🎬 The Scarlet Claw (1944) is a gripping black-and-white mystery-thriller film directed by Roy William Neill. Part of the beloved Sherlock Holmes film series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, this entry takes the iconic detective far from London to rural Canada, where a series of gruesome murders shrouded in superstition demand logical investigation. With its gothic atmosphere, supernatural overtones, and a compelling mystery, The Scarlet Claw is often considered one of the finest in the Holmes-Rathbone canon.
🧠 Plot Summary:
When Sherlock Holmes receives a letter from the recently deceased Lady Penrose — sent before her untimely death — he and Dr. Watson head to the small Canadian village of La Mort Rouge. The townsfolk fear a supernatural creature lurking in the marshes, but Holmes suspects foul play rooted in the real world.
As they delve deeper into the mystery, Holmes uncovers a connection between the current murders and a series of past crimes. The killer, cloaked in superstition, hides behind a monstrous persona to divert suspicion. It’s up to Holmes to pierce through the fog of fear and unmask the real villain before more victims fall prey to The Scarlet Claw.
🧠 Plot Summary:
When Sherlock Holmes receives a letter from the recently deceased Lady Penrose — sent before her untimely death — he and Dr. Watson head to the small Canadian village of La Mort Rouge. The townsfolk fear a supernatural creature lurking in the marshes, but Holmes suspects foul play rooted in the real world.
As they delve deeper into the mystery, Holmes uncovers a connection between the current murders and a series of past crimes. The killer, cloaked in superstition, hides behind a monstrous persona to divert suspicion. It’s up to Holmes to pierce through the fog of fear and unmask the real villain before more victims fall prey to The Scarlet Claw.
Category
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Short filmTranscript
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00:02:20Who could be ringing the church bell at this time?
00:02:24Maybe it ain't an ooh, father.
00:02:27Maybe it's an it.
00:02:30And maybe it's tolling the bell.
00:02:33Oh, there's no such things as ghosts and monsters.
00:02:36Haven't I made that clear to you?
00:02:38Something tore the throats out of Charlie Rousseau's sheep.
00:02:41And that something didn't leave any tracks.
00:02:43Andy Trent here saw a weird glow moving across the marshes last night.
00:02:48And this morning, he found two of his sheep dead.
00:02:51Their throats torn open?
00:02:53Maybe the same thing that killed Andy's sheep is tolling the bell.
00:02:57I was on my way just now to deliver a special letter at Penrose Manor
00:03:02when a strange light appeared on the road before me.
00:03:06Then moved quickly across the marshes and faded into the mist.
00:03:11I turned the cart around and hurried back here.
00:03:14It's not real. First the light and now the bell.
00:03:17There's a very sound and logical reason for it.
00:03:20And I'm going to find out what it is.
00:03:22You can drive me to the church pots.
00:03:24The letter can wait. No hurry.
00:03:27Nothing will harm you if you're with a priest.
00:03:30Is that true, father?
00:03:32What you need is more faith and less imagination.
00:03:35Come along.
00:03:51I'd better deliver that letter to the manor.
00:03:54I'm sure it's important.
00:04:20Thank goodness that bell has stopped.
00:04:23Odd. It's tolling at this time of night.
00:04:26I don't like it.
00:04:28What with this phantom roaming the marshes.
00:04:30I saw it. Again tonight.
00:04:32Who would that be?
00:04:42Who's there?
00:04:44It's me.
00:04:46It's me.
00:04:48It's me.
00:04:50It's me.
00:04:52It's me.
00:04:54It's me.
00:04:56It's me.
00:04:58It's me.
00:05:01Where's Lord Penrose?
00:05:03He's gone to Quebec.
00:05:04Get him on the phone immediately.
00:05:06What's happened, father?
00:05:07Lady Penrose. Dead.
00:05:09Clutching the bell rope.
00:05:10Calling for help.
00:05:12It was dreadful.
00:05:13Her ladyship.
00:05:14Call Sergeant Thompson at the police station.
00:05:16Ask him to come to the church immediately.
00:05:19Come with me, pots. I'll need you.
00:05:21Yes, father.
00:05:24Operator. Put me through to Quebec.
00:05:27Lord William Penrose.
00:05:30Yes.
00:05:31He's addressing a meeting of the Royal Canadian Occult Society
00:05:34at a Quebec hotel.
00:05:36It's urgent, sir.
00:05:38Paige.
00:05:39Yes, sir.
00:05:40Lord Penrose.
00:05:41Lamont Rouge is on the telephone.
00:05:43It's urgent. He's in the gold room.
00:05:44Yes, sir.
00:05:54Gentlemen.
00:05:56As you know,
00:05:57the greatest obstacle in proving the authenticity of the occult
00:06:00lies in finding facts.
00:06:02However,
00:06:04if the facts are there,
00:06:05even the most hardened skeptic,
00:06:07provided it has an open mind,
00:06:09must finally acknowledge the actual existence of the supernatural.
00:06:13Do you admit that, Mr. Holmes?
00:06:15Facts are always convincing, Lord Penrose.
00:06:18It's the conclusions drawn from facts that are frequently in error.
00:06:21Yes, in the case of the Hound of the Baskervilles,
00:06:23as well as in the adventure of the Sussex Empire.
00:06:26We found that...
00:06:27Quiet, please.
00:06:28Oh, sorry.
00:06:29Well, gentlemen,
00:06:31this time I have facts.
00:06:33Cold facts.
00:06:34Many years ago,
00:06:36100 to be exact,
00:06:37an apparition appeared at night
00:06:39in the village now called Lamont Rouge.
00:06:42The following morning,
00:06:43three people were found dead,
00:06:45their throats torn out,
00:06:46hence the town's rather grim name.
00:06:48Interesting years.
00:06:50But facts?
00:06:52No.
00:06:53I hardly think the tales of superstitious peasants can be considered...
00:06:56I haven't finished, Mr. Holmes.
00:06:58Lamont Rouge has again been the scene of these strange and unexplainable occurrences.
00:07:02Unexplainable, that is, from your point of view.
00:07:04Several of our most responsible citizens
00:07:06have actually seen the strange apparition on the marshes at night.
00:07:09And next morning,
00:07:10sheep were discovered with their throats torn out
00:07:12and no traces of the killer anywhere to be found.
00:07:14Oh, you've read about it in the papers.
00:07:16Oh, as a matter of fact, I haven't.
00:07:18It was merely a deduction.
00:07:19A rather obvious one, I'm afraid.
00:07:22Deductions are a weakness of mine, as Dr. Watson can tell you.
00:07:25Would you believe it? Holmes can...
00:07:27Well, those are facts, Mr. Holmes.
00:07:29Ignore them if you can.
00:07:30But it's very urgent, sir.
00:07:32Okay, well, go ahead.
00:07:35I never ignore facts, Lord Penrose,
00:07:37and I have no doubt that the incident of the sheep with their throats torn out
00:07:40is unquestionably a fact.
00:07:42However, the interpretation of this fact
00:07:44as being final proof of the existence of the supernatural
00:07:46is merely supposition
00:07:48and therefore cannot be accepted without further data.
00:07:50Your opinions, Mr. Holmes,
00:07:51are undoubtedly the result of your inability
00:07:53to cope with something beyond the realm of your comprehension.
00:07:55I'm sorry, John, but this ridiculous skepticism...
00:07:59Yes, what is it, my boy?
00:08:00La mort rouge on the telephone, sir.
00:08:02Very urgent, my lord.
00:08:03Excuse me, gentlemen.
00:08:08I'm afraid, Lord Penrose...
00:08:10Oh, it's quite understandable, Sir John.
00:08:11Lord Penrose is deeply entrenched in his beliefs.
00:08:14That's his privilege.
00:08:15Hang it all, Holmes.
00:08:16The fellow was positively rude.
00:08:17Well, shall we say a little overwrought, Watson?
00:08:23I'm leaving immediately.
00:08:30Order my cart once and hurry.
00:08:32Yes, sir.
00:08:38Gentlemen, my wife has just been found dead.
00:08:41Her throat torn out
00:08:42in exactly the same manner as the sheep.
00:08:44This is terrible.
00:08:46I say, you don't think that it's...
