one that actually works. Probably not the best way to bolster confidence in the Allied fighting machine...but then, logic is scarce in this outing. Holmes relies just as heavily upon chance and educated guesses as he does upon deduction, and it's the bumbling Watson (who was never bumbling in the original stories) who inadvertently provides the solution to the major stumbling block (despite the fact that the solution should have been obvious to someone as brilliant as Sherlock Holmes).

All in all, this film has its moments, but fails to live up to the legend of the world's greatest detective. Rathbone is a fine Holmes and Bruce (despite the almost unforgivable dumbing down of the Watson character) does a good job, as well. But much of the supporting cast seem to be phoning in their performances. The production values are rather noticeably low and the script is fairly ludicrous. I still watch this one from time to time, and certainly prefer it over Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (the first Universal Holmes entry)...but I can't help but think that Sherlock Holmes deserves better than this.

Interesting sidenote - This film contains the series' one and only reference to Sherlock Holmes's hypodermic cocaine usage. As Holmes is describing to Moriarty an elaborate hypothetical death scenario involving an intravenous needle, Moriarty interjects "The needle to the last...eh, Holmes?" How this managed to slip by the censors at the Breen Office (which, at the time, strictly forbade such references) is perhaps the one great mystery to be found in this film.

"The needle to the last, eh Holmes?"

[Mike-764 · 8/10 · 22 January 2005]

Dr. Franz Tobel, a Swiss scientist, is smuggled out of his home country by Sherlock Holmes in order that the Nazi agents spying him do not get his invention of a new bomb sight. Arriving in London, he takes residence with Holmes and Watson, but goes out for a visit with his girlfriend, Charlotte Eberli, where he leaves a clue for Holmes as to the locations of his bomb sight, which he has divided into four pieces, but Holmes' eternal nemesis, Professor Moriarity, is also seeking the bomb sight to sell to the Nazis, and abducts Dr. Tobel and the clue left at Charlotte's, a code series of dancing men, which both Holmes and Moriarity are both unable to decipher completely. Holmes eventually discovers the clue to the code and get the location of the fourth piece of the bomb sight, but Moriarity has the other three and a showdown is inevitable. Very good entry in the Holmes series with plenty of mystery and guesswork to go about. Atwill's portrayal of Moriarity is more sadistic than the cunning sort described in the Doyle stories (or George Zucco's performance in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes), but Atwill's skills as an actor makes his Moriarity quite the benevolent fellow. The script and direction both make this entry more of a cat and mouse game between the two characters and that is one of the reasons this entry succeeds so well. Great job on the cinematography as well. Rating, 8.

Dancing Men and the Professor

[theowinthrop · 7/10 · 8 August 2005]

In the Universal series of modern Sherlock Holmes stories with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEOPON is not one of the top films - although it is entertaining. I think the problem with it is that much of the film's "dueling" between Holmes and his nemesis Moriarty (here played by Lionel Atwill) seems to delay the actual point of the Professor's work.

Moriarty appears in three of the Holmes films with Rathbone. In THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES he was played by George Zucco, who gave real relish to the love of villainy for its own sake to the role. For my money Zucco's performance as the Professor was the best of the three (there is even a brief moment of comedy in his performance, when he's disguised as the "Sergeant of Police" towards the end - like he's preparing to sing "A Policeman's Lot" from Gilbert & Sullivan). Next comes Mr. Atwill's performance here - more of that later. Finally there is Henry Daniell's intellectual Moriarty in SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE LADY IN GREEN. It's a typically cool, classy performance by Mr. Daniell, but his confrontations with Holmes seem to be a tedious bore to him. They keep him from completing the main plan. In the stories that the Professor pops up in, he really senses Holmes is a nemesis who will remain a danger as long as he is alive. Yet, because of the intellectual tennis match between him and Rathbone, Rathbone (in his autobiography) actually felt Daniell was the best of the film Moriartys.

