Download The Scarlet Claw movie

The Scarlet Claw is a 1944 Sherlock Holmes movie directed by Roy William Neill, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. It is the eighth film of the Rathbone/Bruce series. The device of a killer using a supernatural entity to cover up his crimes is borrowed from The Hound of the Baskervilles, though the rest of the story is original. Critics and fans of the series generally now consider this to be the best of the 12 Universal entries [1].

Holmes and Watson are in Canada attending a conference on the occult, when Lord Penrose receives a message that his wife Lady Penrose has been murdered in the small village of La Mort Rouge. Holmes and Watson are about to return to England when Holmes receives a telegram from Lady Penrose, issued before her death, asking for help as she fears for her life. Holmes decides to investigate her death.

Holmes and Watson arrive at the remote village and discover that the inhabitants are all convinced that the murder is the work of the legendary monster of La Mort Rouge, which roams the marshes around the village. The "monster" is even later seen by Dr. Watson, who describes it as "a ball of fire spitting flames in each direction".

Holmes, however, is skeptical, and recognises Lady Penrose as Lillian Gentry, a former actress, who was involved in a famous murder case several years before when actor Alistair Ramson killed another actor in a jealous rage over her. Ramson was believed to have been killed in a prison escape two years before, but now Holmes believes that Ramson - a master of disguise - is living in the village, having created a new identity, perhaps several, for himself.

Holmes then turns his attention to Judge Brisson, another inhabitant of the village with a connection to the case, as he passed sentence on Ramson. Despite Holmes' warnings Brisson is murdered. Holmes tracks Ramson down to his hideout and discovers there is a third person that Ramson is preparing to kill. However before Holmes can discover who it is, Watson blunders in and Ramsom escapes.

Holmes learns that the third victim is to be Journet, the local inn-keeper, formerly a prison guard. However Journet has gone into hiding. Ramson then kills Marie, Journet's daughter, for not revealing her father's hideout. Holmes finds Journet and convinces him to spring a trap for the murderer.

Holmes and Watson announce that they are returning to England, and Journet comes out of hiding and lets it be known that he will be going to a church across the marsh to offer a prayer for Marie. Ramson attacks Journet out in the marsh, only to find that Holmes has taken his place. The two men struggle, but Ramson escapes only to be killed by Journet with his own weapon, a five-pronged garden weeder.[2]

Film Notes

• At the very end of the movie, Holmes quotes from Winston Churchill, after which Watson asks "Churchill say that?" and Holmes replies "Yes, Churchill." The music swells and Rathbone's voice drops, but he continues to speak several more words which are not heard, but lip movement indicates that he says "God bless him".

Cast

• Basil Rathbone – Sherlock Holmes
• Nigel Bruce – Dr. Watson
• Gerald Hamer – Alistair Ramson
• Paul Cavanagh – Lord William Penrose
• Arthur Hohl – Emile Journet
• Kay Harding – Marie Journet
• Miles Mander – Judge Brisson
• David Clyde – Sgt. Thompson
• Ian Wolfe – Drake
• Victoria Horne – Nora

37 Comments »

Pages: [8] 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All

Enjoyably Creepy Canadian Adventure For Sherlock Holmes

Whilst attending a conference in Canada, Sherlock Holmes investigates
some murders in the village of La Mort Rouge, which the superstitious
locals attribute to a ghostly curse. Are they the work of a phantom, or
a flesh and blood killer ?This, the eighth in the series of Rathbone-Bruce movies, sees Neill's
horror film influence come to the fore (it was the only one he directly
had a hand in writing), with various ghastly goings on, a creepy
setting, and even a scene where Holmes is attacked by the legendary
glowing monster, courtesy of some nice special effects by John P.
Fulton. Of course, as with The Hound Of The Baskervilles, it turns out
that the killer is merely using folklore as a cover for his deadly
actions, but Neill creates a terrific atmosphere of dread and even
manages to make two sly references to Edgar Allan Poe; the village's
name comes from The Masque Of The Red Death, and the innkeeper's
daughter, Marie Journet, is a nod to The Mystery Of Marie Rogêt.
Everybody acquits themselves well, especially Hamer (who also appears
in four of the other films) in the plum multiple role of the spurned
actor turned maniac, and there is a pub full of village bumpkins to
rival The Slaughtered Lamb from An American Werewolf In London. This is
not the very best of the series but as ever, Neill's focused direction,
Rathbone's forthright playing and a cleverly constructed whodunnit
combine into a solid spooky thriller.

ShootingShark from Dundee, Scotland - 28 April 2009

Really good Holmes entry

"The Scarlet Claw" is an unusual Sherlock Holmes mystery in that it
takes place in Canada. Holmes and Watson are in Quebec at an occult
society meeting when they hear about a village legend involving a
phantom that killed three villagers. There are fears that the phantom
has returned - some sheep killed, some strange sitings, and then a
woman, Lady Penrose, is found murdered. Lord Penrose (Paul Cavanagh) is
at the same meeting as Holmes and Watson. Holmes in fact later receives
a letter from the woman asking for his help. The detective and his
doctor friend then go to investigate, and find a lot more than anyone
bargained for - no phantom, but a flesh and blood killer.Good ensemble work, rich atmosphere, and a supernatural story will
remind one of Hound of the Baskervilles. While Holmes and Watson have a
great adventure in "La Morte Rouge," the name of the town, it's not
quite The Hound of the Baskervilles. It is, however, an excellent -
maybe the best - entry into the Universal series, and audiences won't
be disappointed.

blanche-2 from United States - 12 April 2009

Pages: [8] 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 » Show All

Leave your Impressions!