The Spider Woman (1943)

This time, our dynamic duo face one of their most versatile and cunning antagonists, who is cleverly behind the inexplicable “pyjama suicides”. Wealthy and seemingly upstanding members of the community are taking their own lives, usually from behind the safety of their own locked doors, by why? Well, “Holmes” (Basil Rathbone) dons the guise of a poverty-stricken veteran of the Indian army to try and ensnare the shrewd “Adrea Spedding” (Gale Sondergaard) but just who is going to be doing the ensnaring? With “Watson” (Nigel Bruce) close by his side, they must try to get to the bottom of a mystery where, quite literally, nothing fits! Traps are being set, lures being placed and this foe is worthy of their best efforts - especially as “Watson” turns out to be very proficient with his rifle - unsure quite what he is unwittingly shooting at! We know all along who is doing what, and how, but it’s still quite enjoyable to watch the mystery unfold with noxious smoke bombs, toxic (or poisonous) arachnids and a few of the human regulars to support this pretty packed short feature.