Change Your Image
chrispattyanne
Reviews
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939)
Good Acting, Terrible Plot
Of course Basil Rathbone makes a wonderful Sherlock Holmes, George Zucco is as good as any Moriarty and Ida Lupino is a great victim. While the lovable bumbling Nigel Bruce has come to epitomize Watson, he has nothing in common with heroic Dr. Watson created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, except maybe that they are both doctors. True fans of Sherlock Holmes can only cringe at Bruce's interpretation.
The Plot also has none of the mystery of Sherlock Holmes. Moriarty gives away almost his entire plan at the beginning leaving Holmes without a single deduction that the audience has not already made long before. The true genius of Sherlock Holme's stories is watching Holmes take a number of small clues that lead to implausible deductions which when afterward explained by Holmes seem completely and utterly reasonable. I still wait for the definitive Sherlock Holmes which takes the original stories and makes them as exciting on screen as they are to read. If that is what you are looking for, this movie is a flop.
Mr. Cohen Takes a Walk (1935)
Everyones life has worth and meaning.
I just saw this movie on TCM. What an uplifting fabulous movie that shows us that each individual is of immense worth. Mr. Cohen thought that he was too old to be of use to any one so he went on the road. Along the way he befriends many people and even adopts a dog. He finds a way to slip money to people anonymously, people who are good but are in need of help. He runs out of money just as he finds out that his son needs his help to avert a strike at their department store. He must depend upon the help of a stranger to get back to London before the workers leave (Just as the sale of the year is beginning.) He gets a ride with a farmer and arrives in time to save the day. I give this film a ten because everyone needs to be reminded that the little things we do in life can affect everyone around us and give meaning to our lives. Also what goes around comes around.