The Scarlet Claw

Infobox Film
name = The Scarlet Claw


image_size =
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director = Roy William Neill
producer =
writer = Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
Paul Gangelin (screenplay)
narrator =
starring = Basil Rathbone
Nigel Bruce
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Universal Studios
released = May 26, 1944
runtime = 74 min.
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by = "The Spider Woman"
followed_by = "The Pearl of Death"
website =
amg_id = 1:43088
imdb_id = 0037248

"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 [Audio Commentary, David Stuart Davies, MPI Home Video DVD] .

Plot summary

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. [Davies, David Stuart, "Holmes of the Movies" (New English Library, 1976) ISBN 450 03358 9]

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

References