If Zucco captured the love of evil in the Professor, and Daniell seemed to demonstrate the tired Oxford Don (in the stories the Professor is a well regarded mathematician, whose volume on the binomial theorem had a "European vogue", and who wrote an intriguing book, THE DYNAMICS OF THE ASTEROID), Atwill demonstrates the Professor as pragmatic businessman. First of all, he's sold his services (apparently) to Nazi Germany. This is never gone into, but one presumes (as this is before the Nazis began to really collapse) he figures they will win the war. Secondly, he is not a fool. When Dr. Tobel (William Post Jr.) has shown he is a state of near physical collapse due to the torturing of Moriarty's gang, the Professor decides to kidnap one of the other scientists who are assisting Tobel, because he's as good a scientist as Tobel and would be able to put together the bomb site. I somehow can't quite see Zucco making such a sensible decision on the spot, and if Daniell had to make it, he would seem annoyed that there is yet another delay to his plans.

By the way, one trick used in all the Holmes series regarding the Professor is how to rid the film of him. If you read the Holmes stories, Moriarty appears as the villain three times: in THE MEMOIRS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES' last story ("THE ADVENTURE OF THE FINAL PROBLEM"), in THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES' first story ("THE ADVENTURE OF THE EMPTY HOUSE") and the last of the four novels/novellas (THE VALLEY OF FEAR). It's amazing how much mileage the Professor got out of so few appearances (he is mentioned in two or three other stories as well - in passing). But because of his fate at the Reichenbach Falls in "THE FINAL PROBLEM" and "THE EMPTY HOUSE", we always see him fall to his death. Zucco falls off the White Tower on Tower Hill. Daniell (with more imagination) tries to flee Gregson and the police, but is shot as he jumps, and wounded fails to hold on to the wall of an adjacent building. Atwill (here it is not seen, but heard) seems to fall down a trap door he's planted in an escape tunnel). It is really tedious after awhile to see the Professor always fall in these films. One turns to the Gene Wilder comedy (admittedly a comedy) SHERLOCK HOLMES' SMARTER BROTHER, wherein Leo McKern is a wonderfully wacky and villainous Moriarty (complete, finally, with an Irish accent), who is not killed at the end, but just left mulling - in a rowboat - over how his careful schemes did not work out. I rather liked that better.

The use of the "Dancing Men" code here, like the use of the "Devil's Foot Root" in DRESSED TO KILL, snags a part of a mystery from a short story. "THE ADVENTURE OF THE DANCING MEN" appeared in THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, and deals with a client of Holmes whose wife has been getting weird, blood-curdling messages in this code. Charles Higham, in his biography THE ADVENTURES OF CONAN DOYLE suggests Sir Arthur may have picked up the code from a magazine game in the 1870s, but we really don't know. The code is basically one of letter substitutions for the figures of the dancing men. The story in the short story is dramatic, but deals with a triangle. The only innovation in the film is that Tobel makes a slight change that confuses both Holmes and Moriarty.

The film will entertain, but I still think THE HOUSE OF FEAR, THE SCARLET CLAW, and SHERLOCK HOLMES FACES DEATH are better films.

Technical issues

[dhkessel · 5/10 · 27 February 2005]

Among the more surprising items in the film was the choice of the prop for the actual bomb-sight. I was amazed to see that this consisted of an old Omega D-2 enlarger which had a round housing on long rails. The photographers in the audience must have been highly amused. This same enlarger (or a close relative) was used again when Holmes photographed the image of the dancing men. I would have thought that the prop department could have some up with something more likely. On the other hand, I used to have a D-2 and must admit that I never tried to use it on a bombing run.

The film is otherwise among the better of the Rathbone series, although the use of the dancing men is a bit of a stretch. I suppose the idea was to attempt to connect up the story with some of the original plot-lines, since in the days of Conan Doyle, there were no bomb slights. Or D-2 enlargers, for that matter.

Mostly Enjoyable Sherlock Holmes Feature

[Snow Leopard · 16 August 2001]

There are times when Holmes and Watson seem just a bit out of place in the World War II setting, but "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon" still has enough of the Holmes flavor to be worth watching. It's mostly enjoyable, with Holmes's usual deductions, disguises, and the like making up for the occasional war-time messages that come in from time-to-time. There are also some good moments of suspense, plus some pleasantly offbeat plot details, to keep your attention.

