England's Secret Weapon: The Wartime Films of Sherlock Holmes

Field is a film historian who specializes in the "Studio Era" of Hollywood, and she has written this volume on the wartime Sherlock Holmes films to show how the series was updated from its Victorian origins to more contemporary themes of Allied victory. Written for fellow film historians, this book reviews 14 films and traces Holmes' evolution into a Nazi-hunter while preserving traditional clothing, locations and mannerisms. The shift from familiar themes of mystery toward more visceral horror elements is also analyzed. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)