The Spider Woman (1943): Cast & Plot
The Spider Woman is a 1943 mystery thriller directed by Roy William Neill, starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, Nigel Bruce and Gale Sondergaard. It runs 1 hour 3 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 3m (63 min)
- Director
- Roy William Neill
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Spider Woman About?
The premise of The Spider Woman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A thrilling mystery keeps viewers on edge as Sherlock Holmes probes a string of bizarre “pajama suicides.” He discovers the mastermind is a female adversary, as cunning as Moriarty and as poisonous as a spider. The plot weaves elements from “The Sign of Four” and the short stories “The Dying Detective,” “The Final Problem,” “The Speckled Band,” and “The Adventure of the Devil’s Foot.”
The Spider Woman Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- sherlock holmes character
- dr. john watson character
- the spider woman character
- three word title
- character name as title
- psychotronic film
- reference to hirohito
- camp
- male police officer
- villain
- death
- suicide
+38 more Show fewer
- pajamas
- spider
- trap
- newspaper
- murder
- life insurance
- footprint
- casino
- bad check
- disguise
- carnival
- shooting gallery
- seventh part
- housefly
- trout
- black widow spider
- passenger train
- running out of ammo
- playing tuba
- knocked down
- punched in the face
- fly fishing
- rooftop chase
- corpse
- dead man
- car
- escape by car
- terrarium
- steam
- held at gunpoint
- train travel
- breaking a window
- insect
- mute
- posing as sheik
- insurance policy
- cigarette smoking
- cigarette case
The Spider Woman Cast & Characters
Basil Rathbone leads the cast as Sherlock Holmes, with Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson and Gale Sondergaard as Adrea Spedding. Directed by Roy William Neill; 33 actors are credited in all.
- Director Roy William Neill
-
Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes -
Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson - Gale Sondergaard as Adrea Spedding
- Dennis Hoey as Insp. Lestrade
Also Starring in The Spider Woman
· 29 more- William H. O'Brien Doorman (uncredited)
- Mary Gordon Mrs. Hudson
- Edmund Mortimer Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Harry Cording Fred Garvin (uncredited)
- Wilbur Mack Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Florence Wix Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Herschel Graham Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Gene Roth Henchman Taylor (uncredited)
- James Carlisle Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Alec Craig Radlik
- Ethelreda Leopold Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Arthur Hohl Adam Gilflower
- Jack Deery Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Jimmy Aubrey News Vendor (uncredited)
- Angelo Rossitto Obongo - Pygmy (uncredited)
- John Burton Radio Announcer (uncredited)
Show all 33 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Belle Mitchell Fortune Teller (uncredited)
- George Kirby News Vendor (uncredited)
- Brandon Beach Carnival Patron (uncredited)
- Teddy Infuhr Larry (uncredited)
- Stanley Logan Robert (uncredited)
- Vernon Downing Norman Locke
- John Roche Casino Croupier (uncredited)
- Frank Benson Toy Doll Attendant (uncredited)
- Donald Stuart Artie - Shooting Gallery Attendant (uncredited)
- Lydia Bilbrook Susan (uncredited)
- Sylvia Andrew Charwoman (uncredited)
- Marie De Becker Charwoman (uncredited)
- Arthur Stenning Plainclothesman (uncredited)
More from Roy William Neill
More films directed by Roy William Neill: Black Angel, Dressed to Kill, Terror by Night and Pursuit to Algiers.
The Spider Woman Plot Summary
What happens in The Spider Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Consulting detective Holmes fakes his own death in Scotland to probe a string of bizarre apparent suicides, convinced they are part of an elaborate plot by a “female Moriarty.” Returning to his assistant Watson in secret, he notes that all the victims are wealthy gamblers and begins tailing London’s gaming clubs, where wealth and risk mingle in the shadows.
Full summary
The whole story of The Spider Woman, scene by scene
The Spider Woman Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Spider Woman.
How Well Do You Know The Spider Woman?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What alias does Holmes assume while investigating the gaming clubs?
Cars in The Spider Woman
2 cars on screen: the Ford Model A and the 1937 Wolseley 14/56.
-
Ford Model A Important role -
1937 Wolseley 14/56 Important role
The Spider Woman Also Known As
17 alternative titles, including “Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman” and “Sherlock Holmes und das Spinnennest”.
- Also known as
-
- Sherlock Holmes and the Spider Woman
- Sherlock Holmes und das Spinnennest
- Sherlock Holmes y la mujer araña
- La mujer araña
- Sherlock Holmes in The Spider Woman
- Sherlock Holmes: The Spider Woman
- La femme aux araignées
- Sherlock Holmes - Das Spinnennest
- ベイジル・ラスボーン版 シャーロック・ホームズ 蜘蛛女
- Das Spinnennest
- Sherlock Holmes e la donna ragno
- Sherlock holmes et la femme aux araignées
+5 more Show fewer
- Шерлок Холмс: Паучиха
- 福尔摩斯和蜘蛛女
- Sherlock Holmes e a Mulher Aranha
- Sherlock Holmes og edderkoppemysteriet
- Sherlock Holmes och spindelmysteriet
Seen The Spider Woman?
Movies Like The Spider Woman
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Spider, The Spider and The Spider’s Web.
-
The Spider 1945 -
The Spider 1931 -
The Spider’s Web 1938 -
The Woman in Green 1945 -
Spider’s Web 1982 -
The Spider’s Web 1960 -
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking 2004 -
Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon 1942 -
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 1939 -
The Spider 2000 -
Along Came a Spider 1970 -
Sherlock Holmes Faces Death 1943
The Spider Woman FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Spider Woman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Spider Woman?
The Spider Woman runs 1 hour 3 minutes (63 minutes).
When was The Spider Woman released?
The Spider Woman was released on December 10, 1943.
Who directed The Spider Woman?
The Spider Woman was directed by Roy William Neill.
More films by Roy William Neill Who is in the cast of The Spider Woman?
The Spider Woman stars Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes, Nigel Bruce as Dr. John H. Watson and Gale Sondergaard as Adrea Spedding, among 33 credited actors.
Does The Spider Woman have a post-credit scene?
No. The Spider Woman has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
