Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- suspenseful
- ominous
- witty
- classic mystery night
- sherlock holmes marathon
What critics said
Critics and viewers broadly regard this as an enjoyable, tightly constructed final Rathbone-Holmes mystery with strong detective-duo appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The stolen wooden music boxes appear cheap and commonplace but contain directions connected to a valuable government-held secret.
The pursuit of three matching music boxes escalates from burglary to murder as antagonists eliminate anyone who can reveal their purpose.
Basil Rathbone's Holmes and Nigel Bruce's Watson combine methodical deduction with Watson's lighter, companionable presence.
The black-and-white presentation and threatening investigation frame the music-box plot in a compact, atmospheric visual register.
Films like Dressed to Kill, and why
The Hound of the Baskervilles
shared detective mystery structure, black-and-white classic Hollywood atmosphere, and crime investigation
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
shared Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes characterization, period crime plotting, and deductive suspense
The Woman in Green
shared vintage whodunit mechanics, secret-object intrigue, and atmospheric black-and-white crime storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Roy William Neill
- Release Date
- 1946-05-24
- Runtime
- 72 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (144)
Cast
- Basil Rathbone
- Nigel Bruce
- Patricia Morison
- Frederick Worlock
- Harry Cording
- Carl Harbord
- Holmes Herbert
- Edmund Breon
- Patricia Cameron
- Mary Gordon
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, Starz Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Starz, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Troma NOW, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dressed to Kill about?
- Sherlock Holmes races to decode three humble music boxes before a ruthless conspiracy turns their owners into murder victims.
- What is Dressed to Kill like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dressed to Kill as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Dressed to Kill violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Dressed to Kill as moderate.
- What did critics think of Dressed to Kill?
- Critics and viewers broadly regard this as an enjoyable, tightly constructed final Rathbone-Holmes mystery with strong detective-duo appeal.
- Which films are like Dressed to Kill?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and The Woman in Green.
- How long is Dressed to Kill?
- Dressed to Kill runs 72 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dressed to Kill?
- In United States, Dressed to Kill streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, YouTube TV, MGM Plus, Starz Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Starz, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Starz Apple TV channel, Troma NOW, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel.
In Ember's collections
Movies like Dressed to Kill
- Sherlock Holmes Faces Death1943
- The Sign of Four1987
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Treasures of Agra - Part 11983
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1939
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942
- The Woman in Green1945
- Pursuit to Algiers1945
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: King of Blackmailers1980
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes1939
- Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Bloody Inscription