00:08:48Undoubtedly, Mr. Holmes,
00:08:49you would call it murder by person or persons unknown.
00:08:51I'm sorry, if I can be of any assistance...
00:08:53Thank you, no.
00:08:54I'm afraid the happenings in La mort rouge
00:08:55wouldn't interest you, Mr. Holmes.
00:08:57Under the circumstances, I think we should adjourn.
00:09:00Yes, indeed, Sir John.
00:09:02Holmes, what a terrible thing.
00:09:04Now, Sir John, would you be good enough
00:09:05to convey our condolences to Lord Penrose?
00:09:07Yes, I'd be glad.
00:09:13Can't we get something to eat before we leave?
00:09:15You don't often get food like you do here.
00:09:17Don't you ever think of anything else besides your stomach?
00:09:19No, not often.
00:09:20I've got to get a paper.
00:09:21Good morning.
00:09:22Good morning, Sir.
00:09:23I imagine you'll be glad to get back to London, Mr. Holmes.
00:09:25Yes, indeed.
00:09:26Oh, by the way, there's a letter for you, Sir.
00:09:28Here's something about Lady Penrose.
00:09:31She was found in the church with her throat horribly cut.
00:09:34Evidently dragged herself from the marshes nearby
00:09:37and tried to summon help with a bell-rope.
00:09:41What's it...
00:09:45What is it, Holmes?
00:09:46Listen to this, Watson.
00:09:48What?
00:09:49My dear Mr. Holmes,
00:09:50I have every reason to believe my life is in danger.
00:09:53Yet, if you were to ask me how I know,
00:09:55I couldn't give you a logical answer.
00:09:57There is nothing tangible, yet like a terrible premonition,
00:10:01it is all so frankly real.
00:10:03I heard of your being in Quebec,
00:10:05and I'm turning to you, a stranger, and asking your help
00:10:08in the frantic hope that you will not fail me.
00:10:11Who is it from?
00:10:13It's signed Lillian Penrose.
00:10:14Lillian Pen...
00:10:15Lady Penrose?
00:10:17A letter from the dead woman, or...
00:10:19What's it mean, Holmes?
00:10:20I should say that Lady Penrose lived in fear of her life.
00:10:24Some secret hidden in her past, in all probability.
00:10:27Oh, perhaps it isn't as simple as that.
00:10:29What if... if Penrose is right?
00:10:31I'm glad we're going back to London.
00:10:33Things like that can't happen in Baker Street.
00:10:35Where's the pity, Watson?
00:10:36Huh?
00:10:40Do you know a village by the name of La Marouche?
00:10:42Yes, sir. It's about 12 miles from here, up towards the falls.
00:10:46Wait, Scott Holmes, you mean you're going to take on the case?
00:10:48Quiet. Telephone the airport and cancel our reservations, will you?
00:10:50Certainly, sir.
00:10:51Consider, Watson, the irony, the tragic irony.
00:10:54We've accepted the commission from the victim to find her murderer.
00:10:58For the first time, we've been retained by a corpse.
00:11:07There seems to be a bell.
00:11:09Never mind. Come along.
00:11:11Do you think we should?
00:11:33What a cold, cheerless-looking room.
00:11:35Yes.
00:11:41Come along.
00:12:04What do you want? Who are you?
00:12:06Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
00:12:08I apologize for this intrusion.
00:12:12Would you mind, gentlemen?
00:12:19Mr. Holmes, is it your custom to burst into people's houses without ringing the bell?
00:12:23We couldn't find the bell, sir.
00:12:25If you've come here to use the death of my wife to prove your theories, I must ask you to leave.
00:12:29Penrose.
00:12:30I received this letter from Lady Penrose this morning.
00:12:38I said that was devilish awkward.
00:12:40Devilish awkward?
00:12:51I'm afraid you're a little late, Mr. Holmes. My wife's dead.
00:12:54And I've come here to find her murderer.
00:12:56You might have saved yourself the trouble.
00:12:58I'm convinced that the solution to this horrible deed lies in an understanding of psychic phenomena.
00:13:02Although I don't expect you to admit that, Mr. Holmes.
00:13:05I assure you, Penrose, I neither believe nor disbelieve in anything including psychic phenomena.
00:13:09If I could just...
00:13:11See, Lady Penrose.
00:13:12It might help dispel much of the mystery that surrounds these happenings and the morals.
00:13:16Drake!
00:13:17Why don't you answer the blasted thing?
00:13:19Sergeant Thompson has charge of the case.
00:13:21You'll find him at the police station.
00:13:22And now I must ask you to go and take your assistant with you.
00:13:25You'll excuse me if I don't show you out.
00:13:27Drake! Drake!
00:13:30Drake, where are you?
00:13:34What?
00:13:40Holmes, I've seen her before.
00:13:42Right, Watson, you have.
00:13:43Yes, but where?
00:13:45Never mind that now.
00:13:46We must examine the wound before Penrose returns and has us thrown out of the house.
00:13:53Clumsy job.
00:13:55Just missed the jugular vein.
00:13:57It must have bled to death.
00:13:58I don't think so.
00:13:59I don't think so.
00:14:00I don't think so.
00:14:01I don't think so.
00:14:02I don't think so.
00:14:03I don't think so.
00:14:04I don't think so.
00:14:05I don't think so.
00:14:06I don't think so.
00:14:07The jugular vein.
00:14:08It must have bled to death.
00:14:09It must have bled for several hours, eh?
00:14:11Possibly more.
00:14:12Long enough for Penrose to leave Le Monde Rouge and reach Quebec in time for the meeting?
00:14:16Holmes, you don't suspect Penrose...
00:14:18I suspect nobody, Watson.
00:14:20I was just asking a question.
00:14:25I beg your pardon, gentlemen.
00:14:32There is another who desired the death of her leadership.
00:14:35I saw it last night in the fields, moving in and out of the shadows.
00:14:38You're the butler, aren't you?
00:14:40I was the butler.
00:14:41I've given notice.
00:14:48Drake.
00:14:53Get out.
00:14:54Get out of this.
00:15:02I trust you found what you were looking for.
00:15:04Two things have been made clear to me, Penrose.
00:15:06That your wife was murdered and that she's Lillian Gentry.
00:15:10Lillian Gentry?
00:15:12Will you leave or must I call the police?
00:15:14That will not be necessary.
00:15:16We're on our way to the police station now.
00:15:21The wounds found on Lady Penrose's throat are identical with those found on the throats of the dead sheep.
00:15:27Now, I'm not a superstitious man, Mr. Holmes,
00:15:30but I don't know of any weapon capable of inflicting such wounds
00:15:33except an animal's claw.
00:15:35Of course, it could be done by a five-pronged garden weeder.
00:15:38Not that garden weeder, Mr. Holmes. That's mine.
00:15:41I use it to weed the garden at the back of the jail.
00:15:44I'm inclined to agree with Sergeant Holmes.
00:15:46A weapon such as that would have severed the jugular vein
00:15:49and death would have followed immediately.
00:15:51Lady Penrose lived long enough to drag herself to the church and toll the bell
00:15:55in a frantic effort to call for help.
00:15:57Yes, yes, I know all about that.
00:15:59But there must be some logical motive instead of all these goblins and monsters.
00:16:03Sergeant, have you ever heard of Lillian Gentry?
00:16:07No. No, I can't say that I have, Mr. Holmes.
00:16:10She was a famous actress who came to America some time ago.
00:16:13She appeared for many years in the United States and Canada.
00:16:16Then suddenly she disappeared.
00:16:18Her disappearance was never explained and she was soon forgotten.
00:16:21But what's the connection between Lillian Gentry's disappearance and the death of Lady Penrose?
00:16:27Lillian Gentry and Lady Penrose are one and the same person.
00:16:30The same person?
00:16:32Precisely.
00:16:33One more question, Sergeant.
00:16:35Do your files show anyone with a prison record living in La Morouge?
00:16:39No, Mr. Holmes.
00:16:41The only person having any connection with a prison is Emile Journet.
00:16:45He came here two years ago with his daughter and bought the hotel.
00:16:48He was a guard at Town and Prison.
00:16:50Thank you, Sergeant.
