I happen to catch this little programmer on TCM the other day and set in to my DVR for later viewing. Finally was able to view the film, short as it is, and certainly derivative of any Universal semi-classic. There's the fog shrouded locations to be sure and the headless ghost in place of the vampire or werewolf that graced every picture with a cast well worth repeating. Also fairly obvious is the hero's name- a Dr. Holmes which is something of an amalgam of Nigel Bruce and Basil Rathbone's best characters. A number of Sherlock's adventures in those years were the requisite war propaganda and this one follows form quite nicely. What you get for viewing is predictable but steady. Not a lot of filler in this little gem as it runs under an hour, but it likely is an hour worth anyone's time. Also present is the Warner Brothers' hand gun fired sound effect. Every film fan should be able to recognize that for what has identified every Warners effort from before that time to the classic westerns of the 50s. Hearing that alone is worth the price of admission.
Review of The Mysterious Doctor
