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Actors: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Patricia Morison
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill (Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Code) |
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In a workshop at Dartmoor Prison a prisoner is making music boxes. He tells another prisoner that he will serve his full sentence rather than tell the authorities what they want to know. Three music boxes are put up for auction at Gaylord Art Gallery in London and are bought by an elderly gentleman, a young brunette and a Scottish father. An anxious latecomer, Colonel Cavanaugh, who is working for Hilda Courtney, enquires about the boxes after the auction is over. He obtains two of the purchasers' addresses after bribing the auctioneer.
The elderly gentleman, Julian Emery, is a collector of music boxes. He shows his charming collection to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, including the box from the auction, bought for its unusual tune, which he plays for them. Later the glamorous Mrs Courtney visits Emery and tries to buy the box, but as a collector he is unwilling to sell. While she is flirting with him her jealous chauffeur kills him with a throwing knife. She is furious, as the murder is bound to draw unwelcome attention, and indeed Sherlock Holmes immediately deduces a connection with the music box and visits the auction house. Mrs Courtney, disguised as a charwoman, obtains the Scottish box, but arrives at the brunette's shop, Clifford's Toys, only to find the box has been sold - to Sherlock Holmes.
When Holmes hears that John Davidson made the boxes in Dartmoor, he realizes that they somehow contain a clue to the location of the duplicate set of Bank of England £5 plates which Davidson stole months earlier. X-rays reveal nothing, so the clue must be in the tune, which varies slightly between the three boxes. Holmes has only one music box, while the criminals have two. Who will figure out the location first?
--Maureen Evans, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill (Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Code) |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 80%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Crime story:
- being chased by crooks who want treasure/$$$$
Criminal enemy is...
- stolen goods organization
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- private investigator
Age:
- 40's-50's
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Genius
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- white/grey
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- thief/con artist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Body type
- average (woman)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
City?
Yes
City:
- London
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- non-gory references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- challenged
How many deaths in film?
- 2
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 1 (None)
Kind of violence:
- guns
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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