Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of so-called "pajama suicides". He knows the female villain behind them is as cunning as Moriarty and as venomous as a spider.
- Terry Lewis2d agoThe Spider Woman is a brisk, atmospheric entry in Universal's Sherlock Holmes series. The setup is classic Holmes: a string of “pajama suicides” that don’t add up, prompting the detective to fake his own death so he can stalk the truth from the shadows. What he uncovers is a genuinely engaging villain—Adrea Spedding, played with cool, silky menace by Gale Sondergaard—whose schemes involve poisonous spiders and cleverly engineered murders. The film is a creative and lively patchwork of suspenseful set pieces: gas‑filled rooms, creepy carnival interludes, and even a bizarre little boy who hops around like something out of a feverish dream. Basil Rathbone’s portrayal of Holmes is in sharp form, matching wits with a villain who feels worthy of his attention. Nigel Bruce’s Watson adds his usual warmth and comic timing, and the overall tone strikes a fun balance between eerie and playful. The Spider Woman is one of the stronger entries in the Universal series.
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The Spider Woman was released on December 10, 1943.
The Spider Woman was directed by Roy William Neill.
The Spider Woman has a runtime of 62m.
The Spider Woman was produced by Roy William Neill.
Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of so-called "pajama suicides". He knows the female villain behind them is as cunning as Moriarty and as venomous as a spider.
The key characters in The Spider Woman are Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), Dr. John H. Watson (Nigel Bruce), Adrea Spedding (Gale Sondergaard).
The Spider Woman is rated Passed.
The Spider Woman is a Thriller, Crime, Mystery film.
The Spider Woman has an audience rating of 7.4 out of 10.