Professor Moriarty


How many time has Professor Moriarty died in the series? And why did they bring him back ever other movie? Why not find a new master mind Bad guy?

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Probably because he is the most famous 'Sherlock Holmes' villain. I don't know about you but If I exclude Moriarty, Colonel Moran and Irene Adler (who wasn't really a villain in the story she appeared in) I can't remember any other bad guys, at least not their names.


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***spoiler for The Adventures of Sherlock Homes***

can somebody tell me how moriarty died in the above mentioned movie? i just can't remember.
at least in The Secret Weapon there is a possibilty that moriarty survived: maybe he faked the scream or he didn't die after falling down 20 meters (german version)... ok, it's pretty impossible.

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Well, I'm five years late in commenting on the original poster's comment, so without any further ado ...

Out of the 14 Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies, Moriarty only appeared three times. The first time was in the second film - which was also the last to be produced by 20th Century Fox - "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." This was the last Rathbone Holmes film that was set during the Victorian era. The only other one was the first film, "The Hound of the Baskervilles." In "The Adventures ..." George Zucco played Moriarty.

When the Holmes' series moved to Universal, Moriarty appeared in "Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon," and was played by Lionel Atwill. Moriarty made one final appearance in "The Woman in Green," and was played by Henry Danniel.

With all that said, Moriarty appearing in three out of 14 films really isn't that bad of a ratio. I mean, he was Holmes arch nemesis.

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And he's name mentioned in at least 2 I can remember: 'Pursuit To Algiers', in which Holmes reveals that Moriaty was a virtuoso on the basson, and in 'Terror by Night', where Colonel Moran was Moriaty's right hand man. I think he might've been referenced in one of the earlier ones like 'Sherlock Holmes in Washington' or 'House of Fear'

And if it was Moriaty all the time it would be terrible. I think the fact they used him sparingly, but more than once, acknowledges he is Holmes' ultimate rival but also makes sure that he is not the boring dominant villain (*cough* Voldemort!*cough*).

Addea Spedding is my favourite anyway, I wish she had gotten more than one

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Of the three, Lionel Atwill is my favorite, George Zucco was excellent as well. Henry Daniell's Moriarty should have been the best, but the grisly plot was undone by bland writing and slack direction. Still the best quality trio of villains one could ask for, and a series that I always return to.

"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond

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I completely agree with you. Not only was Atwill great as Moriarty, Universal's make-up department even made him look like the evil professor. His eyes were made up to look like snake eyes.

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You may also remark that in all these films Moriarty fall to his death from a great hight, to echo his canonical demise at Reichenbach Falls.

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In fact, when Holmes and Watson are at Charlotte Eberli's flat, after Dr. Tobel has been kidnapped, she describes the man who fixed her light switch as being "...heavy lidded, like that of a snake." I think we know who she is talking about, don't we! Regards, mustangp51b

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I noticed that brief mention of him in 'Pursuit To Algiers.' When Holmes says "the late Professor Moriarty was a virtuoso on the bassoon." He says it so indifferently that I wonder if there is some sort of joke going on there? Or whether this bit of trivia does actually crop up somewhere in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

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Moriarty is the classic opponent of Holmes. So I think it has to be him every time. I like the way that Holmes continually has to convince Watson that Moriarty is still alive during the series. Despite everybody 'knowing' that the Moriarty is dead.

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