THE FILM EXAMINER
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Poster
Verified Unrenewed Public Domain 1942 Feature

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

Directed by Roy William Neill → • Production: Universal Pictures
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) is the fourth in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of 14 Sherlock Holmes films, which updated the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the then-present day. The film is credited as an adaptation of Conan Doyle's 1903 short story "The Adventure of the Dancing Men", though the only element from the source material is the dancing men code. Rather, it is a spy film taking place on the background of the then-ongoing Second World War with an original premise. The film concerns the kidnapping of a Swiss scientist by their nemesis Professor Moriarty to steal a new bomb sight and sell it to Nazi Germany. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson have to crack a secret code to save the country.
Runtime
68 minutes
Aspect Ratio
4:3 Academy (Pillarbox)
Archival Copies
1 Vault Holding(s)
Classification
1929–1963 Unrenewed
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The Video Boneyard Vault Holdings

Archival Master Preserved in Studio Vaults

This title is cataloged and preserved across physical storage drives D: & E: in The Video Boneyard archival collection (1 vault master holding). A broadcast-grade restoration with dynamic loudness normalization is scheduled for streaming release on our YouTube channel.

Notable Screen Cast

William Post Jr.
Lead Role
John Burton
Co-Star
Rudolph Anders
Co-Star
Michael Mark
Supporting Cast
Harry Woods
Supporting Cast
Dennis Hoey
Featured Cast
Philip Van Zandt
Featured Cast
Henry Daniell
Featured Cast
Holmes Herbert
Featured Cast
Harry Cording
Featured Cast
Paul Fix
Featured Cast
Nigel Bruce
Dr. Watson
Lionel Atwill
Professor Moriarty
Mary Gordon
Featured Cast
Henry Victor
Featured Cast
Basil Rathbone
Sherlock Holmes