The plot gets pretty involved, with Holmes involved in protecting an inventor whose ideas the Nazis would like to get hold of. Some good turns follow as everything is played out in an interesting battle of wits. The supporting cast includes Lionell Atwill and Dennis Hoey, who are solid as Moriarty and Lestrade, respectively, plus Kaaren Verne.

Overall, most fans of the Rathbone/Bruce series should find it an enjoyable feature.

This one has "Ai Ai Up She Rises"

[Spondonman · 7/10 · 28 March 2005]

Not too bad entry in the series, heavily ladled with war propaganda, but Rathbone & Bruce's sincerity keep me happy.

It's a rather fantastic story from start to finish, just how many McGuffin's are there? Holmes (and Moriarty independently) reeling out the Dancing Men code uncoded so fast was Amazing Watson - so why weren't you amazed! The post explaining the bomb-sight/enlarger tickled me, it was just the kind of cheap trick Universal would play - once again reminding me that they didn't expect people to be critically watching this over 60 years later. This (and I think every other potboiler from Universal at this period) were meant to be viewed the once or twice and forgotten. They perhaps should have realised that basically people don't change, that what was entertaining to ordinary people in 1942 would still entertain a select group now (2005) and tightened up on the script and sets!

Lionel Atwill was going through his Hollywood rape court case at about this time, I wonder if it was that or particularly effective make-up that made him look so haggard as Moriarty?

The important thing about SW though is that this was the first Holmes film Roy William Neill directed, I think he directed all of the rest and produced all but one, thus establishing a marvellous ambient continuity.

Holmes & Watson: Mission in England

[lugonian · 6/10 · 26 October 2013]

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON (Universal, 1942), directed by Roy William Neil, the second in the newly formatted series by the studio, makes this the fourth in the series to star Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in their now legendary screen roles. Based on Arthur Conan Doyle's story, "The Dancing Men," the film is far from being one about an all male chorus being murdered one by one in some music hall, but a series of drawn figures on a piece of paper believed to be some sort of clue for Sherlock Holmes to figure out in his latest caper. Aside from Neil's initial assignment as its series director, SECRET WEAPON also introduces Dennis Hoey as Inspector Lestrade and the return of Holmes' arch rival, Professor Moriarty, in the figure of Lionel Atwill (minus his mustache), a role previously enacted to perfection and nearly stolen by George Zucco in the gas lit London 1890s setting edition of THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (20th-Fox, 1939).

For Sherlock Holmes latest adventure some fifty years later, SECRET WEAPON opens in Switzerland where Holmes (Basil Rathbone), the master of disguises and deductive reasoning, is seen as an white haired old man entering a pub coming to the table to interest Braum (Robert O. Davis) and Jacob Mueller (Paul Fix), on some old books he wants to sell, while, in actuality, is posing as a Nazi spy pretending to expose information on a Doctor Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.), a scientist who's secretly engineered a new bomb sight. Because his life is in constant danger, Holmes, secretly hired to protect Tobel, arranges for decoys to be followed by members of the Gestapo while he and the doctor drive down the road to an airplane bound for London awaiting them. Now a house guest and under close watch by both Holmes and his associate, Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce) at his 221-B Baker Street apartment, Tobel manages to sneak away during the midnight hours to visit with his fiancée, Charlotte Eberly (Kaaren Verne), at her residence. Unknownst to him, Tobel's being followed by a mysterious figure. Suspecting something's going happen to him before his demonstration is to be met with Sir Reginald Bailey (Holmes Herbert), Tobel entrusts a sealed enveloped containing an alphabet substitution code of dancing men to Charlotte to give to Holmes, which she does, following his sudden disappearance. After Holmes opens the envelope, he finds Tobel's code gone and replaced with a message reading, "We meet again, Mr. Holmes!" which means only one thing, that Tobel was abducted, or possibly killed, by England's most sinister mastermind, Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill). Holmes, Watson and Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) race against time preventing the "secret weapon" from reaching the Nazis, or worse, Moriarty, as he attempts to figure out Tobel's "dancing men" message code.

