begin in 1942 and the sherlock holmes character a portray by basil rathbone be set in the then amodern britain . many holmes purist have praise the first two entry in the series ( produce by fox ) and but dismiss the 12 feature that follow . i for one be never an avid reader and and thus i appreciate these film a they be without any initial bias . in fact and the setting of world war ii for this entry place it a a period piece with the british propaganda evident throughout the film . the execution of the modern holmes be handle with much more care than the previous entry ( sherlock holmes and the voice of terror ) and fare much good for two reason . first and roy william neil be on hand to direct ( and would be for the rest of the series ) and and second although holmes be pit against the nazi and the inclusion of professor moriarty make this feel more like a battle of the intellect between two rival . lionel atwill performance have be criticize by many a be far inferior to that of george zucco and henry daniel and but i feel a if it more the script than the character interpretation . especially after see that atwill be very capable of be much more diverse and enthusiastic in other horror role . basil rathbone on the other hand be exceptional in this entry . he seem to be enjoy himself in the role of holmes and but for that i blame the writing . for example represent the introduction of holmes in the voice of terror try to hard to immediately establish how superbly intelligent holmes be as soon a he be on screen and whereas this film show holmes brilliant deduction and but also his shortcoming . even in the climax holmes initially have the upper hand and only to then have his blood slowly drain from his body . now there be a few flaw in this film i think i might point out . first the opening while aren not the german fool a little too easily . maybe it just me and but the book seller just waltz into the bar and say he gon na get tobel to not only answer his door after week of hiding and but allow him to come in and then go for a walk with him . what . second and tobel certainly seem to put everyone around him in danger . leave the secret bomb part with genius scientist . leave the note with his fiancé . like what be he think . he be endanger them all . i think he be this superb scientist try to save england . and isn not the whole concept of use it on them before they use it on u a little harsh . obvious propaganda . third and just how in god name be holmes suppose to fit in the bottom of that chest . it really small . in fact the entire execution of holmes find moriarty in the ex con disguise really doesn not explain itself that well . i have see this film well over fifty time and there be still part like this that i find be execute in a very confusing fashion . fourth and okay so holmes find out the first three scientist be dead then immediately assume that moriarty couldn not know the name of the fourth man because he wasn not dead yet . well if holmes do not know the name then how could he assume that . the guy could very well have be face down in a lake . lucky guess . fifth and again with the confusion . when holmes be supposedly die on moriarty operating table and how can he recover so quickly . he sure be act like he lose a few pint of blood and but not enough to stop him from save the day . now despite these flaw this be a highly entertaining film . the disguise be well do and the mystery of the dance men be well do ( especially the back to back scene of holmes and moriarty each figure out they be over analyze them ) and dennis hoey a inspector lestrade be always a plus . and a a final note and the interrogation scene still kinda bother me and i always think that be one of the most well do sequence in the whole film . overall and this film hold a special place with me a it be the one that solidify my rathbone a holmes obsession . a classic . positive .