THE SCARLET CLAW
US, 1944, 70 minutes, Black and white.
Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gerard Hamer.
Directed by Roy William Neal.
The Scarlet Claw is one of a series of Sherlock Holmes stories (updated to the middle of the 20th century) made by Universal Studios after the initial success of The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes at 20th Century Fox in 1939. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce continue their partnership as the eminent detective and his friend Dr Watson. Rathbone clearly has made the role his own, a strong presence, sharp logic, interest in detection - never smiling but able to be humorous and ironic at the expense of Dr Watson. Nigel Bruce continues to be the bluff Dr Watson.
This film acknowledges in the screenplay the references and influences of The Hound of the Baskervilles and a story by G.K. Chesterton where a postman was so unobtrusive that nobody realised that he was the murderer. In this film there is a monster in the marshes. The actor, the guilty party in the film, adopts one of his disguises as the local postman. The film is an interesting murder mystery, solved in the eminent way by Sherlock Holmes after the opening of the film at a meeting of the Royal Canadian Occult Society. There is nothing occult about the goings-on in the film - all it needs is facts and the deduction of Holmes. The setting is Canada at the end of World War II - with a final very patriotic quotation from Winston Churchill on the role of Canada as being part of the empire as well as the neighbour of the United States.
1. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes stories and films? Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce incarnating Holmes and Dr Watson? The early 40s and the popular series of short films? In retrospect and in comparisons with other casts of Sherlock Holmes films and television series?
2. Black and white photography, the studio, the suggestions of Canada? Eerie atmosphere, Quebecois atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The personality of Sherlock Holmes, visiting from England, at the Royal Canadian Occult Society meeting, his politeness, his scepticism, his alleged openness, wanting facts? Being insulted by Lord Penrose? The letter from Lady Penrose? His going to the village, his investigations, the visit to Lord Penrose, looking at the corpse? Working with the local police? Journet and Marie, seeing him hit her, his reactions, questions? His decision to go out at night into the marshes, the piece of cloth from the shirt? The visit to the judge, the hostility, catching him on his feet, the truth? The information about the shirts? His being too late to stop the judge being killed? His friendship with Dr Watson, relying on his bluff nature to be obvious in the inn and attract the attention of everyone there while he slipped away? The confrontation with Tanner, his escape? The photo, the discussion with Lord Penrose, the truth about the actor, his madness and vengeance, his escape, his revenge? The final setting up of the killer, Holmes pretending to be Journet, the confrontation in the marshes? The solution of the case?
4. Dr Watson, bluff, over-sensitive, very British in style and speaking manner? His being in the inn and getting everybody's attention while thinking he was unobtrusive? Falling into the holes in the marsh? His saving Holmes's life by treading on the steps? His participation in the finale - and the final falling in a hole?
5. The influence of The Hound of the Baskervilles, the marshes, the monster, the clawed throats, the sheep, Lady Penrose? The garden trowel? The police and the investigations? Superstition in the village, the name of the village La Morte Rouge? The reality of the escaped prisoner, his disguises, his revenge? A murder mystery to be solved by logic?
6. Lord Penrose, the occult society, his beliefs, criticism of Holmes, ordering him out of the house? The later interview, the truth about his wife? The butler, his resigning, drinking in the hotel? The range of characters in the town, especially at the hotel? Potts the policeman, the discussions with Holmes and Dr Watson, discussion of murder mysteries? Delivering the letters, his talking about fear? The Father Brown story and the postman? His being unmasked as the killer, his death? His disguises as Tanner the boatman? The disguise as Laura the maid and killing the judge? The confrontation with Journet? The killing of Marie? The background of his being an actor, the murder, the judgment, prison and escape?
7. The victims? Journet and the final confrontation, especially after the death of his daughter, justice being seen to be done?