00:16:51I hear there are a lot of prairie chicken in these parts.
00:16:54I'd like to have a bag of them someday.
00:16:56I think that can be arranged, Doctor.
00:16:58Yes, we can stop over at the farmyard and you can shoot all the chickens you want.
00:17:01That's all very funny, Holmes.
00:17:03Here you are, old fellow.
00:17:05We're going to engage rooms at Mr. Journet's hotel.
00:17:08Oh, dear.
00:17:10Landlord!
00:17:12I say, landlord!
00:17:14The place seems deserted.
00:17:15It won't be for long if you build it like that.
00:17:17Landlord!
00:17:18Oh, sorry, Holmes. I've got to try and make some...
00:17:23Yes, monsieur?
00:17:24My dear, have you got a room for us?
00:17:26Yes, monsieur.
00:17:27Good.
00:17:29Sign here, please.
00:17:30I'll sign for us both.
00:17:31Oh, thank you.
00:17:32You seem very young to be in charge here.
00:17:35Yes, monsieur.
00:17:36You are Mademoiselle Journet?
00:17:39Marie Journet, monsieur.
00:17:41My dear, you've been crying.
00:17:43Why?
00:17:44Papa's going away.
00:17:45Oh, come now. Is that such a tragedy?
00:17:48Would you cry if your papa were going away, Watson?
00:17:50I don't believe so.
00:17:52This way, monsieur.
00:17:53Bring your bags, please.
00:17:54Yes, of course.
00:17:56Wouldn't I be unhappy if my father were away?
00:17:59I've seen my father, you know.
00:18:01He died about 20 years ago in Cheltenham.
00:18:24Some talk of Alex London, some of Hercules.
00:18:28Of Victor and Roy Sondon, such great names as these.
00:18:33Bills, bills, bills.
00:18:35That's the way it goes, Emil.
00:18:37It costs money to be born, and it costs money to die.
00:18:40Do you know who that was in the car?
00:18:42That was Sherlock Holmes.
00:18:44He's here now.
00:18:45What do you think he'll find?
00:18:47Ghosts and monsters.
00:18:48What else is there for him to find?
00:18:50I don't know.
00:18:52You're afraid, Emil.
00:18:54Of course I am, and so are you.
00:18:56Who isn't?
00:18:57Why should Sherlock Holmes come here?
00:18:59To investigate the death of Lady Penrose.
00:19:01What else?
00:19:02I'm afraid Mr. Holmes will return to London a sadder, but a wiser man.
00:19:07Why do you say that?
00:19:08Well, you can't arrest ghosts and monsters, can you now?
00:19:11Well, I'm on my way.
00:19:13The mail must be delivered.
00:19:15Some talk of Hercules, some of Hercules.
00:19:18Some talk of Hercules, some of Hercules.
00:19:24That's better.
00:19:25This room gives me the creeps.
00:19:27It is very seldom used, monsieur.
00:19:29It isn't often that strangers come to La Morouge, and when they do, they never stay.
00:19:33I can't say that I blame them.
00:19:35Will your father be away for long?
00:19:37I don't know, monsieur.
00:19:39Where is he leaving?
00:19:40I don't know.
00:19:41Marie!
00:19:42If you need anything, just ring, monsieur.
00:19:45That girl's frightened, Holmes.
00:19:47Obviously.
00:19:49She made the mistake of telling us that her father was leaving.
00:19:52You don't think that Jeunet...
00:19:56Suppose we have a little talk to Monsieur Jeunet.
00:19:58It might prove illuminating.
00:19:59Didn't I tell you not to answer any questions?
00:20:01Yes, papa.
00:20:02Didn't I tell you to keep a silent tongue in your mouth?
00:20:04Yes, papa.
00:20:05So you told them I was going away?
00:20:06Yes, papa.
00:20:07I ought to teach you to keep your mouth shut.
00:20:10Monsieur Jeunet, just why are you leaving La Morouge at this particular time?
00:20:14I'm not leaving.
00:20:16What gave you the idea that I was?
00:20:18Your daughter.
00:20:19My daughter's mistaken.
00:20:20I merely said that I would like to go away.
00:20:24I've just been teaching her the difference.
00:20:27Yes, so I observed.
00:20:28I can't say that I approve of your method, sir.
00:20:30I'll ask you to mind your own business.
00:20:34Run along, dear.
00:20:40Oh, there, my dear.
00:20:42Disgraceful hitting a child!
00:20:45Monsieur Jeunet is quite right.
00:20:46It's none of our business.
00:20:49Monsieur Jeunet, what do you know of the death of Lady Penrose?
00:20:53Only what everyone in the village knows, that she was killed by the monster.
00:20:57You've seen this monster?
00:20:58No, but who else could have done this terrible thing?
00:21:01Sheep have been killed, their throats torn out.
00:21:05You were a dealer at Tannan prison, weren't you?
00:21:07Oh, yes, monsieur.
00:21:09Why did you decide to come to La Morouge?
00:21:12Well, I always wanted to own a hotel,
00:21:15and I heard this one was for sale, so I bought it.
00:21:18That was two years ago?
00:21:19Yes.
00:21:20I believe it was about the time the monster made his reappearance, wasn't it?
00:21:24Do you suspect me of being the monster, Mr. Holmes?
00:21:26No, no, no, no, no.
00:21:28I was just remarking a coincidence.
00:21:30I thought you didn't believe in those things, Holmes.
00:21:32Quite right, Watson, I don't.
00:21:34At least, not in the supernatural variety.
00:21:38Not the werewolf who bites into his victim's throat with his teeth,
00:21:43but a monster who uses for his weapon of death a five-pronged garden weeder.
00:21:50Yes, that's a little more on my line.
00:21:52I don't know what you mean.
00:21:55I mean that this monster's been recreated
00:21:58and used as a screen behind which to commit a horrible crime.
00:22:01Whoever did it felt certain that no suspicion could possibly fall on him,
00:22:05but my unexpected arrival upset his plans.
00:22:08Very possibly, he became frightened and decided to run away.
00:22:11You're right, monsieur.
00:22:14I was running away,
00:22:16but not for the reason you think, but in fear of my life.
00:22:19And who would want to kill you?
00:22:21I don't know.
00:22:22It's like some terrible premonition, but it's so real.
00:22:25If any word, it's in Lady Penrose's letter.
00:22:28Yes.
00:22:30That still doesn't explain this garden weeder.
00:22:33I swear to you, I know nothing about its being here.
00:22:37Haven't we been assigned to that fellow, Sergeant Thompson?
00:22:40No, Watson, that won't be necessary.
00:22:43Monsieur Journet knows as well as we do that you can't run away from yourself.
00:22:47Oh, uh, would you be so good as to return this to Sergeant Thompson, monsieur?
00:22:52I took it away quite by accident.
00:22:56Monsieur Journet knows as well as we do.
00:23:00You can't run away from yourself.
00:23:03This old Journet seems a very frightened chap.
00:23:07Do you think he'd have any connection with Lady Penrose's murder?
00:23:11Time will tell us many things, Watson.
00:23:13And now, my dear fellow, there's something you can do for me, if you will.
00:23:16Anything, Holmes?
00:23:17I knew I could rely on you.
00:23:19I want you to mingle with the people in the cafe tonight.
00:23:21Find out all you can and keep a particularly sharp eye on Journet.
00:23:24But you sort of take over the case.
00:23:26That's right, old boy.
00:23:28I want to get a good night's rest before starting out again in the morning.
00:23:31Oh, and incidentally, make yourself as inconspicuous as possible, will you?
00:23:36Inconspicuous?
00:23:38You can depend on me.
00:24:22Oh, thank you, my dear.
00:24:24I'm glad to see that the tears are all gone.
00:24:26Are you feeling better?
00:24:27Thanks to you and Mr. Holmes, Papa is not going away.
00:24:30Not going away?
00:24:32Oh, good.
00:24:38Journet not going away.
00:24:41Oh, good.
00:24:43Oh, good.
00:24:45Oh, good.
00:24:48Journet not going away.
00:24:51There are many faces of the supernatural, Mr. Drake.
00:24:54Witchcraft, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, monsters.
