Sherlock Holmes is as shrewd as can be in this picture. But his companion, dr. Wattson, is so much of a simpleton, that it makes me sorry for this side-kick...

This has the smallest budget of all the Universal Sherlock Holmes films, yet it is one of the best. Almost all the action takes place on the night train to Edinburgh, where a young man is mysteriously murdered in a locked day-coach compartment and a fabulous diamond stolen. The list of possible suspects is small, but solving this one won't be easy because the murderer must be caught and the gem recovered before the train reaches its destination. Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey) is onboard, and as usual no help at all. The consummate professionals Rathbone and Bruce are as outstanding as ever. Fast-paced with a tight script, this nifty little mystery fills up every one of its fifty-nine minutes without a second wasted.

This movie is very exciting and packed with adventure. Sherlock Holmes didn't seem too involved with the mystery, and I was surprised that he didn't check for fingerprints before touching the murder weapon. But besides that, the ending is excellent!