Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that (generally non-graphic) violence in this Sherlock Holmes adaptation includes a dog mauling, a few shootings, and an attempted poisoning. Closing line, "Watson, the needle," is a faint clue about the notorious recreational cocaine use by Conan Doyle's hero Holmes, who in the stories called for the drug to come down from his natural "high" of solving a mystery. Watson smokes tobacco throughout; other characters drink regularly. This was the first of the Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce adventures; they fell into public domain and are carried on cheap video labels -- beware of inferior picture and sound quality.

Sexual Content

Not applicable

Violence

A dog attack. Guns brandished and people (and animals) shot at.

Language

Not applicable

Social Behavior

Sherlock Holmes' character remains an idealization of superior intellect and problem-solving through careful observation, anticipation, and deductive logic (though he would later have strong competition from Mr. Spock from Star Trek in that department).

Consumerism

An entire fleet of Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Homes/Watson adventures were produced after this, and there are, of course, other versions of the same characters.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Much polite social drinking. Watson smokes pipes. A blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Sherlock's regular recreational IV-drug use.