00:24:59You'll find them all in the history of crime.
00:25:02So I say to myself, Potts, this is the handiwork of the supernatural.
00:25:10I, uh, I gather that your name is Potts,
00:25:13and that you're interested in the detection of crime.
00:25:16Allow me to introduce myself.
00:25:18My name's Watson.
00:25:19Dr. Watson of 221B Baker Street, London, England.
00:25:22How do you do, sir?
00:25:23Here's the crime.
00:25:25Bigger and better crime.
00:25:27I deduce, my good man, that you're somewhat drunk.
00:25:30Well, sharp he is, sharp as a tack.
00:25:34I mean, just as flat-headed.
00:25:37You might also deduce that I'm leaving this place.
00:25:42Getting out.
00:25:43Now, as soon as the bus I'm waiting for hoots its hooter.
00:25:47I believe they say honks its hooter in these parts.
00:25:50Hoots to me, honk to you.
00:25:53Hoot, hoot.
00:25:55Why, dear fellow, I don't care two hoots whether it's hoot or honk.
00:25:59Oh, that's my bus, gentlemen.
00:26:01I just heard it hoot its hooter.
00:26:04Distinctly.
00:26:06If you solve this case, let me know.
00:26:10Personally, I'm betting on the monster.
00:26:13You take my advice, Patsy.
00:26:15Get out of this place before they find you with your throat cut.
00:26:25Hoots its hooter.
00:26:34Nervous?
00:26:35Well, the thought of having your throat torn out by some monster
00:26:38isn't likely to make you very gay, Dr. Watson.
00:26:40No, no, indeed.
00:26:41Some of Mr. Czerny's excellent wine will soon remedy that.
00:26:44Marie, would you bring a bottle of this excellent wine for my friend here?
00:26:48Yes, monsieur.
00:26:50Mr. Potts, as a student of the occult,
00:26:53suppose you give me your theory of this murder.
00:26:57Mm, you'll like this wine.
00:26:59But, Dr. Watson, I never drink anything stronger than milk.
00:27:03Teatotal?
00:27:04No, hiccups.
00:27:05Every time I drink alcohol, I have hiccups.
00:27:08Oh, sorry.
00:27:36Mr. Holmes.
00:27:48Mr. Holmes.
00:28:02This circle is where the murder actually occurred.
00:28:04Yes, Mr. Holmes.
00:28:05There's a footpath just beyond the church which leads across the marshes.
00:28:09Follow it for half a mile and you'll be there.
00:28:11Thank you, Sergeant. I'm sure I'll find it.
00:28:13Mr. Holmes, I wish you'd let me go with you.
00:28:15It's dangerous on the marshes at night.
00:28:17These swamps, one false step...
00:28:19I'm sorry, Sergeant, but it's important that I go alone.
00:28:22I'll keep close to the path.
00:28:23Will Dr. Watson be going with you?
00:28:24No, Sergeant.
00:28:25I asked him to do some research work of his own,
00:28:27and by now he's probably magnificently involved.
00:28:30Good night.
00:28:31Good night, Mr. Holmes.
00:28:33But according to your theory, Dr. Watson,
00:28:36everyone in the village is under suspicion.
00:28:39Pardon me.
00:28:40It's quite all right.
00:28:41Oh, thank you.
00:28:43Murder is a very interesting story, gentlemen.
00:28:47I well recall a short story by that brilliant author G.K. Chesterton
00:28:52in which the murder is committed by a postman.
00:28:56I refer, of course, to the Invisible Man,
00:28:59a brilliant bit of deduction on the part of Father Brown.
00:29:02I'm a postman?
00:29:04Precisely.
00:29:05I meant to illustrate the absurdity of assuming
00:29:08because one man in a postman's uniform is a murderer,
00:29:12any other man in the same uniform should be suspected.
00:29:16Thanks.
00:29:17Had me worried for a minute.
00:29:19Oh, all filthy flabbergasted.
00:29:22A child can see that this ridiculous monster
00:29:25has got you all afraid of your own shadows.
00:29:29I saw Lady Penrose.
00:29:32I wouldn't like it to happen to me.
00:29:34I'll be getting on.
00:29:36I'm going with you.
00:29:41Good night, Doctor.
00:29:43Good night.
00:29:45It's quite all right.
00:30:00Shh.
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00:32:52Shh.
00:32:54Holmes!
00:32:55Holmes!
00:32:56Are you all right?
00:32:57Where are you, Watson?
00:32:58Here I am.
00:32:59Over here, Holmes.
00:33:03Watson, where are you?
00:33:04I'm in the bog.
00:33:05Oh, good gracious.
00:33:07Come here.
00:33:08Your instructions were to mingle with the people and stay in the cafe.
00:33:11Sergeant Thompson said you were out here alone, so I thought you might need help.
00:33:14Yes, so you proceeded to fall in the bog, eh?
00:33:16Fall?
00:33:17I was pushed into the blasted thing.
00:33:19Pushed by the most ghastly apparition.
00:33:21Came at me like a roaring furnace,
00:33:23spitting fire in all directions.
00:33:26Before I could get my revolver, I think it was a pond there.
00:33:28Next thing I knew, I was in the bog.
00:33:30Are you all right, Mr. Holmes? I heard shots.
00:33:32Yes, I'm all right, but Dr. Watson here seems to have encountered the monster.
00:33:35He has?
00:33:36Come on, old fellow.
00:33:37We'd better get you out of these wet clothes and into a hot tub before you catch a death of cold.
00:33:42Here, you've had enough of that.
00:33:45Drink this.
00:33:46You'll be as fit as a fiddle in the morning.
00:33:48I had such a bad time.
00:33:49I got a right to share your dangers.
00:33:51Thanks, old fellow.
00:33:52You know, I wasn't sure the villagers weren't right.
00:33:55And if it did turn out to be some sort of supernatural monster,
00:33:58well, why should I involve you?
00:34:00Rubbish.
00:34:01However,
00:34:03I'm not going to let you get away with it.
00:34:05I'm not going to let you get away with it.
00:34:07I'm not going to let you get away with it.
00:34:09However,
00:34:11I did learn something.
00:34:14I can now state positively
00:34:16that our antagonist is not a phantom.
00:34:18But the thing actually spat flames at me.
00:34:21All just a figment of your imagination.
00:34:23The murderer knew I was out on the marshes
00:34:25and obviously wanted to frighten me.
00:34:27You frightened me, all right.
00:34:29How did he manage the flames?
00:34:30Merely clothing.
00:34:31Treated with phosphorus.
00:34:33When the murderer fled,
00:34:35his shirt caught on a tree
00:34:37and this piece of cloth was torn off.
00:34:43Come in.
00:34:45I'd like a few words with you, Mr. Holmes.
00:34:50I'll come directly to the point.
00:34:53Hello.
00:34:54What happened to your assistant?
00:34:56I'm not his assistant.
00:34:58If you must know, I was pushed into a boggy hole on the marsh.
00:35:01Pushed?
00:35:03By whom?
00:35:04I don't know.
00:35:05Spat fire at me.
00:35:07My good sir,
00:35:09in spite of Mr. Holmes' theories to the contrary,
00:35:12things have been seen and heard on those marshes
00:35:14that cannot be explained away by the use of logic.
00:35:16If I were you, I'd keep away from them.
00:35:18I'm not so sure.
00:35:19Holmes found...
00:35:20Herr Penrose,
00:35:21for the first time
00:35:23in my long pursuit of crime,
00:35:25I confess that I find myself baffled.
00:35:27I'm a detective. I need tangible clues.
00:35:29And up to now, I admit, I've found none.
00:35:32And you won't.
00:35:33I advise you to leave La Meure Rouge.
00:35:35Tonight, you escaped with your life.
00:35:37Next time, you may not be so fortunate.
00:35:40Thank you for your considerate advice, Lord Penrose.
00:35:43Good night, sir.
00:35:44Excuse me.
00:35:47Oh, good night.
00:35:52I don't like that fellow, Holmes.
00:35:53Why do you think he came here?
00:35:55He wanted to find out if we'd discovered anything.
00:35:58He seemed very pleased when I told him we hadn't.
