Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon
Original Theatrical Poster
Main Cast
Character
Actor
Sherlock Holmes
Basil Rathbone
Dr. Watson
Nigel Bruce
Professor Moriarty
Lionel Atwill
Charlotte Eberli
Kaaren Verne
Dr. Franz Tobel
William Post Jr.
Inspector Lestrade
Dennis Hoey
Sir Reginald Bailey
Holmes Herbert
Mrs. Hudson
Mary Gordon
Dr. Frederick Hoffner
Henry Victor
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. This is the fourth installment to the series of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Rathbone and Bruce. Like most of the films in the series, this one is set during WW2. Holmes protects a Swiss scientist who invented an advanced bomb sight. Professor Moriarty, now working for Nazi, hunts for the inventor. The story uses elements of "The Adventure of the Dancing Men" story.
The following weapons were used in the film Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon :
Revolvers Webley Bulldog Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce ), Moriarty (Lionel Atwill ) and the latter's henchman Gottfried (George Burr Macannan) use Webley Bulldog revolvers in several scenes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Webley British Bulldog - .45 caliber - 1870s Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sleepy Watson draws his old faithful Bulldog when Dr. Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.), accompanies by disguised Holmes, appear on 221B Baker Street. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Watson calls police, holding the guests at gunpoint. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another view of the scene. Error creating thumbnail: File missing One more view of Watson's revolver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Moriarty holds a Bulldog, threatening Holmes, disguised as a sailor. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gottfried holds a Bulldog when he and his boss break in Prof. Hoffner's apartments. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gottfried's revolver is seen at the right. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A promotional image shows Moriarty aiming the revolver at disguised Holmes. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A promotional image shows Moriarty handing the revolver to Gottfried (in the movie Gottfried appears in Hoffner's apartments already holding the revolver). Iver Johnson Bulldog Moriarty (Lionel Atwill ) holds an Iver Johnson Bulldog revolver when he plans to kill Holmes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Iver Johnson Bulldog, production of U.S. Revolver Co. - .32 Error creating thumbnail: File missing Moriarty readies his revolver, intending to shoot Holmes who is strapped to the medical couch. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A general view of the revolver. Note the lack of the front sight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing White grips are seen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone ) takes the revolver after Inspector Lestrade wounds Moriarty in hand, and the villain drops the gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Holmes holds Moriarty at gunpoint. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A promotional image shows a scene that didn't exist in the movie: Moriarty grappling with Holmes for the revolver. When Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey ) and Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce ) appear to rescue Holmes, Watson holds a revolver that looks similar to Moriarty's gun, including white grips, but this revolver has the front sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Watson holds a revolver that differs from his previously seen Bulldog but looks like Moriarty's gun. Colt Commando Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey ) carries a compact Colt revolver that appears to be a Colt Commando with 2" barrel.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Commando - 2" Barrel - .38 Special Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing Inspector Lestrade aims his revolver at Moriarty. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Error creating thumbnail: File missing A view of Lestrade's revolver from another side. Browning .303 Mk II Twin Browning .303 Mk II is seen mounted in dorsal turret on a Bristol Blenheim Mk I.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Browning .303 Mk II - .303 British Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Bristol Blenheim Mk I on airfield. Twin Browning machine gun can be seen in dorsal turret. Airplanes Documentary footage of various British and American bomber planes is used in the scene showing the trials of the new bomb sight.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Bristol Blenheim Mk I on airfield. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Douglas A-20 (named Douglas Boston in RAF service) takes off. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An aerial bomb (most likely a 250 lb General Purpose) in the bomb bay. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vickers Wellington in flight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vickers Wellington in flight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bombs dropping. The model is unclear but likely of US origin. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A group of Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bombers in flight in the final scene. 
