- 5 months ago
š» **Sherlock Holmes: Dressed to Kill (1946)** is a classic mystery film that wraps espionage, murder, and musical clues into one taut 72-minute thriller. Itās the final installment in the beloved series starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson, respectively.
### šµļø Plot Overview
The intrigue begins with three seemingly ordinary music boxes crafted by a prisoner at Dartmoor. Each box plays a slightly different version of the tune āThe Swagman,ā but hidden within the melodies lies a coded message revealing the location of stolen Bank of England printing plates. When the boxes are sold at auction, a ruthless gangāled by the cunning Mrs. Hilda Courtneyābegins eliminating anyone who stands in their way.
Holmes and Watson are drawn into the case after their friend, Julian Emery, is murdered for one of the boxes. As the duo races to recover all three, they uncover disguises, deception, and a trail of clues that only Holmesās razor-sharp intellect can decode.
### š¬ Key Details
- **Director**: Roy William Neill
- **Genre**: Mystery / Crime
- **Decade**: 1940s
- **Runtime**: ~72 minutes
- **Studio**: Universal Pictures
- **Based on**: Elements from *The Adventure of the Six Napoleons* and *A Scandal in Bohemia* by Arthur Conan Doyle
### š„ Cast Highlights
| Actor | Role |
|--------------------|-------------------------------|
| Basil Rathbone | Sherlock Holmes |
| Nigel Bruce | Dr. John H. Watson |
| Patricia Morison | Mrs. Hilda Courtney (villain) |
| Edmund Breon | Julian "Stinky" Emery |
| Frederick Worlock | Colonel Cavanaugh |
| Carl Harbord | Inspector Hopkins |
| Holmes Herbert | Ebenezer Crabtree |
| Mary Gordon | Mrs. Hudson |
| Ian Wolfe | Commissioner of Scotland Yard |
This film is a fan favorite for its clever use of music as a cipher, its brisk pacing, and the chemistry between Rathbone and Bruce. If you're into vintage mysteries with a cerebral twist, this one's a gem.
### šµļø Plot Overview
The intrigue begins with three seemingly ordinary music boxes crafted by a prisoner at Dartmoor. Each box plays a slightly different version of the tune āThe Swagman,ā but hidden within the melodies lies a coded message revealing the location of stolen Bank of England printing plates. When the boxes are sold at auction, a ruthless gangāled by the cunning Mrs. Hilda Courtneyābegins eliminating anyone who stands in their way.
Holmes and Watson are drawn into the case after their friend, Julian Emery, is murdered for one of the boxes. As the duo races to recover all three, they uncover disguises, deception, and a trail of clues that only Holmesās razor-sharp intellect can decode.
### š¬ Key Details
- **Director**: Roy William Neill
- **Genre**: Mystery / Crime
- **Decade**: 1940s
- **Runtime**: ~72 minutes
- **Studio**: Universal Pictures
- **Based on**: Elements from *The Adventure of the Six Napoleons* and *A Scandal in Bohemia* by Arthur Conan Doyle
### š„ Cast Highlights
| Actor | Role |
|--------------------|-------------------------------|
| Basil Rathbone | Sherlock Holmes |
| Nigel Bruce | Dr. John H. Watson |
| Patricia Morison | Mrs. Hilda Courtney (villain) |
| Edmund Breon | Julian "Stinky" Emery |
| Frederick Worlock | Colonel Cavanaugh |
| Carl Harbord | Inspector Hopkins |
| Holmes Herbert | Ebenezer Crabtree |
| Mary Gordon | Mrs. Hudson |
| Ian Wolfe | Commissioner of Scotland Yard |
This film is a fan favorite for its clever use of music as a cipher, its brisk pacing, and the chemistry between Rathbone and Bruce. If you're into vintage mysteries with a cerebral twist, this one's a gem.
Category
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Welcome to the world of fantasy and magic.
00:00:30Welcome to the world of fantasy.
00:01:00Welcome to the world of fantasy and magic.
00:01:30Welcome to the world of fantasy and magic.
00:01:59Welcome to the world of fantasy and magic.
00:02:01They say you could get out of here by merely telling what you know.
00:02:05You may or may not be another Scotland Yard bloke, but I'll give you the same answer I gave the others.
00:02:13I still have two years, eight months, and six days left in which to make musical boxes.
00:02:22That'll be sold at auction for the benefit of this delightful sanctuary.
00:02:26And I intend to serve them.
00:02:34Move along.
00:02:36Move along.
00:02:37And now we come to the next object on our list, or I should say objects, because there are three of them.
00:02:44Now, ladies and gentlemen, these can be bought together or separately.
00:02:48Now these beautiful little musical boxes only arrived this morning and I didn't intend to put them on the auction block until later, but I'm going to sell them now.
00:02:55So, good friends, as our old pal Mark Antony used to say, lend me your ears.
00:03:02And what do you hear?
00:03:04Right.
00:03:05The beautiful tinkle tinkle of a musical box.
00:03:11What a lovely trinket.
00:03:12What a beautiful gift.
00:03:13Created and made by loving hands.
00:03:15A thing of beauty and utility.
00:03:18I was going to start with five pounds.
00:03:21It's a bargain, five pounds.
00:03:24Do I see any hands?
00:03:27If it's a connoisseur in the house, we'll go three pounds for it.
00:03:31Two pounds.
00:03:33One pound.
00:03:35Ten shillings.
00:03:39Ten.
00:03:40Thank you, sir.
00:03:42Ladies and gentlemen, ten shillings is offered for a musical box you couldn't buy anywhere in London for less than five pounds.
00:03:48It'll be stealing to let it go for ten shillings.
00:03:50Like taking milk from a baby.
00:03:52Oh, I was telling you for ten shillings.
00:03:53Ten shillings, ten shillings is offered, ten shillings is offered, ten shillings is offered.
00:03:56Can anybody give me one pound?
00:03:58Can anybody give me one pound?
00:03:59Well, someone's going to give me a pound.
00:04:01A pound.
00:04:02One pound is offered, one pound is offered, ladies and gentlemen, one pound is offered,
00:04:04one pound is offered against you, sir.
00:04:05Can you go to two pounds?
00:04:06Can you go to two pounds, sir?
00:04:07Two pounds.
00:04:08Two pounds is offered.
00:04:09Two pounds is offered.
00:04:10Going once.
00:04:11Twice.
00:04:12Third and the last call.
00:04:15Sold to the gentleman for two pounds.
00:04:18Sorry, my dear.
00:04:19Now, ladies and gentlemen, comes the opportunity to purchase an exact duplicate of the beautiful
00:04:25little musical box just bought by this gentleman for the ridiculous low price of two pounds.
00:04:30That's exactly the same.
00:04:31Exactly the same.
00:04:32Made with the same hands.
00:04:33You hear that?
00:04:34Isn't that lovely?
00:04:35That tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, tinkle.
00:04:38Sounds like bow bells to me, you know, with little angels pulling on the ropes, eh?
00:04:41We'll give you two pounds for it.
00:04:43Who's starting with two pounds?
00:04:44Will anybody start with two pounds?
00:04:46How come, comrades and gentlemen?
00:04:48You know, from your enthusiasm, we might all be in Scotland instead of London.
00:04:52Please buy it for me, Daddy.
00:04:53Two pounds, certainly not.
00:04:55We all might be in Scotland.
00:04:57Besides, I don't like his manner.
00:04:59One pound ten shillings.
00:05:00One pound.
00:05:01One pound is asked.
00:05:02One pound?
00:05:03One pound is offered.
00:05:04One pound is offered.
00:05:05One pound is offered.
00:05:06One pound.
00:05:07And he advanced.
00:05:08Went once.
00:05:09Went twice.
00:05:10The third and the last call.
00:05:11Sold to the lady for one pound.
00:05:13Smart bidding, my dear.
00:05:16We come to the third and last of these beautiful little musical boxes.
00:05:20Exactly the same.
00:05:21Tinkle, tinkle.
00:05:22Isn't that lovely?
00:05:23Ladies and gentlemen, I don't bring you here to gully and swindle you.
00:05:26This is the exact replica of the two I just sold before.
00:05:33We're closed.
00:05:38But this is extremely important.
00:05:43Come in, sir, come in.
00:05:44I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was unfortunately delayed from arriving in time to bid on certain articles which I was rather anxious to obtain.
00:05:52Oh, perhaps it was so, sir.