00:36:01Now, Watson, there are one or two questions
00:36:03I want to ask Sergeant Thompson.
00:36:05You stay here.
00:36:07I have a vitally important job for you.
00:36:09Anything, Holmes?
00:36:11What do you want me to do?
00:36:12Go to bed.
00:36:15Yes, it's cotton fabric.
00:36:17Here, take a look.
00:36:20That discoloration.
00:36:21The purple ink must have been spelt on it.
00:36:23Possibly.
00:36:25I should say this cloth was red with blue lines.
00:36:28Probably large checks.
00:36:31It seems to have been laundered a good many times.
00:36:34The blue lines are almost completely erased.
00:36:36Yes, you can scarcely see them.
00:36:38Good fabric.
00:36:39Well woven, with a solid base.
00:36:42Hello, Bill.
00:36:43Hello, Sergeant.
00:36:44Your phone call must have been important.
00:36:45You bring me over this time of the night.
00:36:46It was.
00:36:47This is Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
00:36:48He wants to ask you a few questions.
00:36:50This is Mr. Taylor, the storekeeper, Mr. Holmes.
00:36:52Oh, good evening, Mr. Taylor.
00:36:53Good evening, sir.
00:36:54Have you any shirts of this design?
00:36:56The squares are red and the lines blue.
00:36:58Yes, I have.
00:36:59Can you remember to whom you sold them?
00:37:01I can.
00:37:02I keep them in stock specially for Judge Brisson.
00:37:04He won't have anything else.
00:37:05Judge Brisson?
00:37:06Who's he?
00:37:07A retired magistrate.
00:37:08He's a cripple.
00:37:09Lives alone with his housekeeper.
00:37:11Have you sold any of these shirts to anyone else?
00:37:13No, sir.
00:37:14They're too expensive for the village and the boatman.
00:37:16This is the finest material.
00:37:18Imported.
00:37:19You say Judge Brisson's a cripple?
00:37:20Yes.
00:37:21He was a magistrate in Quebec.
00:37:22Had a stroke about two years ago.
00:37:24That's why he retired and came here to live in Le Mort Rouge.
00:37:27Just about the time that Monsieur Journy arrived here.
00:37:29I didn't know that you mentioned it.
00:37:31It was just about then.
00:37:37Hello, operator?
00:37:38Give me Judge Brisson's home, will you?
00:37:49Nora.
00:37:51Yes, Irene.
00:37:54Haven't I told you not to answer the phone at night?
00:37:56Yes, sir.
00:37:57Well, then obey my orders.
00:37:59Yes, sir.
00:38:09No answer.
00:38:10Where does he live?
00:38:11On the Marsh Road.
00:38:12But I don't advise you to go there after dark, Mr. Holmes.
00:38:14The place is a fortress and guarded by a savage dog.
00:38:18I think Dr. Watson and I will have to pay Judge Brisson a visit in the morning.
00:38:22Good night, gentlemen.
00:38:23Good night, Mr. Holmes.
00:38:27Two locks on the door.
00:38:29One of them new.
00:38:31Yes.
00:38:32I should say that Lady Penrose's death has increased Judge Brisson's terror.
00:38:36I don't like the sound of that dog.
00:38:38Perhaps I'm hungry.
00:38:39Possibly rabbits.
00:38:41Could we come back after Jenny's breakfast?
00:38:43I'm sorry, Watson.
00:38:44Our business won't wait.
00:38:45Oh.
00:38:46Stop now.
00:38:48Yes, Watson.
00:38:50Stop!
00:38:51Good Fido.
00:38:52Good Fido.
00:38:53Good Monty.
00:38:54Good Winnie.
00:38:55Who is it?
00:38:56Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
00:38:57I telephoned Judge Brisson.
00:38:58We were coming.
00:38:59You can't come in.
00:39:00He's given orders.
00:39:01No one is to be admitted.
00:39:03You wouldn't want Judge Brisson's death on your hands, would you?
00:39:06No, sir.
00:39:07I'm sorry.
00:39:08I'm sorry.
00:39:09I'm sorry.
00:39:10I'm sorry.
00:39:11I'm sorry.
00:39:12I'm sorry.
00:39:13I'm sorry.
00:39:14I'm sorry.
00:39:15I'm sorry.
00:39:16I'm sorry.
00:39:17I'm sorry.
00:39:18No, sir.
00:39:19Then you'd better let us in.
00:39:21I'll probably lose my job for this.
00:39:23Not after we've talked to Judge Brisson.
00:39:29My good woman, you...
00:39:30You keep an eye on that dog.
00:39:32Oh, don't worry, Watson.
00:39:33You know as well as I do
00:39:34that the dog won't touch you if you...
00:39:35if you're with its master or mistress.
00:39:36Well, you know it and I know it.
00:39:37You're quite sure the dog knows you.
00:39:39Good dog.
00:39:40Happy dog.
00:39:41Nice Winnie.
00:39:42Good girl.
00:39:43Good Winnie.
00:39:49Let me warn you, I'm armed,
00:39:51and I'm an expert shot.
00:39:52We didn't come here to harm you, Judge Brisson,
00:39:54but to protect your life.
00:39:55I told you over the phone this morning,
00:39:57Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
00:39:58that I did not want to see you.
00:40:00I don't want to see anyone.
00:40:01But I want to see you.
00:40:02Stay where you are.
00:40:04Nora, show these men out.
00:40:07Judge Brisson, if you'll answer a few questions,
00:40:09I may be able to save your life.
00:40:10I have the fullest confidence in my own defenses,
00:40:13and I will not trade them for any theories.
00:40:16I will not trade them for any theories
00:40:18of Mr. Sherlock Holmes,
00:40:20however plausible you make them sound.
00:40:22Now get out, will you?
00:40:23I'm sorry.
00:40:25Under the circumstances,
00:40:26I'm helpless to prevent your death,
00:40:28almost certainly by violence.
00:40:30Come along, Watson.
00:40:47Oh, pardon me.
00:40:48May I trouble you for that envelope?
00:40:50I must have dropped it.
00:40:59You're a very clever man, Mr. Holmes.
00:41:01A crude device, Judge Brisson,
00:41:03but it's confirmed my suspicions
00:41:04that you're not the cripple you pretend to be.
00:41:11I'm sorry.
00:41:13I'm sorry.
00:41:15But I'm frightened of everything and everybody.
00:41:20Why don't you sit down?
00:41:21You want to get shot, Holmes?
00:41:23Come in, Watson, and close the door.
00:41:27Sit down, old fellow.
00:41:28Judge Brisson has decided not to shoot us.
00:41:31Oh, very kind of him.
00:41:34Gentlemen, this fear is driving me mad.
00:41:37It's quite understandable.
00:41:38The whole village seems to be consumed with fear,
00:41:40but in your case,
00:41:41judging from your vicious dog,
00:41:42those barred windows and that hunting rifle,
00:41:44it's not fear of the supernatural.
00:41:46Just what are you afraid of?
00:41:48Well, truthfully, Mr. Holmes, I don't know,
00:41:51and yet I feel its very presence.
00:41:54At times, I feel I can almost reach out and touch it.
00:41:57When I first came to La Morouge,
00:41:59I had a slight attack, and it affected my legs,
00:42:02but, well, I've recovered.
00:42:04And you've continued the deception,
00:42:06using the wheelchair as an excuse
00:42:07for not going about the village.
00:42:09Well, you see, people would be more inclined
00:42:11to accept my hermit-like existence.
00:42:13Yes, naturally.
00:42:14Tell me, Judge Brisson,
00:42:16had you ever heard of Monsieur Journet
00:42:18before you arrived at La Morouge?
00:42:20No. No, I hadn't.
00:42:22How many of these shirts
00:42:24has your housekeeper purchased for you?
00:42:26Oh, four or five. I'm not positive.
00:42:29You still have them?
00:42:30Well, one or two became badly worn,
00:42:33and I told my housekeeper to give them to a man
00:42:37who was doing some work for me at that time.
00:42:39Can you describe him?
00:42:41No, I'm afraid I can't.
00:42:43That was about a year ago, you see,
00:42:45and, well, I didn't pay much attention to him.
00:42:47He worked in the garden.
