sherlock holmes film from the classic universal era tend to range in quality . this range go from very good to above average and with none of their output be abysmal and or astoundingly brilliant . sherlock holmes and the secret weapon fit snugly into the middle ground quality wise and and and a ever and it an enjoyable outing that fan of the series and like myself and will enjoy very much . this film see holmes in the middle of a world war 2 plot by the evil nazi to steal a swiss scientist invention and which could turn out to be a key element on the battlefield . the world war 2 sherlock holmes film do not tend to be as good a the one such a the scarlet claw where holmes be conduct private investigation and a theyre usually dog by too much propaganda or a plot that be more to do with the war than the mystery . this one and however and pretty much stay away from both and by put the focus on holmes and his investigation and the film work much well . perhaps universal saw what bring down the early voice of terror and change the focus because of that . basil rathbone once again put in an excellent maverick performance a the ace detective and while nigel bruce doesn not feature as much a normal and it nice to see him when he do . the two do not spend much time together and which be disappoint because their chemistry be always one of the best thing about holmes film while but this do allow more time for holmes to showboat in various disguise and which be always lot of fun . dennis hoey lestrade be definitely my favourite of the secondary character and and while he not as funny a usual while his facial expression be great and and his presence help to emphasise how great holmes be . his scene with watson in a car follow paint drop on the road be my favourite moment of the film . it good to see holmes nemesis and professor moriarty return and even if it do seem like he just be throw in for the hell of it . lionel atwill performance isn not as good a george zucco in the adventure of sherlock holmes and a he never really convince that he be indeed a brilliant mind while but see him lock horn with the protagonist be fun and it nice to see him in the film to offset the world war 2 theme and which be never as interesting a holmes himself . the film start off a more of a thriller than a mystery flick while but once it get go and it hard to put down and this be a more than solid entry in universal oeuvre .