of course basil rathbone make a wonderful sherlock holmes and george zucco be as good a any moriarty and ida lupino be a great victim . while the lovable bumbling nigel bruce have come to epitomize watson and he have nothing in common with heroic dr. watson create by sir arthur conan doyle and except maybe that they be both doctor . true fan of sherlock holmes can only cringe at bruce interpretation . the plot also have none of the mystery of sherlock holmes . moriarty give away almost his entire plan at the begin leave holmes without a single deduction that the audience have not already make long before . the true genius of sherlock holme story be watch holmes take a number of small clue that lead to implausible deduction which when afterward explain by holmes seem completely and utterly reasonable . i still wait for the definitive sherlock holmes which take the original story and make them a excite on screen a they be to read . if that be what you be look for and this movie be a flop .