Others appearing in the cast include Philip Van Zandt (Kurt); Henry Victor (Frederick Hoffner); Michael Marke (George); Harry Cording (Jack Brady, one of Moriarty's men); and of course, Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson, Holmes' landlady.

An slight improvement over its previous installment, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR, with the writers resuming its London blitz World War II setting once again as its basic theme source, once again borrowing portions from Conan Doyle's original story. Unlike THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES where Moriarty was the central secondary character, SECRET WEAPON gives Moriarty a chance to shine (and rise from the dead) 38 minutes into the story, thus, holding his own, and Holmes as well, once together again, face-to-face, eye to eye, for some very tense moments. Under Moriarty's orders to his associates, Holmes falls victim to some death facing death experiences. Two that come to mind: Holmes bound and gagged inside a sea chest to be thrown from a carrier ship to the bottom of the ocean; Holmes strapped helplessly on an operating table to have his blood drained slowly from his body. Rathbone and Atwill, having worked together in earlier film projects as SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (Universal, 1939), and THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (20th-Fox, 1939), that latter that introduced Rathbone to Sherlock Holmes, make a fine pair, but nothing compared to Rathbone's screen partnership with Nigel Bruce. They're definitely one of a kind.

Along with other movie detectives from that period, Charlie Chan being amongst them, this latest addition of "Sherlock Holmes" is standardly good 68 minutes material. The Rathbone-Bruce Universal editions would achieve greater popularity in later years when sold to television as part of its "Sherlock Holmes Theater" package. By the 1980s, SECRET WEAPON, along with few others in the series, have fallen to public domain (minus the Universal opening and closing logo), and placed on video cassette in the 1980s through various distributors. SECRET WEAPON was also broadcast on numerous public broadcast stations and cable channels (sometimes in colorized format), and sometime later on Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: March 8, 2004) and RetroPlex. Currently available on DVD in clearer prints, this and other Holmes and Watson mysteries continue to have an impact with each new generation awaiting what's in store from this and their next assignment of SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON (1943) (**1/2)

World War II Intrigue

[CaressofSteel75 · 7/10 · 26 January 2019]

Dr. Tobel has invented a revolutionary bomb sight that will change the course of the war against the Germans if Sherlock Holmes can outwit Professor Moriarty, played by a rather blustery Lionel Atwill. (They never could really flesh out the Moriarty character very well on screen).

It's a better than average Holmes adventure with Basil Rathbone descending into the London underworld in disguise when the scientist in his charge winds up missing. It's a chess game with Moriarty until the end, and Dr. Watson and Inspector Lestrade, a perennial foil in these films, actually make themselves useful and save Holmes from certain death when locked inside of a crate bound for a one way sea voyage.

There are some subleties in this one as well- a light jab pointing out the frugality of a Scottsman at an auction, and during Holmes' and Moriarty's discussion about different means of effecting death, Holmes brings up the possibility of draining a man's blood drop by drop. Moriarty replies, "The needle to the last, eh?" -no doubt a quick reference to Holmes' drug use.

I've never had a problem with bringing Holmes and Watson into the "modern" era, although I know it's wrankled some Holmes purists over the years. I think he was well suited for the 1940s, a perfect hero type for wartime England and the USA.

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943) ***

[JoeKarlosi · 7/10 · 26 May 2008]

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson respectively, the second of the Universal series, where it's again established by means of a written prologue that the famed detective is legendary and spans time. This helps to comfortably set things up here in the "present" era of the early 1940's. In this offering, Holmes goes through a few different disguises (with Rathbone's very prominent features, is it likely that people really wouldn't recognize his true identity?) as he protects a physicist from the hands of the Nazis as well as from Holmes' greatest nemesis Professor Moriarty (now played by Lionel Atwill). The scientist has developed a bomb sight which will greatly aid in aerial bombardment, and he's promised his plans to the British. But Moriarty wants to get hold of it so he can sell them to the Nazis. A good entry boosted a bit by the participation of the properly villainous Atwill now cast as Moriarty (though George Zucco was no slouch himself in THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES). It's always intriguing watching Holmes and his greatest enemy engaging in witty banter together ("the needle to the last, eh, Holmes?"). *** out of ****

Holmes Saves Old England Once Again

[Ron Oliver · 10/10 · 19 September 2004]

The evil Professor Moriarty plots to gain control of both SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE SECRET WEAPON which could win the war for the Nazis.

Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce return to the screen as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved detective and sidekick, Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson, in this entertaining little mystery. Universal Studios wasted no money on either fancy production values or a sensible script, knowing that its two stars would be all the attraction an audience would need. Indeed Rathbone, as the cerebral ego, and Bruce, as the bumbling id, seem to actually become the characters they are creating, gleefully keeping their faces straight while engaged in the most utter nonsense.

Dennis Hoey makes his first appearance as the dogged Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard; teamed with Bruce, these two good-hearted but pedantic fellows actually get to save the intellectually superior Holmes' life twice. Lionel Atwill, a master of the sinister who deserves more recognition for his talent, does a fine job as Moriarty, making the wicked rascal a foe worthy of Holmes' steel, relishing the scenes in which he gets to inflict torture & pain.

William Post Jr. and Kaaren Verne play the Swiss scientist and his girlfriend who are at the heart of the mystery, but they're not given much to do. Sweet Mary Gordon makes a token appearance as Holmes' landlady Mrs. Hudson.

Rathbone spices up his already classic interpretation of Holmes by getting to appear in disguise three times during the story, thereby revealing to the viewer that the great sleuth was a bit of a ham actor at heart.

This film--which is based very loosely on elements in Sir Arthur's short stories 'The Dancing Men' and 'The Empty House'--followed SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR (1942) and preceded SHERLOCK HOLMES IN WASHINGTON (1943).

Fun to watch and quite good as a film

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 16 July 2013]

Regarding the Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes adaptations, The Secret Weapon is an improvement on The Voice of Terror, but entries like Hound of the Baskervilles are superior. The Secret Weapon is quite good and does have some entertainment value. It's not faultless, to me that is, the story is fun, fast paced and engrossing with some good mystery and suspense but felt rushed towards the end and the secret code stuff was confusing. It also had moments where it did feel over-plotted and didn't have enough time to explain it properly. Nigel Bruce does what he can with Watson and is a good partner with Rathbone, but can come across as too blustery and too much of a idiot, the way Watson is written though has a lot to do with it. Purists will find a lot of good things with The Secret Weapon but adaptation-wise, there are parts from The Dancing Men and The Empty House other than that as said already there's not much Conan Doyle here and the inclusion of Nazis may come across as silly to some. To me, the Nazis weren't so much a problem and they were appropriate within the setting though there is the sense that without the characters' names that this could have been any mystery film set during the war.

The Secret Weapon is well made, stylishly and atmospherically shot with fine attention to detail, while the score is appropriately haunting in some others and jaunty in others. The dialogue is intelligent and witty, the banter between Holmes and Watson intrigues and amuses and that with Moriaty even more so. Thankfully also the patriotic stuff is much more toned down than in The Voice of Terror. The direction is solid and skillful, not taking things too seriously nor is anything taken like a farce, suspense and such aren't undermined, even if there are other entries in the series that have a much more suspenseful edge. The acting is strong, the obvious high point is Basil Rathbone who is easily the best of the film incarnations of Holmes and overall either joint first or very close second place to Jeremy Brett. He has a very commanding presence, very intelligent, cunning and not one to miss much, his disguises are very convincing too. Lionel Atwill is a very good nemesis, he gets the malevolence of Moriaty just right if not quite as mysterious as other actors as the character and seems to be enjoying himself thoroughly. Dennis Hoey makes a credible debut as Lestrade, he does come across as an idiot but seeing as Lestrade is an inept character anyway that didn't come across as problematic, though it might do for any first-time viewers who've never read a Sherlock Holmes story before or for who this is their first encounter with this great literary detective. Overall, fun and quite good, but there are better Sherlock Holmes adaptations out there, both with Rathbone and in general as well. 7/10 Bethany Cox

"The best place to hide something is where everyone can see it."

[classicsoncall · 5/10 · 26 September 2004]

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) are men out of time in this World War II era mystery, centered on the development of an advanced bomb sight by Dr. Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.). The invention will give England an edge in the conflict, however Tobel is intent on mass producing it himself. To insure the mechanism's secrecy, he divides it's components into four sections, giving each to different caretakers who are unknown to each other.

