Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- suspenseful
- cunning
- atmospheric
- classic mystery night
- sherlock holmes marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining and well-constructed Holmes mystery, especially notable for Gale Sondergaard’s cunning adversary and Basil Rathbone’s performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Holmes impersonates a wealthy retired Indian military officer while attempting to lure Adrea Spedding into exposing herself.
The plot revolves around wealthy eminent men committing unexplained nighttime suicides in the so-called pajama suicides.
Holmes describes Adrea Spedding as a female Moriarty, and she quickly sees through his disguise and traps him.
The case incorporates casinos, roulette, compulsive gambling, and a carnival shooting gallery used in the attempt on Holmes's life.
Films like The Spider Woman, and why
The Hound of the Baskervilles
period mystery investigation, ingenious disguises, and a formidable criminal adversary
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
classic detective partnership, atmospheric crime plotting, and elaborate deception
Gaslight
black and white mystery thriller driven by psychological manipulation and a dangerous female antagonist
Movie Details
- Director
- Roy William Neill
- Release Date
- 1943-12-10
- Runtime
- 63 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (107)
Cast
- Basil Rathbone
- Nigel Bruce
- Gale Sondergaard
- Dennis Hoey
- Vernon Downing
- Alec Craig
- Arthur Hohl
- Mary Gordon
- Teddy Infuhr
- Donald Stuart
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- FlixFling
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Spider Woman about?
- Sherlock Holmes stages his own death to expose a lethal female mastermind orchestrating the mysterious suicides of wealthy men.
- What is The Spider Woman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Spider Woman as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Spider Woman violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Spider Woman as mild.
- What did critics think of The Spider Woman?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining and well-constructed Holmes mystery, especially notable for Gale Sondergaard’s cunning adversary and Basil Rathbone’s performance.
- Which films are like The Spider Woman?
- Films with a similar feel include The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Gaslight.
- How long is The Spider Woman?
- The Spider Woman runs 63 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Spider Woman?
- In United States, The Spider Woman streams on FlixFling.
In Ember's collections
Movies like The Spider Woman
- Terror by Night1946
- The Scarlet Claw1944
- The Hound of the Baskervilles1939
- The House of Fear1945
- Sherlock Holmes in the 20th Century1987
- Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror1942
- Dressed to Kill1946
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Twentieth Century Begins - Part 21988
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon1942
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Hunting the Tiger