00:42:48Could your housekeeper remember him?
00:42:50No, that was a different housekeeper then.
00:42:52She went to the United States.
00:42:54Try to remember, Judge Brisson.
00:42:56Your life may depend on it.
00:43:00I do remember one thing.
00:43:02He had a very slight limp.
00:43:04I used to watch him from that window
00:43:05as he walked across the lawn.
00:43:07Splendid.
00:43:10Continue your vigilance, Judge,
00:43:12and under no circumstances allow anyone to enter the house,
00:43:15even someone you may know well.
00:43:16What's that mean, Holmes?
00:43:17It may mean nothing, Watson, and it may mean everything.
00:43:19I'm quite sure that Sergeant Thompson
00:43:21will have observed a man with a limp
00:43:22in a village the size of La Morouge.
00:43:24Good day, Judge, and thank you.
00:43:25Good day, sir.
00:43:30I'm sure Sergeant Thompson
00:43:32will have observed a man with a limp
00:43:34in a village the size of La Morouge.
00:43:44This is what's left of the Delaporte Hotel, Mr. Holmes.
00:43:47Donna sleeps here when he's in La Morouge.
00:43:54Spooky old place.
00:43:56The villagers call it the ghost house.
00:43:58It's been deserted for years.
00:44:01Shh, Watson.
00:44:06He walks with a limp.
00:44:08The left foot, I think.
00:44:10To the train, dear Sergeant,
00:44:12footsteps have a characteristic rhythm
00:44:14as identifiable as fingerprints.
00:44:31What do you want?
00:44:33We've come to have a talk with you, Tanner.
00:44:35I've done nothing.
00:44:37Then you won't mind answering a few questions.
00:44:39What do you want to know?
00:44:41Tell me, Tanner.
00:44:43Where were you two nights ago?
00:44:44Down the river.
00:44:46And last night?
00:44:47I just got back tonight.
00:44:49You're lying.
00:44:50I'm not lying.
00:44:52I'm not lying.
00:44:54I'm not lying.
00:44:56I'm not lying.
00:44:58I just got back tonight.
00:44:59You're lying.
00:45:00You can't frighten me.
00:45:03Now I've got a job to do.
00:45:08It's quite evident that you haven't been on the river
00:45:10within the last 48 hours.
00:45:12Are you trying to make me out the murderer of Lady Penrose?
00:45:15How do you know she was murdered?
00:45:17I'll tell you how you know she was murdered.
00:45:19Because you murdered her.
00:45:22Holmes, look.
00:45:23In there.
00:45:24The monster.
00:45:25That's right, Watson.
00:45:26It's one of Brisson's shirts,
00:45:27which Tanner here treated with phosphorus.
00:45:29Take him, Sergeant.
00:45:30I'll give you all the evidence later.
00:45:46You got him, Sergeant.
00:45:47I'm sure of it.
00:45:48Come on.
00:45:56Come on.
00:46:27I see no reason why we shouldn't leave for home tomorrow.
00:46:30So much for tomorrow.
00:46:31But for tonight...
00:46:32What do you make of this, Watson?
00:46:33I found it in Tanner's room.
00:46:34Just a photograph?
00:46:35That's right, old boy.
00:46:36Just a photograph.
00:46:37You notice anything else about it?
00:46:38Part of it's missing.
00:46:39Bravo, Watson.
00:46:40Now, if we can find the missing half...
00:46:42Notice the discoloration of the torn edge.
00:46:44Page its signature.
00:46:45The upper half was torn off sometime within the last year,
00:46:47I should say.
00:46:48Why all this fuss about an old photograph?
00:46:50Well, I don't know.
00:46:51I don't know.
00:46:52I don't know.
00:46:53I don't know.
00:46:54Why all this fuss about an old photograph?
00:46:56Watson, have you ever stopped to think
00:46:57that the science of detection is very much like
00:46:59stringing a handful of beads?
00:47:00I can't say I have.
00:47:01Well, it is.
00:47:02And in this particular case,
00:47:03you might say that I have five beads.
00:47:05Jaune, Brisson, Tanner, Lord and Lady Penrose.
00:47:07So far, I haven't had any thread to string them together.
00:47:10This, gentlemen, is our thread.
00:47:12And I think I shall start with Lady Penrose.
00:47:14But Lady Penrose is dead.
00:47:16The dead can tell us many things, Sergeant.
00:47:18You and Dr. Watson remain here at the hotel.
00:47:21I'll meet you later.
00:47:23I'm sure you've got Tanner, Sergeant.
00:47:25But Mr. Holmes is never satisfied with a dead criminal.
00:47:28He has to sit in on the post-mortem.
00:47:30Come along.
00:47:31Let's go downstairs and celebrate the death of the monster.
00:47:33That's a good idea, Doctor.
00:47:53So the great Sherlock Holmes becomes a common thief.
00:48:22You realize, of course, that I might have shot you.
00:48:25I knew that you'd refuse to see me, so naturally I had to take that chance.
00:48:29Tell me, who is Alistair Ramson?
00:48:32What has he to do with your being here?
00:48:35Perhaps this will explain.
00:48:38I found the lower half in a room occupied by a boatman named Tanner.
00:48:42The upper half was in Lady Penrose's safety box.
00:48:45Alistair Ramson murdered a fellow actor in my wife's company.
00:48:49He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
00:48:52The whole thing was a great shock to her.
00:48:55So she retired from the stage and you married her shortly after?
00:48:58Yes.
00:49:01Where and when was this murder committed?
00:49:04In Quebec, five years ago.
00:49:07Ramson was shot three years later trying to escape from Talon Prison.
00:49:10His body disappeared in the St. Lawrence.
00:49:13Was it ever recovered?
00:49:16I don't believe so.
00:49:19Penrose, Alistair Ramson and Tanner are one and the same person.
00:49:22What?
00:49:25It was he who sent the upper half of that photograph to your wife as a warning.
00:49:28What could my wife have in common with a murderer?
00:49:31Yet he killed her.
00:49:34He killed her?
00:49:37Yes. The monster was none other than Tanner himself.
00:49:40We found a shirt impregnated with phosphorus in his room.
00:49:43Tonight when we faced him with the evidence of his crime,
00:49:46he bolted and jumped out of the window into the river.
00:49:49Sergeant Thompson fired a couple of shots at him.
00:49:52He's dead?
00:49:55In a way, yes.
00:49:58I don't understand.
00:50:01Tanner is dead only because he was discovered
00:50:04and therefore outlived his usefulness to his creator.
00:50:07But I'm afraid that Alistair Ramson, the actor who created and played the part of Tanner,
00:50:10is very much alive.
00:50:13But surely, now that you know who the murderer is, the police...
00:50:16It's not quite as simple as that.
00:50:19During the time he's lived here, Ramson has undoubtedly established another character for himself,
00:50:22perhaps several others, who are by now familiar to the people of the town of La Marouge
00:50:25and quite above suspicion.
00:50:28He could be almost anyone in the village.
00:50:31He may even have been your butler, Drake.
00:50:34This is fantastic.
00:50:37Yes.
00:50:40If Lady Penrose's death is only the beginning,
00:50:43there's no saying where this madman will strike next.
00:50:46Tell me, is there anyone else in La Marouge
00:50:49who may have been connected in any way with the case of Alistair Ramson?
00:50:52Judge Brisson was the magistrate who tried and sentenced him.
00:51:01Operator?
00:51:04Give me Judge Brisson's home. It's urgent.
00:51:11Judge Brisson? This is Sherlock Holmes.
00:51:14Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes.
00:51:17Oh, I'm quite all right, thank you.
00:51:20I've chained up the dog, as you asked.
00:51:22As I asked?
00:51:24I haven't telephoned you before.
00:51:26Somebody's obviously imitated my voice in order to gain access to the house.
00:51:30Well, certainly, Mr. Holmes.
00:51:33I'll lock all the doors and await your arrival.
00:51:36Yes.
00:51:43Nora! Nora!
00:51:46If I can be of any assistance, Mr. Holmes...
00:51:48Thank you, but I'm afraid you think Judge Brisson's life's in danger.
00:51:51I only hope I'm in time to prevent a second murder.