Holmes' nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) is in the employ of Nazi Germany, presumably the highest bidder for his services, and he is intent on securing the invention for his own nefarious reasons. He leaves his calling card for Holmes in what was thought to be a secure envelope that Tobel entrusted to his fiancé, Miss Charlotte Eberli (Kaaren Verne) - "We meet again Mr. Holmes".

For two bitter enemies, it's disconcerting to view Holmes and Moriarty casually discussing their views in a relaxed parlor setting. The film concludes with the assumption that Moriarty falls victim to his own trap door and the bomb sight plans secure again with Dr. Tobel. The film is passable, but to be viewed with a critical eye.

Holmes & Watson are at it again... WWII

[ksf-2 · 8/10 · 16 May 2018]

Another chapter with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson. Lionel Atwill is the evil Moriarty. Holmes and Watson are protecting the valuable Swiss scientist Dr. Tobel ( William Post), but he is a difficult person to protect. Not only is Tobel snatched, but Holmes walks into a trap himself. Twice! This claims to be a U.S. film (Universal), but since Scotland Yard is involved, clearly the story takes place in England. It's a little complicated, but Dr. Watson is less bumbling than usual in this one, and comes to the rescue several times. and this COULD be the one where they finally catch Moriarty. Some WW II intrigue. It's quite good! I hadn't found this one before. On the Roku Classics channel. Moves right along.

Rathbone vs. Atwill

[KuRt-33 · 6/10 · 13 August 2003]

Before joining director Neill on the set of "Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man" as the Mayor, Lionel Atwill played the arch-rival of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Moriarty, in this 1942 film. Atwill is a actor who can be admired in classic films as "The Vampire Bat" (1933), "Mysteries of the Wax Museum" (1933), "Mark of the Vampire" (1935) and "To Be Or Not To Be" (1942) to name but four. Atwill was an actor on stage as well as on the white screen, just like Basil Rathbone. Rathbone combined stage and screen work till he felt that his identification with the character of Sherlock Holmes was killing his film career: he went back to New York and the stage in 1946. Apart from a few narrations he only returned four times to a movie set in the next fifteen years. In 1962 Rathbone joined other legends Vincent Price and Peter Lorre in Roger Corman's classic Poe adaptation, "Tales of Terror". A handful of films followed until his death in 1967, an uneasy mixture of classics (Tourneur's "Comedy of Terrors" in 1964) and bubblegum pulp ("The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini" in 1966).

"The Secret Weapon" isn't set in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's times: the story is transferred to the 1940s and Holmes finds himself battling both Moriarty and the Nazis. This is rather weird at first, both because you don't expect Sherlock Holmes in the 20th century and because you don't want to confuse your detective entertainment with war propaganda. The propaganda scenes (especially the one at the end of the movie) sometimes harm the movie, but not as much as they harmed an earlier attempt to transfer Holmes to the 1940s ("Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror"). All in all it's living proof that the Sherlock Holmes stories can be timeless.

Sherlock takes on Nazi agents.

[michaelRokeefe · 5/10 · 18 June 2004]

Arthur Conan Doyle's super sleuth Sherlock Holmes(Basil Rathbone) and his assistant Dr. Watson(Nigel Bruce)work seriously to save the British war effort. Holmes is again up against his arch enemy, Professor Moriarty(Lionel Atwill), who is now working for the Nazi and they must be stopped for getting their hands on information concerning a crucial new bomb site. While investigating Holmes takes on a few disguises: an old German bookseller, a Swiss inventor and even a criminal named Lascar.

Also featured in this crime thriller is Dennis Hoey as inspector Lestrade, Holmes Herbert, Kaaren Verne and once again Mary Gordon plays Mrs. Hudson the faithful housekeeper at 221B Baker Street. For some reason I thought Rathbone appeared less intense as usual. And although Atwill is known for being a good villain he is bland compared to Henry Daniell as Moriarty. NOTE: The USA release runs 68 minutes...12 minutes less than the UK film.