Rent Sherlock Holmes: The Scarlet Claw (1944)

New thrills! New terror! - Sherlock Holmes: The Scarlet Claw review by NP

When you consider this was directed by Roy William Neill, who helmed Universal films 'Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman', it's perhaps not too surprising 'The Scarlet Claw' is rich in horror detail. All the Universal flourishes are there - and a lot of the cast will be familiar too. This for me remains one of the best Sherlock Holmes films, although some cheats are provided to make sure we don't guess who the killer is.

We have it all - American cockneys, mist-layered streets, a local tavern full of weathered faces and scowls, and Watson (Nigel Bruse) unable to keep his mouth shut. He is a buffoon, and it makes you wonder why a man of Sherlock Holmes's brilliance tolerates him, but for this viewer at least, he's a great character; we get to witness the master detective's eccentricities through him, his distance and aloofness. If Watson was not around, we'd be hard-pressed to find a character to relate to in these stories. A pain in the neck he may sometimes be, but a necessary one. And there's a genuine warmth between them - off-screen as well; the only argument they ever had was when Basil Rathbone (still the definitive sleuth) decided to give up the role.

I'm still not sure the revelation of the villain isn't a slight disappointment, mainly due to the lack of subtlety by the actor in question, but other than that this is top-notch stuff. Best enjoyed on an autumn evening with a cup of something warm. My score is 8 out of 10.

Mystery Comedy. - Sherlock Holmes: The Scarlet Claw review by Steve

This is often acclaimed as the best of Universal studio's series of Sherlock Holmes mysteries starring Basil Rathbone as the great detective and Nigel Bruce as the loyal Dr. Watson. This time they are in Quebec where a mythic glowing fiend with lethal claws is said to be killing the superstitious villagers.

Luckily Holmes and Watson are attending a nearby symposium on the occult, so can investigate. As they are not in Baker Street, this means there is no Lestrade or Mrs. Hudson, which is disappointing. The story outline draws on The Hound of the Baskervilles. They seem to be in Canada solely to deliver a postscript praising the nation's war effort.

It's an exciting and suspenseful thriller as we pick from the long list of locals to discover the murderer. This is the entry closest to the style of Universal horror, and it extensively exploits the studio's rural backlot constructed for their monster sequels. But this has a much better story, as well as all the fog and ruined churches.

Holmes demonstrates there's a perfectly rational explanation, while Watson falls into a bog- twice. Bruce introduces the habit of ending scenes harrumphing about his misfortunes, which would lead to the doctor becoming a complete imbecile. Maybe not my absolute favourite, but still one of the best ever entries in a Hollywood series.