Sherlock Holmes - The Scarlet Claw

The single most famous Sherlock Holmes story...as well as the most popular...is, without a doubt, "The Hound of the Baskervilles". It has been in publication forever and is anthologized, eulogized, and satirized endlessly. And it has appeared on film almost as much as it has in print. Likely no other Holmes story has seen more screen incarnations as this one.In the late 1930s Twentieth Century Fox did a classic version of this story with Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson...and created a version of this detective team that became the long-standing yardstick for judging Holmes/Watson screen portrayals.Oddly, though, Fox didn't really seem to have an inclination to carry on with this concept in series format, and so "Hound" was basically a "one-off" for them (Though they DID do one weak sequel, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", which paled in comparison). Not so with Universal Pictures, however. They liked the idea of a Rathbone/Bruce series and cranked one up in the 1940s that did well.In the mid 1940s Universal decided to re-tool "Hound" and this film, "The Scarlet Claw", is the result. The Baskervilles got dropped from the storyline, as did Dartmoor and the giant "hellhound"and its demonic legend.The story got moved to a desolate marshland in Canada and the hound became a ghostly,glowing, manlike "marsh monster"(in "Hound" the villain paints the killer dog's mouth with luminous paint, in "Claw" the villain wears luminous clothing...a twist on the original, but very effective). Some characters,relationships and motives got reworked and Holmes & Watson were then set on the trail. The Result? The hands-down BEST film in the Universal Holmes series. Without a doubt. Tense, eerie, exciting. "Claw" is all of these things and more. If you like Sherlock Holmes then you'll love this. A real Keeper on DVD.What was that??? Did you hear something behind you???? Maybe you should walk a little faster with this fog creeping in.

Excellent classic Sherlock.

One of the best Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone. Great plot, a little scary, great suspense. Love the Dr. Watson jokes, and Sherlock actually smiles more.

Classic Sherlock Holmes movie starring the best ever Sherlock Holmes !!!! Would highly recommend it!!

It’s full of noir atmospherics and characters, from a script co-written by the Director, Roy William Neill. (Who, supposedly, also did the occasional narration in the film. BTW: this is the only film, in the Rathbone-Bruce, Sherlock Holmes series of films, that has narration in it!)Of all the 14 films produced in this series of movies, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, “The Scarlet Claw” is my favorite from before, during and after the WWII period. I still watch it every now and then, to this day.(After that, numbers 2 and 3 would be; 2) “Hound of the Baskervilles” and 3) “Pursuit to Algiers”.)

Going to tell you the same thing for every Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce "Sherlock Holmes" movie I purchased! They're all GREAT! I've been a fan of these movies and those actors since I was a child and that's been a whole lot of years! I now own every one they ever made with those two actors. Not interested in the others. Going to London on vacation next year and even plan to stop by and visit the "Sherlock Holmes Museum" there on--you guessed it--221 B Baker Street! :-D

Of all the 14 movies of this Holmes / Rathbone / Bruce series, this is my favorite. For the most part, it is sort of dark, haunting, and has a great air of mystery to it. The presence of Rathbone and Bruce only adds a touch of class to this timeless classic. The next one in descending order would be "the House of Fear." Same two leading actors in the next great one of this series of films. OK. "the Hound of the Baskervilles" gets the Bronze. Great picks on all counts. Family films suitable for all members of the family, including the grandkids.

Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone are the greatest Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson!