The Woman in
Green is actually a bit dull. The plot is straightforward, but the direction
and the story itself just aren’t good enough to fully appreciate. The movie
features Sherlock Holmes’ arch-enemy, Professor Moriarty, who is supposed to be
Holmes’ intellectual equal. But in this flick, he comes off more like a
struggling villain trying to live out a fantasy of being the man to finally
kill Holmes.
The Woman in
Green is a 1945 American crime drama thriller starring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s
detective Sherlock Holmes, his faithful companion Dr. Watson, and Professor
Moriarty—all characters created by Doyle. It’s the eleventh film to star Basil
Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively. The
movie isn’t directly based on any of Doyle’s stories, and while it’s credited
with having an original screenplay, several scenes feel lifted from The
Final Problem and The Adventure of the Empty House.
The plot starts
with a string of random murders of women, each having their forefingers
severed. These gruesome acts make Scotland Yard think a serial killer is on the
loose, and Sherlock is called in to help. During his investigation, he and
Watson stumble upon a clue after a deceased man’s daughter brings them a
forefinger believed to belong to one of the victims.
Sherlock deduces
that something bigger is at play here—not just a random serial killer. His
obsession with the idea that Moriarty isn’t dead leads him to conclude that
Moriarty is behind the murders. His belief is confirmed when Moriarty himself
pays him a visit. Sherlock gets another lead when a man is sent to kill him but
seems completely unaware of what he’s doing.
While owning the
entire Rathbone/Bruce series would be a nice addition to any movie collector’s
shelf, I won’t stop you from adding this one. But, as I said, it’s a low point
for me. The excitement I felt watching The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)
kind of vanished halfway through this one. This post-World War II movie feels a
little dry for my taste, and while it has its moments, it doesn’t quite live up
to the charm and intrigue of other films in the series.
What really bugged me was how predictable some parts felt. Even the big reveal lacked the punch I expected, and Moriarty’s grand plan felt underwhelming. Still, if you’re a die-hard Holmes fan, you might find some enjoyment in it—just don’t go in with high expectations.
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