00:52:28That's Mr. Holmes. Show him in.
00:52:33Hurry up, hurry up.
00:52:54Judge Brisson!
00:52:57Judge Brisson!
00:53:02Judge Brisson!
00:53:32Nora!
00:53:50Nora!
00:53:54Nora!
00:53:58Nora!
00:54:24Nora!
00:54:30You know who it was?
00:54:32I don't know. I don't know.
00:54:42Hello? Operator, Mr. Jeunet's cafe.
00:54:45I want to speak to Sergeant Thompson. Sergeant.
00:54:54Sergeant Thompson? This is Sherlock Holmes.
00:54:56I'm at Judge Brisson's. He's been murdered.
00:54:58Judge Brisson's been murdered?
00:55:00Judge Brisson!
00:55:01The murderer gained access to the house, gagged and bound the housekeeper,
00:55:04then disguised as Nora, murdered Judge Brisson.
00:55:06I'm returning to the old Delapont Hotel
00:55:08on the chance that he'll go there to change his clothes and assume another disguise.
00:55:12Ask Dr. Watson to meet me there as quickly as he can, will you?
00:55:15You'd better come here at once and take charge.
00:55:17Right.
00:55:23Come on.
00:55:53BUZZER
00:56:23BUZZER
00:56:43Throw your revolver on the floor in front of you
00:56:46and raise your hand, Sherlock Holmes.
00:56:54I should have thought you would have felt more at home in the spotlight.
00:56:57I see you've finally identified me.
00:57:01Jack Tanner and Nora the housekeeper were brilliant.
00:57:04You should really take a bow.
00:57:06It's too bad you appeared on the scene when you did
00:57:10and I had to ring down the curtain on the monster.
00:57:13Your recreation of the monster of La Morouse as a means of murder
00:57:17must have given you great satisfaction.
00:57:19Why did you kill Lady Penrose?
00:57:21I see no reason why I shouldn't tell you.
00:57:24I couldn't bear the thought of another man possessing her.
00:57:27And Judge Brisson?
00:57:29During the trial, I grew to hate him.
00:57:32And when he sentenced me to prison,
00:57:35I vowed that someday I would escape and kill him.
00:57:38I see.
00:57:40Obviously, you planned still another murder.
00:57:43Otherwise you'd have returned to the safety of your first disguise
00:57:45and defied me to find you.
00:57:47You're right. I am.
00:57:49There were three people in my life who had no right to live.
00:57:54Two have already died.
00:57:56The third remains.
00:57:59Tonight, I shall kill him.
00:58:04Mr. Holmes, I've always had the greatest admiration for your talents.
00:58:11Your performance in this case has also been brilliant.
00:58:15So brilliant that I'm afraid I'm going to have to ring down the curtain on it
00:58:19a bit prematurely.
00:58:23Mr. Ramson, we are artists in our fashion,
00:58:27not creatures skulking in alleys.
00:58:30If our positions were reversed,
00:58:32I shouldn't think of sending you to your death
00:58:35lacking a few stray pieces of the puzzle.
00:58:38What do you want to know?
00:58:40The name of the third person.
00:58:42I have no objection.
00:58:44If there is a hereafter, which I doubt,
00:58:48you and he will meet very soon, Mr. Holmes.
00:58:51The name of the third person is...
00:59:09Coming, Holmes!
00:59:10Look out, Watson!
00:59:15All right, Watson.
00:59:17Where is he, Holmes?
00:59:18He's gone.
00:59:20Thank heavens you're safe.
00:59:22Thank heavens you came when you did.
00:59:25Here it is, Watson.
00:59:27Look out.
00:59:37So you got away again.
00:59:39Yes, Watson.
00:59:41So you got away again.
00:59:43Yes, Watson.
00:59:44Over that warehouse roof, most probably.
00:59:47What a fun little room.
00:59:49Yes.
00:59:51This is obviously the secret room
00:59:53where his disguises were created.
00:59:56Looks like an actor's dressing room.
00:59:58He is an actor, Watson.
00:59:59One of the finest acting talents of our time.
01:00:01Look at this.
01:00:02Normal housekeeper.
01:00:03His name's Alastair Ramson.
01:00:05Alastair Ramson?
01:00:06Never heard of him.
01:00:07No, that's not important.
01:00:09The important thing is that he murdered Lady Penrose
01:00:11and Judge Britton.
01:00:12Great Scott, he did it.
01:00:13Yes, Watson.
01:00:14This Ramson is a paranoic.
01:00:17His orgy of crime is not complete.
01:00:19There's still another.
01:00:21I was just about to learn his name
01:00:22when you so conveniently fell down the stairs.
01:00:25Sorry, old chap.
01:00:26Don't be, old boy.
01:00:27You saved my life.
01:00:30Look at this, Watson.
01:00:31Tanner.
01:00:32Tanner?
01:00:34Where do you think he'll strike next?
01:00:36Obviously, Journet is to be his third victim.
01:00:38Journet?
01:00:39Yes, Watson.
01:00:40As in the cases of Lady Penrose and Judge Britton,
01:00:42Journet also holds his presence.
01:00:44But in each case, it was vague and unexplainable.
01:00:46Well, what connects can he have with Judge Britton or Lady Penrose?
01:00:49Journet was a guard at Talham Prison
01:00:51where Alastair Ramson was confined.
01:00:53He's the third person against whom the murderer holds a grievance.
01:00:56Now he's disappeared.
01:00:57Journet disappeared?
01:00:59So Marie told us in the cafe.
01:01:01Watson, Journet's disappearance can mean only one thing.
01:01:04He's in hiding.
01:01:05Our job is to find him before Ramson does.
01:01:07Journet is the only man who can lead us to the murderer.
01:01:10We'd better have a talk with little Marie.
01:01:36Hello, Fox. Have you seen Marie?
01:01:39No. Have you seen her?
01:01:42Can't say I have.
01:01:55Marie?
01:01:56Watson.
01:02:06What is it, Al?
01:02:08I'm afraid we're too late.
01:02:13Marie.
01:02:19Don't touch anything, Watson.
01:02:24You murdered in exactly the same way as Judge Britton and Lady Penrose.
01:02:29Poor innocent little child.
01:02:31I should have prevented this.
01:02:33I should have prevented this.
01:02:34Nonsense, my dear chap.
01:02:36You did everything possible.
01:02:38How on earth could you have prevented it?
01:02:40A child's death is a tragedy, of course.
01:02:45I see exactly what happened.
01:02:47She was standing here by the desk and the...
01:02:50the murderer came in by that door.
01:02:52He came in through that door but Marie was not in the room.
01:02:55She alone of all people in the cafe
01:02:57saw Ramson enter this office.
01:02:59It was someone she knew well.
01:03:01Someone who might have a message from her father,
01:03:03so she followed him here.
01:03:05And when she refused to tell him where her father had gone,
01:03:08he killed her.
01:03:10Ramson already knew that she only had disappeared,
01:03:12but he didn't know where.
01:03:15When he questioned her, she became suspicious
01:03:18and it was only that he killed her.
01:03:22Telephone Sergeant Thompson, will you?
01:03:24He's at Judge Britton's. Ask him to come here at once.
01:03:26And see that no one leaves the cafe until he gets here.
01:03:28The murderer may be among them.
01:03:32What could have happened to Holmes?
01:03:34He's been away all day.
01:03:36It's very unfair of him, keeping me in suspense like this.
01:03:39He knows how worried I've become.
01:03:41He continues to do it, and do you know why?
01:03:43He actually enjoys making me miserable.
01:03:47Half a mole.
01:03:50Half a mole.
01:03:52Half a mole.
01:03:54Half a mole.
01:03:56Half a mole.
01:03:58Half a mole.
01:04:00Half a mole.
01:04:09However, Watson, it won't work.
01:04:11What won't work?
01:04:14I've been to every place where you and EH could possibly be...
01:04:16What's that? You've been all day.
01:04:18Yes, Watson, and I must admit that I'm completely baffled.
01:04:21We've got to find you, EH, before it's too late.
01:04:23How? I've been everywhere within the radius of five miles of this village.
01:04:27within a radius of five miles of this village.
