“The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” (Movie Review-9/2/39)

Microfiche-New York Times archives, McHenry Library, U.C. Santa Cruz | 9/2/39 | Frank S. Nugent

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime”.)
To Add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Women was released on September 1. Nice timing. Either The Times did not write a review, or it was pushed out by the news from Europe or I just missed it while scrolling through the microfiche. In any case, I do not have a review of that movie to post.

[Blind Eye Jones]

I always enjoyed the melancholy oboe line in that Sherlock Holmes movie — very sinister and brooding.

[abb]

http://www.ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=30

22.08.1939 - 27.09.1939
First Sailing - active patrol
U-30 left Wilhelmshaven under the command of Fritz-Julius Lemp on 22nd Aug 1939 for operations in the North Atlantic and arrived at return on 27th Sep 1939 after just over five weeks.

[abb]

http://www.onwar.com/chrono/1939/sep39/f02sep39.htm

In Poland... Troops of German Army Group South (Rundstedt) troops are already over the Warta River in many places after rapid but expensive victories in the frontier battles. Krakow is now near the front line. In the north, 4th Army (Kluge) makes contact with the Third Army (Kuchler) from East Prussia. Two Polish divisions are destroyed while attempting to pull back through the Corridor. The Luftwaffe is spreading chaos in the Polish rear. The Polish regular troops have been stationed too far forward so the German advance is soon in their rear areas, preventing movement of reserves and completely dislocating any communication left unscathed by the repeated German air strikes in support of the ground forces. There are 6 air raids on Warsaw.

In London... Throughout the day there are frantic talks about how to oppose Germany. The British Parliament is openly opposed to the passive line that the Chamberlain government is taking and in the evening, the Cabinet decides to present an ultimatum to Germany. The National Service Act is passed, allowing for the conscription of all men aged 19-41.

In Paris... Deliberations on how to oppose the German invasion of Poland are held throughout the day. A French government decides to transmit an ultimatum to Germany. The government declares that it will fulfill its obligations to Poland.

In France... The British RAF Advanced Air Striking Force arrives. Some 10 bomber squadrons are involved in the deployment.

In Rome... Mussolini again declares Italian neutrality and calls for a 5-power peace conference.

In Berlin... The German government announces that Norwegian neutrality will be respected, provided that Britain and France do the same. Hitler rejects an offer to mediate the German-Polish dispute, made by Mussolini on August 31st and the proposal for a peace conference.

In Dublin... The Irish government declares its neutrality.

In Bern... The Swiss government orders a general mobilization.

[abb]

Very detailed stuff here.

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/DAP-Poland/Campaign-III.html

Third Army Operations, 2 September

Tczew (Dirschau) was taken by an engineer task force of Third Army at dawn on l2 September, but the city’s vital bridge across the Vistula was destroyed by the Poles. The task force, known as Group Medem, was unable to seize a crossing and Army Group North had to direct other units to effect crossings at Gniew (Mewe) and near Marienwerder. Third Army’s XXI Corps fought off heavy Polish counterattacks in its advance toward Grudziadz on 2 September. The bridge across the Vistula at Grudziadz was kept under artillery fire to prevent crossing

the Poles and the corps prepared to make concerted attacks against the city from north and east the following day.

On the Mlawa front I Corps failed to make any further progress, but Corps Wodrig units broke through Polish field fortifications east of the fortress city and pushed south. Panzer Division Kempf was promptly detached from the I Corps and shifted eastward to support Corps Wodrig in its advance. The Third Army plan for the force moving on Warsaw was quickly revised. Corps Wodrig was to execute an enveloping movement to take the Polish units defending Mlawa in the rear, while the 1st Cavalry Brigade secured the exposed left of the corps as it turned in its swing to the west. The two corps and the cavalry brigade would resume their southward movement in line after destroying the Polish force at Mlawa or compelling it to withdraw.

Fourth Army Operations, 2 September
Fourth Army crossed the Brda during the second day of hostilities, advancing within a few miles of the Vistula. The apprehensions about a strong Polish defense line along the Brda did not materialize. The success of the German advance was threatened for a few hours, however, when Panzer elements of XIX Corps outran their gasoline and ammunition supply. The Poles failed to gain any but a temporary advantage from this situation, and German supply columns fought their way through withdrawing Polish units to the stalled tanks.

Fourth Army gains of 2 September sealed off the Pomorze Army’s 9th Infantry Division and Pomorska Cavalry Brigade, and the 27th Infantry Division, which had been identified farther east in the Corridor. The two Polish infantry divisions were destroyed in a number of attempts to escape through the line formed by the German forces that had crossed the base of the Corridor. The cavalry brigade was shattered in a series of charges against XIX Corps’ armor, pitting mounted lancers against tanks.

The 10th Panzer Division of the army group reserve was shifted to the northeast across Fourth Army’s rear on 2 September. Bock planned to effect a crossing in the northern area of the Corridor with a strong Panzer force as soon as possible.

[GeronL]

The German film season?? I bet that went over well.

[GeronL]

The British Parliament is openly opposed to the passive line that the Chamberlain government is taking and in the evening, the Cabinet decides to present an ultimatum to Germany. The National Service Act is passed, allowing for the conscription of all men aged 19-41.

Sounds like Neville was being over-riden

[MinuteGal]

The reviewer seems to have enjoyed this first Sherlock movie in a roundabout way. Now we can look back with the knowledge that the movie and its successors were hits.....and the re-runs are still popular today.

Fourteen Sherlockian black and white movies were made. Three of these were produced during the WW2 days and were pointedly anti-Nazi.

I have a picture of anti-Islam movies being made today.

Oh, well, we Americans were SO politically-incorrect and war-mongering in those days......or were we?

Leni

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Nothing dates Conan Doyle so terribly these days as the fact that his villainous Professor Moriarty persists in declaring war on Scotland Yard instead of just making it.

Silver lining: Poles get bombed, Nugent finds a laugh line.

[CougarGA7]

It’s to bad they weren’t in the habit of typing “/rimshot” back then. It would have been appropriate. On one hand it is a bit unfortunate that this movie is released right at the outbreak of war, but on the other hand perhaps people are interested in getting away from the news of the day. (I can’t remember, did they do Newsreels at the beginning of movies in late 39 or did that start after the war had started).