The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio The great ones are back in action.

The Rathbone-Bruce Countdown, Part Two

Continuing on our list of Rathbone-Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies from best to worst (see Part One):

10) Pursuit to Algiers (1945):

This post-war picture takes Holmes and Watson on a ship-board adventure as they are tasked with guarding the heir to the throne of a fictional nation. The film featured some nice red herrings as well as Nigel Bruce singing . If the film had any weakness, it was its villains, who were no match for Holmes. I think the 3 stooges would have been a greater challenge.

9) Terror by Night (1946)

Immediately following, "Pursuit to Algiers," the Producers decided to put Holmes and Watson on a train. Other than the first two scenes, the action is all on the train. It's a taut thriller without a lot of fluff, but manges to get in a decent mystery, plenty of excitement, and a few nice twists at the end.

8 )The Spiderwoman (1944)

A series of suicides by men in their pajamas. Holmes however suspects that it's really a fiendish murder plot. This film features one of the best villains of the series in Gale Sondergaard who is the ultimate femme fatale as the mastermind of the plot. This film features deadly peril for both Holmes and Watson, and a suspenseful ending. Also, not to give away too much, you get to see what targets you'd find in a shooting gallery during World War II.

7) The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

This was the first appearance by Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson and follows the classic mystery novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in a baffling whodunit as Holmes has to find out who is trying to use the myth of the Hound of the Baskerville to do in the young lord of the manor. Hound of  the Baskervilles is also noted for its haunting scenes of the Scottish Moors. Its very realistic and helps to set the mood of the film. These scenes alone make Hound of the Baskervilles a must-see.