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The
Scarlet Claw
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| The story begins in a little Canadian village called La Morte Rouge, where something has been killing sheep by tearing their throats open. The body of Lady Penrose is found with her throat similarly ripped open. In Quebec, where Holmes and Watson are attending a convention of the Occult Society with Lord Penrose, Holmes learns that Lady Penrose has been murdered. When Holmes receives a letter from her stating that she fears her life is in danger, he and Watson travel to La Morte Rouge to investigate. Holmes comments to Watson, "For the first time we've been retained by a corpse." |
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The villagers believe the killer is a legendary monster or phantom that lives in the marshes. Holmes, however, believes the fiend is flesh and blood, with a motive for killing Lady Penrose. When Holmes sees the body of Lady Penrose, he recognizes her as the actress Lillian Gentry, who disappeared several years previously. Eventually he deduces that the murderer is Alistair Ramson, an actor who was imprisoned for killing another actor in a jealous rage over Lillian Gentry. When this man escaped from prison, he came to La Morte Rouge. Using various disguises and his talent as an actor, Alistair Ramson has lived inconspicuously among the villagers for the past three years. Holmes must figure out which of the villagers is the murderer. Holmes says to Watson, "Alistair Ramson has established a character, perhaps several others, who are by now familiar to the people of La Morte Rouge and quite above suspicion." Two other people whose lives are in danger are Judge Brisson, who sentenced Ramson, and the innkeeper Journet, who was a guard at the prison. Holmes sets a trap for the killer using Journet as the bait. Ramson's disguise is revealed, solving the mystery.
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The final scene shows Holmes and Watson driving to the coast, from where they will sail to England. Holmes closes the film with a speech which he credits to Winston Churchill: "Canada -- lynchpin of the English speaking world, whose relations of friendly intimacy with the United States on the one hand and her unswerving fidelity to the British Commonwealth and the motherland on the other. Canada -- the link which joins together these great branches of the human family."
More pictures on Page Two and Page Three.
Cast |
Credits |
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| Basil
Rathbone...........Sherlock
Holmes Nigel Bruce..........................Dr. Watson Gerald Hamer...................................Potts Paul Cavanaugh...............Lord Penrose Arthur Hohl......................Emile Journet Kay Harding....................Marie Journet Miles Mander.................Judge Brisson David Clyde..................Sgt. Thompson Ian Wolfe.......................................Drake Victoria Horne................................Nora George Kirby.....................Father Pierre Frank O'Connor....................Cab driver Harry Allen...........Taylor (storekeeper) Olaf Hytten................Hotel Desk Clerk |
Production Co.
......................Universal Producer....................Roy William Neill Director......................Roy William Neill Screenplay.................Roy William Neill and Edmund Hartmann Cinematographer......George Robinson Editor..................................Paul Landres Music Director...................Paul Sawtell Art Directors............John B. Goodman ....................................Ralph M. DeLacy Special Effects...............John P. Fulton |
Images on this page and pages 2 and 3 are from the film "The Scarlet Claw," copyright Universal Studios.
