Review – Sherlock Holmes in Washington

In my review of Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror I griped about Holmes and World War Two propaganda being an uneasy mix. Here the famous detective once again finds himself transported to contemporary times and pitted against Nazi spies. But at least this time around he actually gets to use his wits to solve the crime and save the day. Fearing attack by enemy agents, a British document courier sneaks a microfilm-laden matchbook into the purse of an unsuspecting woman. So we get not only some solid sleuthing by our hero but also some fun sequences in which people pass the matchbook back and forth unaware of its importance. If given a preference, I like Holmes better in his original Victorian surroundings. But if he has to be sucked into the 20th century and pitted against the Axis, at least this picture sports a plot that’s more his traditional style. Mildly amusing