Dressed to Kill is
the final and fourteenth film in the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce Sherlock
Holmes film series. The movie is based on the characters created by Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, and although the plot is an original screenplay, it features
references to Conan Doyle’s "A Scandal in Bohemia." It’s a
fitting nod to the source material, blending originality with Doyle’s classic
touch.
The movie’s plot
is quite interesting, as everything revolves around a few musical notes that
are out of place in a song. The music itself is a message, and figuring out
what the message means—or what it’s meant for—is the challenge our duo has to
solve. It’s a clever premise that keeps you hooked.
The story
centers on three cheap musical boxes, each playing a subtly different version
of "The Swagman." Only someone with a keen ear and a
musical background can pick up the differences. The musical boxes were
manufactured in Dartmoor Prison by one of its inmates and sold at a local
auction house. This quirky detail adds a layer of intrigue to the mystery.
A criminal gang
intended to get the boxes but arrived at the auction too late. All three boxes
were sold to different owners. However, the gang is determined to recover them
by any means necessary, even if it means committing murder. Their desperation
sets the stakes high.
Sherlock Holmes
is called in when a murder occurs and a musical box appears to be the target.
He must recover the last of the musical boxes and crack the secret code
contained in the tune before the gang can. It’s a race against time, and
Holmes, as always, is at his sharpest.
Food for
thought: In the movies, Dr. Watson is portrayed as much older than Holmes, and
he certainly looks it—Nigel Bruce appears to be about 10 years older than Basil
Rathbone. But in real life, Rathbone was actually three years older than Bruce;
Bruce just looked older. There’s been much discussion about the portrayal of
Watson in this series, as he’s depicted as a bumbling fellow who doesn’t really
contribute to Sherlock’s detective abilities. In contrast, in the books and
subsequent remakes of Conan Doyle’s characters, Watson is portrayed as an
upright and necessary addition to Holmes’ detective work. It’s a shame, really,
because Watson deserves better.
Dressed to Kill is a good movie to watch, as it shows our protagonist staying one step ahead of everyone else. We see him pickpocket with ease and escape death with the ingenuity of a fox. The movie is a nice ending to a wonderful pair and a fantastic film series. It’s a bittersweet farewell to Rathbone and Bruce’s iconic portrayals.
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