Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Original Theatrical Poster Country USA Directed by Roy William Neill Release Date 1943 Language English French Indonesian Studio Universal Pictures 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 is an American 1943 (filmed 1942) detective movie, directed by Roy William Neill and starring 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.

Note: see additional promotional images showing Webley Bulldog on talk page.

Webley British Bulldog - .45 caliber - 1870s

Sleepy Watson draws his old faithful Bulldog when Dr. Franz Tobel (William Post Jr.), accompanies by disguised Holmes, appear on 221B Baker Street.

Watson finally recognizes Holmes by his voice as he greets Mrs Hudson.

One more view of Watson's revolver.

Moriarty holds a Bulldog, threatening Holmes, disguised as a sailor.

Gottfried holds a Bulldog when he and his boss break in Prof. Hoffner's apartments.

Gottfried's revolver is seen at the right.

Iver Johnson Bulldog

Moriarty (Lionel Atwill) holds an Iver Johnson Bulldog revolver when he plans to kill Holmes. The revolvers appears to be Model 1900. 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; most likely it's same prop reused.

Iver Johnson Bulldog Model 1900 - .32

Moriarty readies his revolver, intending to shoot Holmes who is strapped to the medical couch.

A general view of the revolver. Note the lack of the front sight.

White grips are seen.

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) takes the revolver after Inspector Lestrade wounds Moriarty in hand, and the villain drops the gun.

Holmes holds Moriarty at gunpoint.

Watson holds a revolver that differs from his previously seen Bulldog but looks like Moriarty's gun.

A promotional image shows a scene that didn't exist in the movie: Moriarty grappling with Holmes for the revolver. See below for another version of this "non-existing" scene where Holmes holds a different revolver.

Colt Commando

Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) carries a compact Colt revolver that appears to be a Colt Commando with 2" barrel.

Colt Commando - 2" Barrel - .38 Special

Inspector Lestrade aims his revolver at Moriarty.

A view of Lestrade's revolver from another side.

Trivia

Promotional images for this movie show main characters holding several revolvers that doesn't appear in the movie and so are divided from main section.

Colt Police Positive

Dr. Watson holds a Colt Police Positive on a promotional image.

Colt Police Positive with 4" Barrel - .38 Special

Compact top-break revolver

Moriarty holds a compact top break revolver on a promotional image. This gun may be a Smith & Wesson, an Iver Johnson or some other similar revolver.

For comparison: Iver Johnson Safety Automatic - .38 S&W

Unidentified revolver

One more revolver is seen in hands of Sherlock Holmes on a promotional image. It resembles a Colt Lightning but this is not for sure.

For comparison: Colt 1877 "Lightning". Double Action revolver

A promotional image shows a scene that didn't exist in the movie: Moriarty grappling with Holmes for the revolver. See above for another version of this "non-existing" scene where Holmes holds a different revolver.

Footage

Browning .303 Mk II*

Twin Browning .303 Mk II* is seen mounted in dorsal turret on a Bristol Blenheim Mk I.

Browning .303 Mk II* - .303 British

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. In the sequence several airplanes appear one by one but they are supposed to depict the same planeю

A Bristol Blenheim Mk I on airfield.

A Douglas A-20 (named Douglas Boston in RAF service) takes off.

An aerial bomb (most likely a 250 lb General Purpose) in the bomb bay. When the bombs are dropped, another model is seen (see below).

Vickers Wellington in flight.

Vickers Wellington in flight.

Bombs dropping. The model is unclear but likely of US origin, while a UK model was seen in the bomb bay.

A group of Bristol Blenheim Mk IV bombers in flight in the final scene.