简介：Amostpleasinglyatmosphericrenditionofthetale,noirishlyphotographedandmoodilyset,thisistheversionwhichprobablywouldhavedelightedConanDoylethemost.ThereisoneimportantplotchangewhichenablesthebeautifulAliceBrandttoenjoybothalargerroleandamoreintriguingpartintheproceedings.ThischangealsobuildsupthepartsofDrMortimerandLordCharles,yetatthesametimeprovidesaniceintroductiontotheis-he-sinisteroris-he-a-good-guyBarrymore,deftlyplayedherebyFritzRasp.Despitethestingofitswell-developedstory,thespellbindinglyatmosphericdirectionandtheengrossingperformancesdeliveredbytheentirecast,manyfansmayfindthisversionsomewhatdisappointing.Foratleastthreereasons:Asinthenovel,thepartplayedinthenarrativebySherlockHolmes,thoughvital,isminimal.Andinthisversion,notonlyhasnoattemptbeenmadetoenlargehisrole,ifanythingbothwriteranddirectordotheirbesttominimizeit.Holmesdoesnotevenmakehisentranceforhalf-an-hour,andwhenhedoesfinallyappear,hehashisbacktothecamera.ItisFritzOdemar,asDrWatson,whoreceivesthemorefavorablecameraan