00:05:54We are carrying several things over.
00:05:56What might the articles be, sir?
00:05:58Three identical musical boxes, about so much.
00:06:02Oh, I'm sorry, sir, but they were sold.
00:06:04Pity you weren't here to bid on them.
00:06:06They didn't bring anything like the real value.
00:06:08I'm most anxious to obtain them.
00:06:10I wonder if your records would show who the purchasers were.
00:06:14Oh, we don't usually give out that information, sir.
00:06:17For certain, shall we say, sentimental reasons, I'm most anxious to get in touch with the purchasers.
00:06:23I'd be willing to pay, shall we say, five pounds.
00:06:28Well, for certain sentimental reasons, sir, we'd be very happy to oblige.
00:06:32Alfred, today's sale.
00:06:34Three musical boxes.
00:06:35Musical boxes, yes.
00:06:36Ah, here we are.
00:06:38The first purchase for two pounds from Mr. Julian Emery, 52, Portman Square.
00:06:42Write this address down, Alfred.
00:06:43Yes, sir.
00:06:44The second didn't leave any name.
00:06:46Oh, how unfortunate.
00:06:47I think she's a dealer.
00:06:48You see, they don't like us to know where the things are going.
00:06:50On account of the profits.
00:06:52You say the, uh, second purchaser was a woman.
00:06:56Can you, uh, give me a description of her?
00:06:58Oh, she was a young woman.
00:07:00Fairly tall, slender.
00:07:01Uh, had a light complexion and dark hair and...
00:07:05And she was wearing a...
00:07:06A great suit, don't you remember?
00:07:07That's right.
00:07:08She probably runs a gift shop.
00:07:10Uh, she paid, uh, one pound.
00:07:13You say she, uh, comes here fairly frequently?
00:07:16No, I didn't say so.
00:07:18But she does, sir.
00:07:19Like as not, she'll come in on Thursday.
00:07:22We have sales on Mondays and Thursdays.
00:07:24Oh.
00:07:25And the, uh, third box?
00:07:27The third?
00:07:28Oh, uh, Mr. William Kilgore, 143 B Hampton Way.
00:07:31For ten shillings.
00:07:33Hmm.
00:07:34Quite a drop from two pounds.
00:07:35Mr. Kilgore was a Scotchman.
00:07:37Oh.
00:07:38Uh, thank you.
00:07:39You, uh, you must help us.
00:07:41Oh, thank you, sir.
00:07:43And any time you're fasting, dropping,
00:07:45we always have lovely things for sale.
00:07:47Our card, sir.
00:07:48Uh, thank you.
00:07:49I'll, uh, get back Thursday.
00:07:59A message reached us too late.
00:08:01Musical boxes are being sold.
00:08:06Hmm, let's get out of here.
00:08:08Some day you'll go too far.
00:08:20Reaching for a star, you fool.
00:08:22Yet a fool may touch a star, Colonel Cavanaugh,
00:08:25if you can reach high enough.
00:08:27But not possess it as you would.
00:08:29The musical boxes, they've been sold.
00:08:33What a pity for you, my dear Colonel.
00:08:36Is it my fault that the message reached us only an hour ago?
00:08:39Is it my fault that they were sold?
00:08:41You can't hold me responsible for that.
00:08:44I hope for your sake you're right.
00:08:46I hope for your sake you're right.
00:09:16There will call upon you tonight at a quarter to eight,
00:09:21a gentleman who desires to consult you
00:09:24upon a matter of the very deepest moment.
00:09:26Remember that letter, Holmes?
00:09:28It was written over two years ago.
00:09:30An interesting case.
00:09:32Devilously interesting.
00:09:34Hmm, Irene Adler.
00:09:36What a striking-looking woman from the brief glance I had of her.
00:09:40It seems only yesterday.
00:09:42What charm.
00:09:43Hmm.
00:09:44What poise.
00:09:45And what a mind.
00:09:46Sharp enough and brilliant enough
00:09:48to outwit the great Sherlock Holmes himself.
00:09:51I take it the new issue of the Strand Magazine is out,
00:09:54containing another of your slightly lurid tales.
00:09:57Indeed.
00:09:58And what do you call this one?
00:10:00I call it A Scandal in Bohemia.
00:10:03Not a bad title, eh?
00:10:04Hmm.
00:10:05If you must record my exploits,
00:10:08I do wish you'd put less emphasis on the melodramatic,
00:10:11and more on the intellectual issues involved.
00:10:14More on the intellect-
00:10:15What do you mean by that?
00:10:16Well, I do hope you've given, uh,
00:10:18the woman a soul.
00:10:21She had one, you know.
00:10:22By the woman?
00:10:24I suppose you mean Irene Adler.
00:10:26Yes.
00:10:28I shall always remember her
00:10:30as the woman.
00:10:38I think.
00:10:39That's it, old boy.
00:10:40How are you?
00:10:41How are you, old boy?
00:10:42I haven't seen you for years.
00:10:43I want you to meet my old friend Sherlock Holmes.
00:10:45Holmes, this is stinky.
00:10:47In other words, uh, Julian Emery.
00:10:48How do you do, Mr. Emery?
00:10:49Watson has often spoken of you.
00:10:50Oh, has he?
00:10:51Yes, we were at school together.
00:10:52More years ago than I care to remember,
00:10:53but you didn't come in here just to remind me of that.
00:10:55No, I just happened to be in the neighborhood
00:10:56and saw your lights burning,
00:10:57so I took the liberty of looking you up.
00:10:58Still writing your mystery stuff?
00:10:59Yes, there's a new one out this week.
00:11:00Good, I never miss him.
00:11:01Oh, good.
00:11:02Thanks.
00:11:03I say that bandage makes you look pretty interesting.
00:11:04Still poking your nose into other people's business as usual?
00:11:06Who hit you?
00:11:07Who hit you?
00:11:08Who hit you?
00:11:09Who hit you?
00:11:10Who hit you?
00:11:11Who hit you?
00:11:12Who hit you?
00:11:13Who hit you?
00:11:14Who hit you?
00:11:15Who hit you?
00:11:16Who hit you?
00:11:17Who hit you?
00:11:18Who hit you?
00:11:19Who hit you?
00:11:20Who hit you?
00:11:21Who hit you?
00:11:22Who hit you?
00:11:23Who hit you?
00:11:24Who hit you?
00:11:25Who hit you?
00:11:26Who hit you?
00:11:27Who hit you?
00:11:28Who hit you?
00:11:29Who hit you?
00:11:30I haven't the foggy's notion.
00:11:31Somebody knocked me on the head in my own living room,
00:11:32and then proceeded to commit the most idiotic burglary you ever heard of.
00:11:34That fellow must have been barmy as a coot.
00:11:35Barmy?
00:11:36Why?
00:11:37Come sit down, old boy.
00:11:38Would you like a cup of tea?
00:11:40Oh, all right.
00:11:42I'll go and tell Mrs. Hudson about it.
00:11:44Why did you say the robbery was idiotic, Mr. Emery?
00:11:49Oh, simply from the fact that with about 5,000 pounds worth of musical box,
00:11:52in my living room,
00:11:53the thief who I caught in the act made off of one that isn't even worth 5 pounds.
00:11:58I gather you're a collector of musical boxes.
00:12:00Yes, I am indeed.
00:12:01Some of them are very beautiful, but not the one that was stolen.
00:12:04The thief evidently grabbed the first thing that came to his hand
00:12:07when he heard me coming into the room.
00:12:09It's rather odd, isn't it, that having disposed of you,
00:12:12he didn't pick up something more valuable.
00:12:14Was there anything unusual about the stolen box?
00:12:17No, nothing at all.
00:12:19I picked it up in the south of France, oh, several years ago.
00:12:23You say you have many valuable music boxes,
00:12:26yet the thief made off of one that isn't worth 5 pounds.
00:12:29Sounds like rather an intriguing little problem.
00:12:32Well, I take it that you're just an ordinary petty thief
00:12:34and didn't know the value.
00:12:36That is a possible explanation, and yet I venture to say
00:12:38that the average petty thief has a more extensive knowledge
00:12:41of the value of object dar than the average collector.
00:12:44Well, anyway, that's got in the arts theory.
00:12:46They didn't get very excited about it.
00:12:48That's consistent, anyway.
00:12:50I wonder if I might see your collection, Mr. Omery.
00:12:53Of course you could, yes.
00:12:55Nothing a collector likes more than showing off his trophies.
00:12:58When will it suit you?
00:12:59No time like the present.
00:13:00Good.
00:13:01My place is just round in Portman Square.
00:13:03Shall we?
00:13:04Yes, right.
00:13:08Hello?
00:13:10Where are you going?
00:13:11Stinky hasn't had his tea yet.
00:13:12Oh, I'm sorry.
00:13:13We're going round to my place,
00:13:15where I'm going to give you something better than tea.
00:13:17Now, this one was made for the 15th,
00:13:21and is one of the very few still in existence from that period,
00:13:24and a particularly fine specimen, yes.
00:13:26Charming, isn't it?
00:13:31Quite.
00:13:32They all sound to me like a lot of mice running about on a tin roof.
00:13:37I'm afraid you have no ear for music, Watson.
00:13:40Give me a good old band playing a rousing march.
00:13:43You have all your silly little tweet-tweets.
00:13:52No room.
00:13:56It's this way.
00:14:07Stupid thing.
00:14:08Singing rabbit.
00:14:11What would you say offhand is the value of a box like that, Mr. Emery?
00:14:14Well, it's hard to say offhand,
00:14:15but I think we'll bring about five or six hundred pounds today.
00:14:18It's the gem of my collection.
00:14:20Yet a thief who steals an oddity like a musical box
00:14:22pounces up one worth five hundred pounds
00:14:24for one of almost no value at all.
00:14:27Odd.
00:14:28Very odd.
00:14:30What is a stolen box like, Mr. Emery?
00:14:32Oh, just a plain wooden box about so big.
00:14:36As a matter of fact, I have one over here.
00:14:37I almost exactly like it.
00:14:40I picked this up yesterday at an auction room in Knightsbridge.
00:14:43Made only two pounds for it.
00:14:45Of course, I wouldn't, in the ordinary way,
00:14:46add one like this to my collection,
00:14:48but the tuning intrigued me.
00:14:51I'd never heard it before.
00:15:02You have a remarkable ear for music, huh?
00:15:12Rather an unusual melody.
00:15:14Sit down, dear.
00:15:15Thanks.
00:15:17You, uh, say you bought that box at an auction sale yesterday?
00:15:20Yes, the Gaylord auction room's in Knightsbridge.
00:15:23Run by old, uh, what's his name?
00:15:25Crabtree.
00:15:26That's the man.
00:15:27At what time is the robbery committed?
00:15:29Oh, but, uh, three o'clock this morning.
00:15:32You know, Mr. Emery,
00:15:33that box and the robbery might well be cause and effect,
00:15:36especially since you say the pistolen box
00:15:39outwardly resembles this one a great deal.
00:15:41And, uh, Scotland Yard were not particularly interested, eh?
00:15:45Oh, yes, but I, I wouldn't blame him for that.
00:15:47Especially as I told him I was quite unable to describe the thief.
00:15:50Except, of course, for the fact that, uh,
00:15:52it was definitely a man.
00:15:53All you remember is that you came in here and someone struck you on the head.
00:15:56Yes, the next thing I knew,
00:15:57my man was trying to revise me.
00:15:59Hmm, it might be wise for you to put that box away somewhere and lock it up.
00:16:02Oh, I don't think that's necessary.
00:16:03Besides, everything's insured.
00:16:05Well, at least if any further attempts at robbery are made,
00:16:08I'd suggest that you call the police,
00:16:10rather than running into any personal danger.
00:16:12Oh, Tom Holmes, aren't you being a bit of an alarmist?
00:16:14Possibly.
00:16:15Well, Mr. Greer, you're all stinky.
00:16:17Seems to me you are making rather a mountain out of the Moleskier.
00:16:20Moleskier.
00:16:21Moleskier is the word, old boy, and it's time you were in bed.
00:16:23Thanks so much for letting us see your place.
00:16:25Well, there's been good meeting you.
00:16:29Holmes, I can't understand why he was so mysterious.
00:16:32Seems to me the petty thief explanation was the only sensible one.
00:16:35Really?
00:16:36I can't see how you can believe it was anything else.
00:16:38I didn't say I believed it to be anything else.
00:16:40The petty thief theory is the obvious one, I grant you.
00:16:43However, it's often a mistake to accept something as true,
00:16:45merely because it's obvious.
00:16:47The truth is only arrived at
00:16:49by the painstaking process of eliminating the untrue.
00:16:53We are not able to do that in this case, without further doubter.
00:16:57Rubbish, you're pulling my leg.
00:16:59You're trying to turn a cut and a hat and a robbery into an international plot.
00:17:04No, I'm not.
00:17:05I just hope that your friend Stinky is a little more cautious in the future.
00:17:08Just in case.
00:17:34Hello?
00:17:35Yeah?
00:17:36Julian Emery here.
00:17:37Julian Emery here.
00:17:38Who?
00:17:41Why, of course I remember you, Mrs. Courtney.
00:17:44Yes.
00:17:45Yes, you're the one bright spot at that affordingly dull affair of Lady Sampson's.
00:17:50Huh?
00:17:51Of course it isn't too late to come round.
00:17:54Yes, I shall be delighted to give you a drink.
00:17:57I tell you what, come straight up and I'll leave the door unless.
00:18:01Yes.
00:18:02Right, that's what?
00:18:03Fifteen minutes?
00:18:04Good.
00:18:05I shall be counting each moment.
00:18:08No, I mean that, didn't I?
00:18:11Right, goodbye.
00:18:13You know I can't do it.
00:18:14You're the one I can't do it right now.
00:18:15I can't do it right now.
00:18:16I can't do it right now.
00:18:17You're the one who's going to do it right now.
00:18:18I'm sorry.
00:18:19Go you all right.
00:18:20I can't do it right now.
00:18:21Oh, he startled me.
00:18:35Did I?
00:18:36Yes.
00:18:37Must be the pixie in me.
00:18:39I know I shouldn't have called you so late.
00:18:41But I was at a party just around the corner.
00:18:44And I remembered your invitation to see your collection
00:18:46of musical boxes.
00:18:47My dear Mrs. Courtney, the pleasure is all the greater
00:18:50for being so unexpected.
00:18:52My friend called me Hilda.
00:18:53Thanks.
00:18:54Mine called me Stinky.
00:18:56Stinky, how quaint.
00:18:58What a perfectly wonderful collection of musical boxes.
00:19:01You know, when you told me you had a collection,
00:19:02I had no idea it was so attractive.
00:19:04Yes.
00:19:05They appealed to the ear as well as to the eye.
00:19:10Oh, what a plain little one.
00:19:12Why, it looks just like a country cousin amid all this grandeur.
00:19:15No, no, no, no.
00:19:16You won't underestimate the country cousin.
00:19:18I only last night a burger broke in here.
00:19:21And with all these to choose from,
00:19:22went off with one very much like it.
00:19:23Really?
00:19:24Yes, I don't mind the loss of the box so much.
00:19:26But I do resent this crack on the skull.
00:19:28But it makes you look so interesting.
00:19:29Don't you think so?
00:19:30Uh-huh.
00:19:32Sorry, that's what old Fatso said.
00:19:33Fatso?
00:19:34I mean, Dr. Watson.
00:19:35He was here this evening with a friend, Mr. Holmes.
00:19:39He's interested in my collection too.
00:19:40Sherlock Holmes?
00:19:42Yes.
00:19:42Do you know him?
00:19:43I've heard of him.
00:19:45Yes, he seems to think I'm in some sort of danger.
00:19:49What a haunting tune.
00:19:50It takes me right back to my childhood.
00:19:52Really?
00:19:53Do you know, it's odd that you should be interested in that particular musical box.
00:19:56Odd?
00:19:56Why?
00:19:57Because Mr. Holmes is also interested in it.
00:19:59He may have been more interested in the tune than in the box.
00:20:02I get you, that's right.
00:20:04I remember now, he whistled it note for note, having heard it only once.
00:20:08Really?
00:20:09He must be a remarkable man.
00:20:10A bit of an alarmist if you ask me.
00:20:13Don't you believe in warning?
00:20:15Of course not.
00:20:16We'd want a box like that.
00:20:18I would.
00:20:19You're not serious.
00:20:21Oh, but I am.
00:20:23You put me in a very awkward position.
00:20:25I'm a collector, you know.
00:20:27And the collector buys but never sells.
00:20:29But if the price were high enough?
00:20:32The price has nothing to do with it.
00:20:35It's the principle of the thing.
00:20:37Yes, well, we haven't had our drink.
00:20:40No thanks, I must be getting along.
00:20:43Must you really?
00:20:45I'm afraid so.
00:20:47You're not walking out on me, are you?
00:20:50My reputation, stinky.
00:20:54I say, you know, you are an attractive woman.
00:20:58Thanks.
00:20:59You fool.
00:21:00I told you to wait outside.
00:21:01What did you have to kill him for?
00:21:02All I had to do was walk out with it.
00:21:03He held you in his arms.
00:21:04Don't touch him.
00:21:05Don't touch anything.
00:21:06Now get out.
00:21:07I'm sorry.
00:21:08You're sorry?
00:21:09What about me?
00:21:10This is murder.
00:21:11What about Scotland Yard?
00:21:12What about Sherlock Holmes?
00:21:13Now get out.
00:21:14I'm sorry.
00:21:15I'm sorry.
00:21:16You're sorry?
00:21:17What about me?
00:21:18This is murder.
00:21:19What about Scotland Yard?
00:21:20What about Sherlock Holmes?
00:21:21Now get out.
00:21:50Did you get it?
00:21:59Good.
00:22:00Did you have any trouble with him?
00:22:05Just a matter of murder.
00:22:11Now, Mr. Holmes.
00:22:13Hopkins.
00:22:14Thanks for coming so promptly.
00:22:15Inspector Mustard suggested that I call through to you.
00:22:18Mr. Emery was the client of Mr. Holmes, Inspector.
00:22:21Indeed.
00:22:22You didn't mention that when I telephoned you, Mr. Holmes.
00:22:24Well, not exactly a client, Inspector.
00:22:26Dodgen Thompson?
00:22:27He was killed between the hours of 11 and 2 o'clock this morning, Mr. Holmes.
00:22:33Must have been someone he knew.
00:22:35Someone of whom he had no suspicion.
00:22:37Poor old Stinky.
00:22:39It's all my fault.
00:22:40I should have prevented this.
00:22:42Well, there's no time to start talking about that now, Doctor.
00:22:45Apparently it's gone.
00:22:47That's the second attempt on the musical box that Emery bought at the auction sale.
00:22:51And this time it was successful.
00:22:53But that box was only worth two pounds.
00:22:55It was worth a man's life, Watson.
00:22:56I think we'd better pay a visit to Gaylord's auction room and that fellow Crabtree.
00:23:00Inspector, may I suggest that you make a complete search of this flat for a small, plain, musical box about that size.
00:23:08Come on, Watson.
00:23:11You say the first box went to Mr. Julian Emery, the second to Mr. Kilgore, 143 B Hampton Way, and the third to the unidentified young lady who presumably has a shop and lives near Golders Green.
00:23:21That's right, Mr. Holmes.
00:23:22Isn't it rather strange, Mr. Crabtree, that you used to have had three identical musical boxes all playing the same tune.
00:23:28Where'd they come from?
00:23:29Dartmoor Prison.
00:23:30Dartmoor?
00:23:31Yeah, we get a regular shipment from there every month.
00:23:33The inmates manufacture them.
00:23:34Well, they make all kinds of things, you know, pipe racks, waste paper baskets, musical boxes.
00:23:38Did you happen to notice if anyone showed any particular interest during the auction in the purchases of these three boxes?
00:23:47Oh, come on, Mr. Crabtree.
00:23:49This is very literally a matter of life and death.
00:23:51Well, since you put it that way, Mr. Holmes, there was a gentleman came in here about an hour after closing time, and he was in an awful state, he was.
00:24:00He gave me five pounds to tell him where the boxes had gone.
00:24:02He said they had a sentimental value for him, sir.
00:24:04Expensive sentiment.
00:24:06Can you describe him?
00:24:07He was tall, distinguished looking, and he had grey hair and a moustache.
00:24:10Oh, he's quite a gentleman, sir.
00:24:11Now, what was his reaction when you were unable to supply him with the address of the young lady who owned the shop?
00:24:17I told him the young lady usually come back on Thursday.
00:24:19He said he'd come back on Thursday.
00:24:21Now, that's tomorrow.
00:24:22Thank you, Mr. Crabtree.
00:24:23You've been very helpful.
00:24:25Come along, Watson.
00:24:26Where are we going now, Holmes?
00:24:27To the home of Mr. Kilgore.
00:24:28The man who bought the third box.
00:24:37But hang it all, Holmes.
00:24:38How do you know those other two musical boxes are of any importance?
00:24:41I don't, but I certainly have no intention of waiting until the owners are murdered to find out.
00:24:47No one at home.
00:24:48I hope that's the explanation.
00:24:50Well, have a look through this window.
00:24:58There doesn't seem to be anyone there.
00:25:01The whole place seems deserted, as far as I can see.
00:25:05Yes?
00:25:06Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore at home.
00:25:07No.
00:25:08When do you expect them?
00:25:09Oh, in an hour or so.
00:25:11There's no use your hanging about.
00:25:13They don't buy nothing from peddlers.
00:25:14Peddlers?
00:25:15My good woman.
00:25:16Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
00:25:18Sherlock Holmes?
00:25:19Oh, go on.
00:25:20Do you mind if we come in and wait?
00:25:22My business is rather urgent.
00:25:23Well, I've got to go out and do my shopping.
00:25:26And I don't know if Mrs. Kilgore would like any stranger's nosing about.
00:25:30It's quite all right, I assure you.
00:25:31Well, I've got to be off.
00:25:33You're too late in the parlour, and no smoking either.
00:25:36Mrs. Kilgore says it smells up the house.
00:25:41Funny old girl at home.
00:25:43Hmm.
00:26:02Park Lane.
00:26:03Park Lane?
00:26:04And what would the likes of you be doing in Park Lane?
00:26:06Now, don't worry about the fairs, Ducky.
00:26:08Well, if you knows how to get the Park Lane off it.
00:26:16You know, Holmes, I've been thinking.
00:26:18There must have been something hidden in that box of old stinkies.
00:26:22Stolen jewellery, possibly.
00:26:25What's up, Holmes?
00:26:26Listen.
00:26:27What, just the steam in the water pipes?
00:26:38Watson!
00:26:42Great Scott!
00:26:44Come on, Holmes.
00:26:45Get out of the chair here.
00:26:49It's all right, my dear.
00:26:50There, there, there.
00:26:53Now, don't worry.
00:26:55It's all over.
00:26:57There you are, dear.
00:26:58Don't cry anymore.
00:26:59She tied me up and shut me in the cupboard.
00:27:02I know, I know.
00:27:04She won't come back.
00:27:06Did you show her your new musical box?
00:27:08Yes.
00:27:09She said she wanted to hear it play.
00:27:10And as soon as I showed it to her, she grabbed all of it.
00:27:13I know, I know.
00:27:14Now, don't worry, nobody.
00:27:15We'll buy you a new musical box.
00:27:16Yes, my dear.
00:27:17The best one in London.
00:27:19Watson.
00:27:21Oh, what a fool.
00:27:22What a fool I've been.
00:27:23What do you mean, Holmes?
00:27:24She took the musical box out of this house in that market basket.
00:27:27Right under our very noses.
00:27:29Why could the Kilgore child woman want to take the music box?
00:27:32She isn't the Kilgore child woman.
00:27:34She's a consummate actress.
00:27:35An extremely clever, unscrupulous woman who will stop at nothing.
00:27:38Take care of the child, will you, Wolf?
00:27:39I'll learn till her parents get back.
00:27:41Explain everything to them.
00:27:42Of course I will.
00:27:43Holmes, where are you going?
00:27:45Somewhere, somehow.
00:27:47I must get to the young lady who bought that third musical box before our opponents find her.
00:27:51I only hope that I won't be too late.
00:27:57Oh, no.
00:27:58No, no.
00:27:59No, no, no, darling.
00:28:00You mustn't cry anymore.
00:28:02Cheer up.
00:28:03Would you like to hear old uncle make a noise like a duck?
00:28:07Whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack, whack
00:28:37and now ladies and gentlemen how much am i offered for this beautiful lace dresden china figurine
00:28:50a lady of the french court now this is the genuine article
00:28:55what a beautiful ornament for your mantelpiece or you could use it as a centerpiece on the
00:29:00dining room table now has somebody stopped me for 10 pounds did somebody start me for 10 pounds
00:29:04eight pounds seven pounds all right five five pounds is offered five pounds is offered five
00:29:11pounds is offered five pounds ten five pounds fifteen five pounds fifteen six pounds is offered
00:29:17six pounds six pounds going once going twice the third and the last call have you all done
00:29:21sold to the lady from twickenham for six pounds
00:29:23next we have a real museum piece ladies and gentlemen a fine 19th century doll
00:29:32a costume and exact replica of the holiday clothes worn by the hungarian peasant women
00:29:37now ladies and gentlemen an article like this would cost you from 15 to 20 pounds in a west end shop
00:29:42i'm not going to ask for anything like that we'll give me two pounds for it two pounds
00:29:46anybody offer me two pounds two pounds one pound what anybody give me one pound anybody offer me one
00:29:52pound for the dollar one one pound is offered ladies and gentlemen one pound is offered now i'm not going
00:29:57to waste your valuable time or mine in trying to get one half of what this beautiful doll is worth
00:30:02the young lady can steal it for one pound that's her good fortune so it's going once it's going twice
00:30:07the third and last call anymore sold to the young lady for one pound and now ladies and gentlemen may
00:30:14i draw your attention to something which may be a great surprise to you worthy of any collection
00:30:18the only other one like it is in the british museum
00:30:21it's a ming balls of the seventh dynasty this balls lay in a large collection
00:30:27somewhere outside rome for over two centuries i understand it was discovered there
00:30:32by the noted antiquarian sir andrew copleston now some of you may remember sir andrew copleston
00:30:36besides being a noted traveling antiquarian he's also a gentleman rider
00:30:40a girl with a parcel in her hands that's her are you sure that's the girl she fits perfectly the
00:30:51auctioneer's description follow her hamid
00:31:10i can get at least three for it easily
00:31:23i'll go make some tea
00:31:26it's lovely dear and only one pound we can get at least three for it easily I'll go make some tea
00:31:38I could do with a cup right good afternoon good afternoon I'm looking for a birthday gift for a
00:31:48seven-year-old girl what would you suggest we have some lovely dolls now this Hungarian I think she
00:31:53has enough dolls already books are always welcome well I'm looking for something a little different
00:31:58well that's rather cute what is it well that's a musical box children always love them and this
00:32:05is an exceptionally nice one it plays many tunes have you any others yes if you'll just get this
00:32:18way I have only two left I'm sorry they're rather hard to find you know that's our entire allotment I
00:32:38did have one other but I sold it earlier this afternoon but it was only a plain wooden one
00:32:43it wouldn't have been a very nice gift for a child really do you happen to know who the purchaser
00:32:49was why yes he left his card just in case anyone should inquire for him how interesting I'm sorry
00:33:07but I'm afraid I'll have to look a bit further thank you anyway good afternoon thank you
00:33:37all of that cat here now what gotland yard hop in
00:33:46Sherlock Holmes I might have known we thought we were the hunters instead of which were the hunted
00:34:02we've been fooled we played right into his hands of course he's had it swallowed don't look the man in front of the toy shop
00:34:13I mean turn shop right at the next corner and again at the next
00:34:20no photograph of a commissioner as I expected she's not a known criminal but I respect to know if you do find her
00:34:34I thought she was disguised as a charwoman don't worry old fellow if I ever see it again I'll recognize her
00:34:40well it won't be long till we know who they are and from where they operate who's covering them
00:34:46uh sergeant Thompson's following them sir they won't get away from him he's a good man we could
00:34:50have arrested them at Clifford's toy shop if we had any proof but we know that they killed Emmerer
00:34:55proof my dear fellow we must have proof we've x-rayed it so there's nothing whatever concealed in the
00:35:02box we'll have a look at the plates there must be some clue and it's probably been so obvious that
00:35:14we've all overlooked it seems to me we're up against a bunch of lunatics not lunatics my dear fellow
00:35:21extremely astute cold-blooded murderers what can these little musical boxes have in them so
00:35:27important don't forget they were made in Dartmoor prison you can smuggle stuff into prison but not
00:35:32out you want us to break the box apart so to see if there's anything the x-ray hasn't caught
00:35:37no not yet do you mind if I take it definitely thanks the governor of Dartmoor prison informed us
00:35:52sir in answer to mr. Holmes the question that all three musical boxes were made by the same convict
00:35:58john davidson serving a seven-year term sir davidson the bank of england plate that'll be all yes now
00:36:06we're getting somewhere wait a minute how did you know about the plates mr. Holmes I'm a student of
00:36:12crime inspector I make my business to know about such things and when the name of davidson was mentioned
00:36:17well who is this fellow davidson as long as mr. Holmes seems to know all about it already I suppose
00:36:22there's no harm in telling you two years ago in london there occurred a robbery of such tremendous
00:36:30importance although the stolen articles themselves have no intrinsic value whatsoever but the home
00:36:35secretary was instrumental in seeing that not a word of it appeared in any newspaper but you never
00:36:39told me anything about this Holmes you were away at the time articles of no intrinsic value and yet of
00:36:46such importance I don't understand davidson was apprehended within 15 minutes committing
00:36:52the theft but by that time he'd hidden the articles in question and they've yet to be found
00:36:57before going further dr. Watson I must inform you that this matter is not to be mentioned outside of
00:37:02this room of course not do I look like a man who gossip let's not go into that now old fellow shall we
00:37:07davidson have been employed for years in the position of extreme trust by the engravings department
00:37:14of the bank of england the articles he stole were nothing less than the complete duplicate set of
00:37:19plates for printing five-pound notes what the back of england's own plate precisely and with those
00:37:26plates a gang of crooks could flood england with five-pound notes not forged in the usual sense of
00:37:32the word but notes undetectable from genuine bank of england notes in any way whatsoever good heavens
00:37:37any whisper at all might have resulted in enormous damage in shaking public confidence in the treasury we tried
00:37:43everything after we arrested davidson offered him a shorter sentence if he'd tell us where he'd hidden the plate
00:37:48why we even put in scotland jarred men with him as cellmates but no result obviously davidson is a man of
00:37:55strong character and infinite patience yet suddenly he feels impelled to smuggle out the secret of the hiding place of the plates to his confederates why I don't understand mr. Holmes
00:38:07well for example has the bank of england made any plans to radically change the design of the five-pound note so that in say uh seven years from now notes made from the stolen plates would be worthless
00:38:19confidentially mr. Holmes such a move was discussed but replacing all the five-pound notes in circulation would be such a herculean task that nothing's been done about it as yet
00:38:29i see of course there is another possible explanation davidson didn't have much time to find a hiding place before he was captured
00:38:36he may be afraid that the plates will be accidentally discovered before he's released
00:38:41hence his anxiety to communicate their whereabouts to his confederates as soon as possible
00:38:47i believe you've hit it mr. Holmes i'm sure that the message is contained in this musical box
00:38:54or rather in all three musical boxes since possession of all three seems to be essential
00:39:00our poets have two-thirds of the puzzle we have one-third
00:39:04well what are you going to do Holmes try to deduce the message from the one-third that we have
00:39:10your
00:39:13your
00:39:15your
00:39:21your
00:39:24your
00:39:28your
00:39:29your
00:39:31It's the same tune as the one played by Emery's musical box, and yet it's different.
00:39:57Sounds the same to me.
00:39:59The tune.
00:40:02Somehow the tune is the key to the mystery.
00:40:07It must be the tune.
00:40:09Otherwise, why use three musical boxes to convey the message?
00:40:13Why not collar boxes or shoe boxes?
00:40:17Yes?
00:40:19Oh. It's for you, Inspector.
00:40:21Sure. Thank you, sir.
00:40:23Inspector Hopkins speaking.
00:40:26What?
00:40:29Where?
00:40:31Golders Green Station reports they've just found Sergeant Thompson's body.
00:40:35From the tire marks on his clothes, he was apparently run over by taxi.
00:40:39What an unfortunate accident.
00:40:41Not an accident, my dear fellow.
00:40:44I'm afraid it's murder.
00:40:47Well, you never know just who you're going to meet
00:40:53When you're walking down a busy London street
00:40:57Mrs. Orchid, Mrs. Brown, any subject of the crowd
00:41:03Oh, you never know just who you're going to meet
00:41:07Oh, you better hold your topper in your hand
00:41:13Just in case you meet a lady on the strand
00:41:19Your girls will think you're kind of sweet
00:41:21And your day will be complete
00:41:23Oh, you never know just who you're going to meet
00:41:27Now a gentleman is judged by his appearance
00:41:32Yes, a gentleman is judged by how he talks
00:41:37Now he's much better off when he's acting like a twop
00:41:42Especially if he's taking him a walk
00:41:46What on earth is this outlandish place?
00:41:49A rendezvous for actors
00:41:51Actors?
00:41:52Buskers, old boy
00:41:54You've seen them a thousand times
00:41:56Actors who entertain the queues
00:41:58Waiting outside theaters
00:42:00Oh, you never know just who you're going to meet
00:42:05When you're walking down a busy London street
00:42:10So you better wear your best
00:42:13Go inside to look your best
00:42:15Cause you never know just who you're going to meet
00:42:19Oh, you better keep your manners right in view
00:42:25Just in case the lie you give a how you do
00:42:29Keep your trousers in a fleece
00:42:32Shine your jewelry deep and neat
00:42:35Cause you never know just who you're going to meet
00:42:39Blimey, Mr. Holmes
00:42:42How are you, Joe?
00:42:44Never beckoned
00:42:46And yourself?
00:42:47Fine, thank you
00:42:48I want you to meet a friend of mine, Dr. Watson
00:42:50Joe's sister
00:42:51Oh, well, any friend of Mr. Holmes is a friend of mine
00:42:53Hi, Joe
00:42:54He did me a good turn once that I'll never forget
00:42:56If I care, Joe, of a most unpleasant charge
00:42:58Murder, nevertheless
00:42:59Oh, really?
00:43:00By proving to the satisfaction of the police
00:43:02That he was busy at the time
00:43:03Blowing open someone's safe
00:43:04That's right, Governor
00:43:05Good gracious me
00:43:06Now, Joe, uh
00:43:08Now you can help me
00:43:10Come on, buzz off, buzz off
00:43:11Come on, lock it, lock it
00:43:12Can't a gentleman have some peace and quiet around here?
00:43:16And you too
00:43:17There you are, Mr. Holmes
00:43:18Now we can have some peace and quiet around here
00:43:19Thank you, Joe
00:43:20There's five pounds of this for you
00:43:21Well, I wouldn't want to take it on myself, sir
00:43:22But I can get somebody to do it for you for half of that
00:43:23You don't know what the job is yet
00:43:24For five pounds?
00:43:25Murder, ain't it?
00:43:26What?
00:43:27No, Joe, not murder, just music
00:43:28I want you to identify a song for me
00:43:29Oh, there ain't a song that's been written that I don't know
00:43:30That's why I can't, Joe
00:43:31Of course, the violin is more my instrument
00:43:32But, um
00:43:33Oh, well, here we go
00:43:34Now listen to this, Joe
00:43:35Wait a minute
00:43:36You're playing that wrong
00:43:37That should be E-Natural
00:43:38I'll take it for half of that
00:43:39You don't know what the job is yet
00:43:40For five pounds?
00:43:41Murder, ain't it?
00:43:42What?
00:43:43No, Joe
00:43:44Not murder, just music
00:43:45I want you to identify a song for me
00:43:46Oh, there ain't a song that's been written that I don't know
00:43:48That's why I can't, Joe
00:43:49Of course, the violin is more my instrument
00:43:52But, um
00:43:53Oh, well
00:43:54Here we go
00:43:55Now listen to this, Joe
00:44:01Wait a minute
00:44:02You're playing that wrong
00:44:04That should be E-Natural, not E-Flat
00:44:06You know the song?
00:44:07Oh, yes
00:44:08It's an old Australian song called, uh
00:44:10The Swag Man
00:44:11But you're playing it all wrong
00:44:13That's what I hoped you'd say
00:44:14Now listen again, Joe
00:44:22That's the same tune, all right
00:44:23But you're making different mistakes than you did the first time
00:44:26No, not mistakes, Joe
00:44:27Call them variations
00:44:28Here, play the song for me
00:44:29We're the other way it's written
00:44:34There you are
00:44:40Thank you, Joe
00:44:41What's it mean, Holmes?
00:44:43You onto something?
00:44:44Perhaps
00:44:45I don't know yet
00:44:46It's probably a code of some sort
00:44:48Joe
00:44:49Could you write the song down for me?
00:44:50The way it was originally written?
00:44:51Oh, sure, Miss Downs
00:44:52But it'll take a few minutes
00:44:53Mm-hmm
00:44:54Here, label
00:44:55Hey, Lale
00:44:56Come on, off to it
00:44:57Long with it
00:44:58Oh, go
00:44:59Come on, there
00:45:00No, no
00:45:01No, no
00:45:02No
00:45:03No
00:45:04No
00:45:05No
00:45:06No
00:45:07No
00:45:08No
00:45:09No
00:45:10No
00:45:11No
00:45:12No
00:45:13No
00:45:14No
00:45:15No
00:45:16No
00:45:17No
00:45:18No
00:45:19No
00:45:20No
00:45:21No
00:45:22No
00:45:23Well, obviously, it isn't the lyrics.
00:45:34No combination of those words made any sense at all.
00:45:37The variations in the way Emery's musical box played the tune
00:45:41are different from the variations in the one we have.
00:45:43You sure?
00:45:43Quite.
00:45:44You see, I took the trouble to memorize the tune as played by Emery's box
00:45:48that night we were with him in his sweat.
00:45:49Oh, you amaze me.
00:45:51Now let me mention, my dear fellow, one of the first principles
00:45:53in solving crime is never to disregard anything,
00:45:56no matter how trivial.
00:45:57Why are there three boxes?
00:45:58Why not one?
00:46:00Because the message was obviously too long
00:46:02to be conveyed by any one variation.
00:46:05Then there's the third box, the one that woman took from the Kilgores.
00:46:10That contains yet another set of variations.
00:46:13Yes, it's all beyond me.
00:46:16Well, all we have to do now is to find the secret of the variations.
00:46:19It's not a very easy problem to solve, my dear fellow.
00:46:26Hello.
00:46:27What's up?
00:46:32We've had company.
00:46:38I say, this is outrageous.
00:46:43Ask Mrs. Hudson to come in here, will you?
00:46:45Right.
00:46:50Mrs. Hudson?
00:46:51Yes?
00:46:52Oh, there you are.
00:46:53Will you come up here at once, please?
00:46:54Oh, coming, sir.
00:46:55Mr. Hudson?
00:46:56Yes?
00:46:57Oh, there you are.
00:46:58Will you come up here at once, please?
00:46:59Oh, coming, sir.
00:47:15Merci, me, Mr. Holmes.
00:47:16What has happened?
00:47:17Who called while we were out, Mrs. Hudson?
00:47:19Just a young lady, the one who said you wanted her to wait for you, and a nice-looking old gentleman with her.
00:47:25Our friends again, Watson.
00:47:26Friends?
00:47:27What did the young lady look like?
00:47:28Oh, I couldn't see her face. She had a heavy black veil on, but she had such a nice way with her.
00:47:35Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Holmes, if I've done anything wrong, but you did say I should always let clients come in and wait for you.
00:47:44Don't worry, Mrs. Hudson, don't worry. You had no way of knowing.
00:47:48It's quite all right, quite all right. Now, don't worry, Mrs. Hudson.
00:47:55Don't worry. Where on earth's the musical box?
00:47:59They didn't get it.
00:48:01Didn't get it? Where is it?
00:48:03It's in your hand.
00:48:06In a biscuit jar.
00:48:09Take the biscuits off the top.
00:48:14Now put your hand inside, and you'll find the music box.
00:48:19Well done, Holmes. Well done. Amazing.
00:48:22Amazing.
00:48:44Phew. Nice fresh smell. Like a pub after closing time.
00:48:47Huh.
00:48:54I say, Holmes.
00:48:55What?
00:48:57It's morning.
00:48:58Allow me to congratulate you on a brilliant bit of deduction.
00:49:01It's not a transposition, not a polygraph transposition, not a trigraph, nor any known form of decoding.
00:49:16How about the Morse code? Have you tried that?
00:49:18Yes, at about three o'clock this morning.
00:49:20I'm sorry, old man. I was only trying to help.
00:49:39Oh, do me a favor. Not again.
00:49:41Must have heard that thing a thousand times.
00:49:44Keep me awake all night.
00:49:52Not a very distinguished composition, I grant you.
00:49:54You know perfectly well I don't know one tune from the other.
00:49:58When I was a kid, my people tried to have me taught the piano.
00:50:01I've always felt sorry for that old teacher of mine.
00:50:04The poor old girl finally reached the point of numbering of the keys for me.
00:50:08One, two, three, four.
00:50:09Well, even then I never progressed beyond a...
00:50:12Numbering the keys, Watson.
00:50:14The 19th key of the keyboard is the 19th letter of the alphabet.
00:50:19S. Here.
00:50:21Now sit down when I give it to my fellow, will you?
00:50:24The first altered note.
00:50:26Write S first.
00:50:28Now the eighth key is H.
00:50:33The fifth key, E.
00:50:35The twelfth key, L.
00:50:39The sixth key, F.
00:50:41S-H-E-L-F.
00:50:44Shelf.
00:50:46Your piano lessons were not in vain, old fellow.
00:50:49You've solved it. Thank you.
00:50:51Oh, thanks old man. Hold this.
00:50:54We now have two thirds of the message behind books.
00:50:59Third shelf, secretary, Dr. S.
00:51:02Dr. S.
00:51:05Presumably, these are the first and second portions of the message.
00:51:10And this gang has the first and third parts of it?
00:51:13Precisely.
00:51:14Then it's a stalemate?
00:51:15Yes, Commissioner, but we can't leave it like that.
00:51:17There's no doubt in my mind that they'll try to secure our third of the message that's missing.
00:51:22Well, I assume you've taken every precaution to guard the Clifford musical.
00:51:24Oh, yes, it's carefully hidden at Baker Street with Dr. Watson on guard.
00:51:26However, I'm reasonably certain that, difficult as it may be, we can find the plates even without the missing part of the message.
00:51:35Behind books, third shelf, secretary, Dr. S.
00:51:39Outside of the fact that Davidson hid the Bank of England plates somewhere in London, Mr. Holmes, I don't see that we've progressed at all.
00:51:47Allow me to point out to you, sir, the key words, Dr. S.
00:51:52It looks as if the plates were hidden in the house of the doctor.
00:51:55Whether S stands for his first or last initial remains to be determined by a process of elimination.
00:52:00Well, there must be 10,000 doctors in London with S for a first or last initial.
00:52:06Precisely. And every one of them will have to be questioned in person.
00:52:09That's why I say this is a task for Scotland Yard.
00:52:12It's a task, all right. But Scotland Yard has searched worse haystacks and found a needle.
00:52:17Well, for the time being, I'll leave the matter in your hands, gentlemen.
00:52:22We'll call you if and when we get a lead on our mysterious Dr. S.
00:52:26In the meantime, I intend to follow up a little clue concerning a cigarette.
00:52:37You're certain of the identification of the tobacco?
00:52:40Absolutely. I have made up this special blend for only three customers.
00:52:45It is almost pure Egyptian with a mixture of Latakia for added body and a pinch of Perique.
00:52:53Merely a whisper, as one might say, for elusive fragrance.
00:52:58Yes, yes. And the three customers?
00:53:01Major Wilson in Bombay, India.
00:53:04Mm-hmm.
00:53:05Mrs. Catherine Leamington-Smith in Ireland.
00:53:08Yes, and the third?
00:53:10Mrs. Hilda Courtney of Park Mansions, Bryanston Square.
00:53:14Thank you. Thank you very much. You've been most helpful.
00:53:16It is a pleasure to have been of service, Mr. Holmes.
00:53:18Mr. Holmes?
00:53:29Yes?
00:53:31Mrs. Cockney?
00:53:32Yes.
00:53:33My name is Sherlock Holmes.
00:53:34Oh, do come in.
00:53:37I've heard of you, of course, Mr. Holmes.
00:53:39I believe we have a mutual friend in Sir Edward Brookdale. He's spoken to me of you quite often.
00:53:46Indeed.
00:53:50And to what good fortune am I indebted for this visit?
00:53:54I think you know, Mrs. Courtney.
00:53:56Well, I did get a summons for speeding last week, but outside of that, I don't think I'm of any interest to the police.
00:54:03Oh, come now, Mrs. Courtney. You seem to forget that you and I have met before.
00:54:07I'm sorry. I'm sure I would have remembered meeting the great Sherlock Holmes.
00:54:12Please sit down.
00:54:15You say we met before.
00:54:16Yes.
00:54:18At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kilgore, 143 B Hampton Road.
00:54:23Kilgore?
00:54:25I don't think I know anyone of that name.
00:54:28Well, I didn't say you knew them.
00:54:29As a matter of fact, you called on them when they were out.
00:54:33I don't understand, Mr. Holmes.
00:54:36Really?
00:54:38And you were dressed rather differently.
00:54:40Indeed.
00:54:42Cigarette?
00:55:02You know, Mrs. Courtney, people generally forget, in assuming a disguise, that the shape of the ear is an almost infallible means of recognition and identification to the trained eye.
00:55:13Evidently, you've mistaken me for someone else.
00:55:16Oh, no, not at all. Though naturally, I expected your denial.
00:55:20But when you paid your visit to my rooms at Baker Street, you carelessly left behind another identification.
00:55:27They're identical, aren't they?
00:55:33Yes, I must admit they are.
00:55:35You see, Mr. Holmes, to catch one as clever as you, I had to use a very special lure.
00:55:40I knew you'd be unable to resist the bait of my cigarette, having read with great interest your monograph on the ashes of 140 different varieties of tobacco.
00:55:49I should advise you not to move, Mr. Holmes.
00:55:52I must congratulate you on your ingenuity, Mrs. Courtney. It was indeed a brilliantly designed trap.
00:56:00Thank you, Mr. Holmes. Praise from a master is indeed gratifying.
00:56:05I shall always cherish the memory of your flattering words.
00:56:09Memory?
00:56:11Precisely. I'm afraid these gentlemen have a most regrettable task to perform.
00:56:15Unless, of course, you care to turn over the missing musical box with your pledge to take no action against us in the future.
00:56:25I'm afraid that will be impossible.
00:56:27I thought that would be your answer.
00:56:28Hummed!
00:56:30Careful!
00:56:32Careful?
00:56:33There's no need to be unnecessarily rough with our distinguished guests.
00:56:36You realize, Mr. Holmes, that your demise will not take place here, the, uh, corpus delecti, you know?
00:56:44Well, naturally.
00:56:45Shall we go?
00:56:49So fearfully awkward having a dead body lying about.
00:56:52Don't you agree, Mr. Holmes?
00:56:53Another dead body shouldn't weigh too heavily on your conscience, Mrs. Courtney.
00:56:57Do you mind if I have a cigarette?
00:57:08Well, I don't see why not.
00:57:23Be careful, Hamid.
00:57:25It's the brakes, I bind.
00:57:31Thank you, Colonel Kavanagh.
00:57:32It's very considerate of you.
00:57:55You'll be happy to know, Mr. Holmes, that your death will be a painless one.
00:58:11Hamid, attach this to the motor of the taxi.
00:58:14That little attachment, my dear Mr. Holmes, contains the deadly fluid known as monosulfri.
00:58:24The Germans use it with gratifying results in removing their undesirables.
00:58:34Start the motor.
00:58:35Start the motor.
00:58:58Tape his mouth.
00:59:06Now, up with him, Hamid.
00:59:20You find yourself like Mohammed's coffin, Mr. Holmes.
00:59:25Suspended between heaven and earth.
00:59:34Plenty of fuel in the tank.
00:59:36Good.
00:59:38It would be too bad to have anything go wrong through so simple an oversight.
00:59:42Come on.
00:59:43Come on.
01:00:01Good morning.
01:00:02Oh, my God.
01:00:32Good afternoon.
01:00:54Mr. Sherlock Holmes.
01:00:55No, I'm Dr. Watson.
01:00:57Oh, of course, Dr. Watson.
01:00:59How stupid of me.
01:01:00Oh, that's stupid of me.
01:01:04Won't you come in?
01:01:05Well, I really came to see Mr. Holmes.
01:01:07Oh, I'm afraid he's out.
01:01:08I don't know when he'll be back.
01:01:10Perhaps there's something I can do.
01:01:11Won't you sit down?
01:01:14You know, Sherlock Holmes and I have been engaged on a great many cases.
01:01:19Oh, really?
01:01:19Yes, indeed.
01:01:20As a matter of fact, this very moment, we're involved in one of the most baffling...
01:01:24Oh, well, won't you tell me your trouble?
01:01:27I may be able to help you.
01:01:29That's very kind of you, Dr. Watson.
01:01:31Perhaps if I wouldn't be imposing too much...
01:01:34Imposing?
01:01:35There's no imposition at all.
01:01:38A pleasure, I assure you.
01:01:39Now, tell me all about it, Miss...
01:01:41Miss Williams.
01:01:42Miss Williams.
01:01:43I live in Surrey, Dr. Watson, and I've come up to London in sheer desperation.
01:01:48My only sister has disappeared, and the local police seem utterly unable to find her.
01:01:52Well, Holmes and I have solved a case exactly like that once.
01:01:55Very interesting, as far as I remember.
01:01:57I call it the adventure of the solitary cyclist.
01:02:01Oh, sorry.
01:02:03Now I come to think of it, it wasn't so very similar.
01:02:05It's entirely different.
01:02:07I don't think what I'm saying.
01:02:09Oh, where were we?
01:02:10She's only 17, Dr. Watson, and until she disappeared last Thursday, she seemed to be in the best of spirits.
01:02:19Possibly a romantic entanglement?
01:02:22Oh, no, no, nothing of the sort.
01:02:23She left no note, didn't even pack a bag, no explanation.
01:02:28She just started to walk to the village from our house in broad daylight, and simply vanished from the face of you.
01:02:34Oh, there, there, there, there.
01:02:36Might I have a glass of water?
01:02:37A glass of water.
01:02:38That was a glass of water.
01:02:39But I wouldn't have one minute.
01:02:431, 2, 3, leave it.
01:02:581, 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3, 6...
01:03:012, 3, and 2, 3, 4, 3, 4, 6, 6.
01:03:05there you are my dear thank you dr. Watson and I know you're not to cry anymore you must pull
01:03:18yourself together I feel much better already knowing that you're going to help me oh dr. Watson
01:03:22look good heavens get through get through the fire brigade quickly
01:03:35haven't you a fire extinguisher
01:03:41don't you worry miss Williams we'll have this thing out of no time
01:04:04there there was no need for the fire brigade after all I hope you weren't too frightened miss Williams
01:04:30oh gone it's a trouble when they always lose their heads in an emergency
01:04:39Oh musical box great Scott
01:04:52Miss Williams
01:04:57well good and Holmes by now mr. Holmes has no doubt exchanged his violin for a harp
01:05:12always assuming that heaven is his destination
01:05:15now that we have the missing musical box
01:05:2019th note 19th letter
01:05:36yes
01:05:39you haven't been there you sir
01:05:44Holmes where on earth have you been I've been trying to get you at the club Scotland Yard all over London
01:05:50you're looking for me in the wrong places
01:05:54Holmes terrible things happened I've been duped
01:05:57that woman
01:05:59she made a complete fool of me
01:06:01well what do you mean
01:06:01well she came here let off a smoke bomb
01:06:04I thought the whole place was on fire and my first thought was to
01:06:06to save the musical box
01:06:07to save the musical box
01:06:08no need to say any more
01:06:09she has the box
01:06:10yes
01:06:12don't blame yourself too much old fellow
01:06:14she's an extremely clever antagonist
01:06:18smoke bomb you said
01:06:23well you can console yourself with the thought
01:06:28that your charming friend is at least a reader of yours
01:06:31what you mean
01:06:32if I remember correctly
01:06:34you wrote about my little experiment with smoke and the crying fire
01:06:37and the story you entitled
01:06:38a scandal in Bohemia
01:06:39which has just appeared in the Strand magazine
01:06:41all right all right oh boy
01:06:43don't rub it in
01:06:44well it may cheer you up to know that you made a fool of me too
01:06:48ah
01:06:50that cigarette stub
01:06:52was planted here for one express purpose
01:06:55we've got a bandaging around this place
01:06:57bandaging what's the matter Holmes
01:06:59you hurt
01:07:00explanations we'll have to wait until later
01:07:02at the moment we're faced with a problem
01:07:04which I fear is insurmountable
01:07:05come over here old boy will you
01:07:07right
01:07:09our opponents are in possession of all three parts of the code
01:07:12and here are we while the bank of England plates
01:07:15pass into their possession
01:07:17cheer up all for a cheer up
01:07:18as dr. Samuel Johnson once said
01:07:20there's no problem the mind of man can set
01:07:23that the mind of man cannot solve
01:07:25what's that all fellow
01:07:26I was just quoting dr. Samuel Johnson
01:07:28he said there is no
01:07:29thank you Watson
01:07:30thank you
01:07:31hmm
01:07:35leaving the front reception room
01:07:37we come into the main hall
01:07:39where dr. Johnson was in the habit of passing through
01:07:42to have his meager meals in the dining room opposite
01:07:45in company with his friend and biographer
01:07:48James Boswell
01:07:50we will now pass up the stairway
01:07:52which remains in its natural wood finish
01:07:55just as it was when the good doctor was here
01:07:58the framed etching on the wall
01:08:00is believed to have been presented to dr. Johnson
01:08:02by the distinguished painter
01:08:04Sir Joshua Reynolds
01:08:06I've been told here that that picture was given by Mrs. Thrail
01:08:10and it's definitely not a Reynolds
01:08:13is that important my dear?
01:08:15oh I'm sorry
01:08:17this way ladies and gentlemen please
01:08:20this way
01:08:21move along children move along
01:08:22the secretary is not on this floor
01:08:25patience Hamid
01:08:26I have a feeling
01:08:27my dear colonel
01:08:29with Sherlock Holmes out of the way
01:08:30what could go wrong?
01:08:40and here we have the garret library
01:08:42in which dr. Johnson wrote his famous dictionary
01:08:45and in which you will see also
01:08:47many of the great man's books and other items of interest
01:08:50step forward ladies and gentlemen please
01:08:53step forward
01:08:54standing in the corner is the secretary
01:08:57which contains many of the original works
01:08:59by the literary genius
01:09:01on this table dr. Johnson's cat Hodge
01:09:04used to sleep while his master worked
01:09:06a strange thing about this cat ladies and gentlemen
01:09:09was its love of oysters
01:09:11they do say that the dear doctor often went hungry
01:09:14to find the cat that delicacy
01:09:17what a pity
01:09:18now we will visit the green room
01:09:20which is immediately below us
01:09:22in which you will see the very bed
01:09:25in which dr. Johnson died
01:09:27what did he die of?
01:09:28gout
01:09:30just gout
01:09:32this way ladies and gentlemen
01:09:34line the steps please
01:09:48your keys
01:10:06third shelf up
01:10:14the knife
01:10:18gentlemen
01:10:21the bank of England plates
01:10:23well Mrs. Courtney
01:10:27so we meet again
01:10:28no I shouldn't do that if I were you Colonel Catmull
01:10:31I must congratulate you Mr. Holmes
01:10:34you're far more clever than I thought
01:10:36thank you Mrs. Courtney
01:10:39praise from you is indeed gratifying
01:10:43I shall always cherish the memory
01:10:46your flattering words
01:10:48memory
01:10:50oh
01:10:51thank you
01:10:52and now I have a most regrettable task to perform
01:10:57Holmes
01:11:02coming Holmes
01:11:04Holmes
01:11:05you all right?
01:11:06perfectly thank you old fellow
01:11:07but I think this gentleman on the floor requires some medical attention
01:11:08we will see that he looks his best you know when he's hanged
01:11:09take them in charge
01:11:13we will see that he looks his best you know when he's hanged
01:11:15take them in charge
01:11:34a brilliant antagonist
01:11:36it's a pity her talents were so misdirected
01:11:38will you see that these plates are returned to the Bank of England Inspector
01:11:42I still don't understand how you solved it Mr. Holmes
01:11:44it's entirely due to Dr. Watson
01:11:46he gave me the clue when he mentioned Dr. Samuel Johnson
01:11:49well congratulations doctor
01:11:51oh thank you Inspector
01:11:52I don't think I'd have done it entirely
01:11:53without Mr. Holmes's help you know
01:11:55ha ha ha
01:12:05oh
01:12:08oh
01:12:10oh
01:12:11Oh
01:12:12oh
01:12:14oh
01:12:15oh
01:12:16oh
01:12:18oh
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