01:04:28I've even been to the church
01:04:30in the hope that he'd disguise himself and attend mass.
01:04:32He may have gone to Quebec.
01:04:34Every road's covered.
01:04:35He hasn't left this vicinity of that, I'm certain.
01:04:37All right, I'll answer it.
01:04:40Hello?
01:04:43Hello?
01:04:54Who was it, Holmes?
01:04:55Watson, get your hat and coat.
01:04:57You're very rude, Holmes.
01:04:58You leave me all day long with that very dull inspector.
01:05:01I ask you a perfectly polite question,
01:05:02and all you say is, Watson, get your hat and coat.
01:05:04We're going to find Journet.
01:05:06Sergeant, you wait here till I call.
01:05:07Watson, do this. Watson, do that.
01:05:09Watson, get your hat and coat. Watson, get your gloves on.
01:05:11Watson, do this. Watson, get your gloves on.
01:05:12Brisson's house.
01:05:13Watson, this, Watson.
01:05:15It's my opinion that Judge Brisson's house
01:05:16is the last place that you will find Journet.
01:05:18Put yourself in Journet's position, Watson.
01:05:20Where's the most likely place that Ramson would look for you?
01:05:23Certainly not in the very house in which he's just killed one of his victims.
01:05:33Journet! Journet!
01:05:35It's Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
01:05:38We are here to help you.
01:05:40I don't like all of you at Holmes.
01:05:54Holmes!
01:05:56Holmes, where are you?
01:06:00Here I am, Watson.
01:06:13Journet!
01:06:14What do you want?
01:06:17We've come to help you.
01:06:20How did you know I was here?
01:06:21When you called your hotel just now,
01:06:23I answered the telephone.
01:06:25The chimes of Brisson's clock here
01:06:26merely confirmed what I already knew.
01:06:30You must return with me to the cafe at once.
01:06:32I'm not leaving this house.
01:06:34The murderer is waiting out there in the marshes
01:06:36to kill me the moment I leave here.
01:06:37Naturally, but first you must have the opportunity.
01:06:39If you return to the cafe, you'll have that opportunity.
01:06:42It's the only way we have to apprehend the murderer.
01:06:44What if I refuse?
01:06:46Journet,
01:06:49what I have to say to you is not going to be easy.
01:06:52Marie...
01:06:53What?
01:06:55Murdered.
01:07:00Now you know why you must return.
01:07:02This fiend must be brought to justice.
01:07:05Justice?
01:07:06This monster kills my poor innocent child
01:07:08and you talk of bringing him to justice.
01:07:11Will that compensate me for the death of Marie?
01:07:16If it's the last thing I do, I'll kill him with my own hands.
01:07:19You can't take the law into your own hands.
01:07:22Once you return to the hotel, you'll make an attempt on your life.
01:07:24Then we'll get him.
01:07:25How will we know who he is?
01:07:27You already know.
01:07:28It's his disguise that we haven't penetrated.
01:07:31Who is he?
01:07:32Alistair Ramson.
01:07:35Recognize the name?
01:07:36He attempted to escape from Talon Prison
01:07:38when I was a guard there.
01:07:39Journet, if you don't want to remain in hiding
01:07:42for the rest of your life,
01:07:43you must return to the hotel and help me
01:07:45to put an end to this monster for all time.
01:07:47Come. Let's go.
01:07:48Good.
01:07:49Put an end to him? How are you going to do that, Holmes?
01:07:51I'll tell you both about it on the way to the hotel.
01:07:56So you're really leaving, Doctor?
01:07:57Yes, Sergeant. Gentlemen, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and I
01:08:00are leaving immediately for London.
01:08:02It's extremely regrettable that the murderer has escaped us.
01:08:05All our cases cannot be crowned with success.
01:08:07I'm extremely sorry, gentlemen.
01:08:09Have you no idea where this fiend has gone?
01:08:11Mr. Holmes is of the opinion that he's escaped
01:08:13across the border to the United States.
01:08:16It may be years before we can trace him, if ever.
01:08:19Oh, Journet, just a minute.
01:08:20Our bill, please. Bill?
01:08:22Yes, Mr. Sherlock Holmes and I are leaving immediately.
01:08:24Oh, I'm sorry, Dr. Watson.
01:08:25I'm just on my way to the church to offer a prayer for Marie.
01:08:28I'll forward your bill to you.
01:08:29Yes, of course, my dear fellow.
01:08:30I understand. We'll leave our address at the desk.
01:08:32Goodbye, Mr. Potts.
01:08:33It's been a great pleasure
01:08:34knowing a man of your intelligence.
01:08:36Thank you, Dr. Watson.
01:08:37It has been most stimulating
01:08:39talking to one of your vast experience.
01:08:40Oh, thank you.
01:08:41Let's hope that we shall meet again someday
01:08:43and continue our little chats on crime.
01:08:45It would be most exciting.
01:08:46Oh, by the way, Mr. Holmes would like to see you
01:08:48for a minute in his room.
01:08:49I'll show you where it is.
01:08:50It's the second room on the right up there.
01:08:52Thanks.
01:08:54Hey, Neil, it's me, Potts.
01:08:58Do you mind if I walk part of the way with you?
01:09:00It's a bit frightening out here.
01:09:02It's these marshes.
01:09:04This is almost the very spot
01:09:06where Lady Penrose was attacked.
01:09:09Three deaths in three days.
01:09:11It's a pity Marie had to be killed.
01:09:13She was such a sweet child.
01:09:16Three deaths in three days.
01:09:19And still one more to be accounted for.
01:09:23You are frightened, Amy.
01:09:25It's strange to see you showing fear.
01:09:27The man I hated at Talon Prison.
01:09:29♪♪♪
01:09:33Ramson!
01:09:34♪♪♪
01:09:41Sherlock Holmes.
01:09:43Yes, Mr. Ramson.
01:09:44So you see, the final curtain has not fallen after all.
01:09:47I thought you were on your way to London.
01:09:49Naturally, that's what I wanted you to think.
01:09:51That's why Dr. Watson announced our departure in the cafe.
01:09:54Journey's leaving was purely bait to bring you into the open.
01:09:57I merely replaced Journey once he was outside on the street.
01:10:00May I say, Mr. Ramson, that your disguise as a postman
01:10:03was a masterpiece of ingenuity.
01:10:05Your very choice of the role put you above suspicion.
01:10:08It was quite easy.
01:10:09I simply disposed of the real Mr. Potts
01:10:12after he had passed his civil service examination
01:10:14and had been assigned to La Mourouge.
01:10:17You realize, of course, that you'll never hand me over to the police alive.
01:10:21It's not my function to be your executioner.
01:10:23My duty is to hand you over to the authorities,
01:10:25which I fully intend to do.
01:10:26You're an optimist, Mr. Holmes.
01:10:28Oh, not necessarily.
01:10:29We're surrounded by police awaiting my signal.
01:10:32-♪♪♪
01:11:02-♪♪♪
01:11:32-♪♪♪
01:11:37-♪♪♪
01:11:42-♪♪♪
01:11:47-♪♪♪
01:11:52-♪♪♪
01:11:57-♪♪♪
01:12:02-♪♪♪
01:12:07-♪♪♪
01:12:12I've killed him with this.
01:12:16Ransom's instrument of death has been his own executioner.
01:12:20Well, gentlemen, our search for the monster
01:12:23has ended where it began, on the marshes.
01:12:26Watson, where are you?
01:12:28Why isn't he here? He was with us a minute ago.
01:12:30Watson!
01:12:31Here I am, Holmes!
01:12:33Where are you?
01:12:34I've fallen in another hole.
01:12:42I shall like to see a bit more of Canada before we sail, Holmes.
01:12:46So should I, Watson.
01:12:49Canada.
01:12:51The linchpin of the English-speaking world.
01:12:54Whose relations are friendly intimacy
01:12:56with the United States on the one hand,
01:12:59and their unswerving fidelity to the British Commonwealth
01:13:02and the motherland on the other.
01:13:05Canada.
01:13:07The link that joins together
01:13:10these great branches of the human family.
01:13:13Churchill say that?
01:13:15Yes, Watson, Churchill.
01:13:24THE END