The Woman In Green (1945)

In London, the police are baffled by a series of random murders of young girls because there appears to be no common bond or motive. The girls are not sexually molested or robbed but the killer cuts off the forefinger of each victim. So what's Scotland Yard to do? Ask for help from Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), of course. This Holmes film is not based on any of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories but an original screenplay. Unlike the Conan Doyle stories which are set in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the film takes place in contemporary London circa 1945. The contemporary setting removes much of the atmosphere and color of the Conan Doyle stories and Holmes films which were appropriate to the originals. There is one scene that stands out, at least it did for me. The elegant Hillary Brooke (as the title character) hypnotizes Holmes and the scene is fairly lengthy and Brooke's gentle voice and prodding of Rathbone to sleep almost did me in! Still, it's quite fun and Rathbone by this time didn't even try as he had made the role his own as does Nigel Bruce as the befuddled Dr. Watson. Directed by Roy William Neill. With Henry Daniell as Holmes' great nemesis Dr. Moriarty and Mary Gordon as the housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson.