Basil Rathbone, Master of Stage and Screen: Films The Films of Basil Rathbone This page is a complete list of the films in which Basil Rathbone played a part. Some of them I have never seen and therefore cannot comment on them. For those movies I have seen, I offer my humble opinion. I will be adding more "opinions" as I view more films and find time to write reviews. I've tried to indicate which films are available on VHS videotape and DVD. After the name of a film, I have put the symbols and and where applicable to indicate that you may order the film from one of the internet suppliers listed below. Please make sure you are ordering the right format for your region. DVD Region 1 is North America; Region 2 is Europe and Japan. Australia is Region 4. NTSC is the television standard for North America, Mexico, most of Latin America, Taiwan, S. Korea and Japan. PAL is the standard in the Pacific Rim (incl. China) and Europe (except France). SECAM is the standard in France. Many of the new VCRs and televisions being sold in Europe have the capability of playing NTSC videos as well as PAL.

-- Region 1 encoding Films of the 1950s & 60s Reviews of nearly all of Rathbone's films are available at the TV Guide Motion Picture Database . Just type in the title of the movie and the Database will bring up a review. Less comprehensive reviews can also be found at the Internet Movie Database . An excellent resource for information about the films of Basil Rathbone is Michael Druxman's book: Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films. The book traces the fascinating life of the actor and provides detailed descriptions of all of Rathbone's films, including cast, credits, critics' reviews and production notes. Out-of-print for more than thirty-five years, Michael Druxman�s book is once again available for purchase. This new reprint edition mirrors the original 1975 biography/filmography, including its more than 250 rare photographs, and also contains a new Introduction by the author. Buy it at Amazon.com . . "Ever since I was a boy and first got acquainted with the great detective I wanted to be like him . . .

To play such a character means as much to me as ten 'Hamlets'!" Basil Rathbone, in a 1939 interview The first two Sherlock Holmes films with the team of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce were produced by Fox; "The Hound of the Baskervilles" was based on a Conan Doyle novel, but "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" was not. According to the TV Guide Motion Picture Database, Fox executives did not think the public would continue to have an interest in Sherlock Holmes and decided to not make any more Holmes films. Fortunately, in 1942 Universal chose to make another Sherlock Holmes film and eventually made 12 films with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. Universal decided to make Holmes a contemporary character (i.e. living in 1942 London) and portrayed Holmes fighting Nazi spies and driving a car! This was explained by the following words which appear after the opening credits at the beginning of the first few films: "The character of Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is ageless, invincible, and unchanging.

In solving significant problems of the present day, he remains, as ever, the supreme master of deductive reasoning." Few of the films are based on a Conan Doyle story, and Dr. Watson is portrayed as a bumbling idiot, which is so uncharacteristic, and nothing like the solid, competent war veteran of the books. In "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" Holmes even says to Watson, "I'm afraid you're an incorrigible bungler." Then he pats Watson on the back to show that they are still pals anyway. Conan Doyle's character Watson is a doctor and a writer (just like Conan Doyle himself), an intelligent person whose intelligence nevertheless pales in comparison to the mind of Sherlock Holmes. The film producers seem to think Holmes won't appear intelligent unless he's next to an idiot. Lestrade (Scotland Yard inspector) is also portrayed as an idiot in several films. That a Scotland Yard inspector could be so stupid and arrogant is totally unbelievable. Also, in many of the films Holmes is fooled by his nemesis, captured, and narrowly escapes death. This never happens in any of Conan Doyle's stories. Holmes is too clever to be captured.

But the fault lies with the script writers, rather than the actors. Basil Rathbone portrays the character of Sherlock Holmes so well that he's a joy to watch, even if the time period is "wrong" and the plots are ridiculous. And even though Watson is absent-minded, and frequently silly, he is charming. The chemistry between Rathbone and Bruce is superb. In spite of the above-mentioned flaws I find all of the Rathbone/Bruce films enjoyable. Some of the films are quite good, such as " The Scarlet Claw ," " Sherlock Holmes Faces Death " and "The House of Fear." Every actor who has played Sherlock Holmes since Basil Rathbone is compared to Rathbone. I don't wish to get into an argument with the Jeremy Brett fans about who is the greatest Sherlock Holmes ever. In fact, I think Jeremy Brett was a terrific Holmes, and Edward Hardwick was an excellent Watson. But of course Jeremy Brett didn't play the role until the 1980s, and until then Basil Rathbone defined the role of Sherlock Holmes.

What I like best about the Sherlock Holmes series that Brett and Hardwick made is that they were faithful dramatizations of Conan Doyle's stories and Hardwick's Watson was NOT a bumbling idiot. Another excellent portrayal of Holmes and Watson is in the movie "Murder by Decree" with Christopher Plummer as Holmes and James Mason as Watson. But the story is not one of Conan Doyle's. (1939), 80 minutes b&w --- A, A.UK, MM, MU, P, W2, W4 Buy a BluRay disc player (if you haven't already), and then buy the Sherlock Holmes set on BluRay! . What about Region 2 DVDs of Sherlock Holmes films? Are they available? YES! Sherlock Holmes fans in Region 2 (Europe, South Africa, Japan, and the Middle East) can purchase " Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection ," a 7-disc box set released by Optimum Home Entertainment in January, 2005. The films for this DVD release have been digitally remastered and include these special features: Featurette with Robert Gitt, Head Preservation Officer at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Discusses the multi-million dollar film restoration project for the series.

(5 minutes) Audio Commentaries by David Stuart Davies (author, publisher of numerous books on Holmes and Rathbone) on the following films: The Scarlet Claw; The Woman In Green; Sherlock Holmes Faces Death; The Hound of the Baskervilles Audio Commentary by Richard Valley (Acclaimed author and publisher of Scarlet Street Mystery Magazine) -- The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Extensive Production Notes by Richard Valley for all 14 films. Photo Gallery/Original Movie Posters These are exactly the same features as appear on the Region 1 MPI releases. I'll make a Holmesian deduction and say that the Region 2 DVDs are of the same high quality as the Region 1 MPI DVDs. <A class="APCAnchor" HREF="">Buy Posters at AllPosters.com </A> The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends.

Error The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes ( 1939 ) Approved | The master sleuth hunts his archenemy, Professor Moriarty, who is planning the crime of the century. Director: Alfred L. Werker (as Alfred Werker) Writers: a list of 39 titles created 02 May 2011 a list of 35 titles created 29 Aug 2011 a list of 34 titles created 21 May 2014 a list of 34 titles created 27 Aug 2015 a list of 25 titles created 5 months ago Title: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) 7.6/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. When a Nazi saboteur jeeringly predicts to the nation new depredations, via their radio 'Voice of Terror', the Intellegence Inner Council summons Sherlock Holmes ( Basil Rathbone ) to help in...

See full summary » Director: John Rawlins Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate. Director: Sidney Lanfield During WWII several murders occur at a convalescent home where Dr. Watson has volunteered his services. He summons Holmes for help and the master detective proceeds to solve the crime from ... See full summary » Director: Roy William Neill Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson travel to Washington D.C. in order to prevent a secret document from falling into enemy hands. Director: Roy William Neill Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson must protect a Swiss inventor of an advanced bomb sight from falling into German hands. Director: Roy William Neill Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of so-called "pajama suicides". He knows the female villain behind them is as cunning as Moriarty and as venomous as a spider. Director: Roy William Neill When a valuable pearl with a sinister reputation is stolen, Sherlock Holmes must investigate its link to a series of brutal murders. Director: Roy William Neill Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of deaths at a castle with each foretold by the delivery of orange pips to the victims.

Director: Roy William Neill When a gentlewoman is found dead with her throat torn out, the villagers blame a supernatural monster, but Sherlock Holmes, who gets drawn into the case from nearby Quebec, suspects a human murderer. Director: Roy William Neill Holmes is recruited to escort the heir to a European throne safely back to his homeland after his father's assassination. Director: Roy William Neill Sherlock Holmes sets out to discover why a trio of murderous villains, including a dangerously attractive female, are desperate to obtain three unassuming and inexpensive little music boxes. Director: Roy William Neill When the fabled Star of Rhodesia diamond is stolen on a London to Edinburgh train and the son of its owner is murdered, Sherlock Holmes must discover which of his suspicious fellow passengers is responsible. Director: Roy William Neill Edit Storyline Professor Moriarity has a scheme for stealing the crown jewels from the Tower of London. To get Holmes involved, he persuades a gaucho flute player to murder a girl. Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> The Struggle of Super-Minds in the Crime of the Century!

Genres: 1 September 1939 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Sherlock Holmes See more » Filming Locations: Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording) Color: Did You Know? Trivia Alan Marshal, George Zucco, and Mary Gordon (uncredited) also appear in the 1936 movie, After The Thin Man. See more » Goofs The balloon goblet with the flies is alternately covered and not covered in successive shots. See more » Quotes Sherlock Holmes : The nose of the police dog, although long and efficient, points in only one direction at a time. I Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside (uncredited) (Norway) – See all my reviews The follow-up to the the very successful The Hound of the Baskervilles,is even better than its predecessor.Basil Rathbone gives a marvelous performance as the super-sleuth.His performance in disguise as a singer at a party is fantastic.He was totally unrecognizable.Nigel Bruce was as always good as Holmes 's sidekick Dr.Watson.But what elevates this entry in the Holmes-series was the portrayal of George Zucco's Dr.Moriarty,Holmes's nemesis.

Moriarty's plot to break his enemy was rather clever.I enjoyed seeing Rathbone really getting in to the persona of Holmes in this one.The movie's short running-time was perhaps my only disappointment. 15 of 16 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Basil Rathbone - Biography - IMDb Basil Rathbone Biography Showing all 51 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (6) | Trivia (29) | Personal Quotes (4) | Salary (4) Overview (5) Philip St. John Basil Rathbone Nickname 6' 1½" (1.87 m) Mini Bio (1) Basil Rathbone was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1892, but three years later his family was forced to flee the country because his father was accused by the Boers of being a British spy at a time when Dutch-British conflicts were leading to the Boer War. The Rathbones escaped to England, where Basil and his two younger siblings, Beatrice and John, were raised.

Their mother, Anna Barbara (George), was a violinist, who was born in Grahamstown, South Africa, of British parents, and their father, Edgar Philip Rathbone, was a mining engineer born in Liverpool. From 1906 to 1910 Rathbone attended Repton School, where he was more interested in sports--especially fencing, at which he excelled--than studies, but where he also discovered his interest in the theater. After graduation he planned to pursue acting as a profession, but his father disapproved and suggested that his son try working in business for a year, hoping he would forget about acting. Rathbone accepted his father's suggestion and worked as a clerk for an insurance company--for exactly one year. Then he contacted his cousin Frank Benson, an actor managing a Shakespearean troupe in Stratford-on-Avon. Rathbone was hired as an actor on the condition that he work his way through the ranks, which he did quite rapidly. Starting in bit parts in 1911, he was playing juvenile leads within two years. In 1915 his career was interrupted by the First World War.

During his military service, as a second lieutenant in the Liverpool Scottish 2nd Battalion, he worked in intelligence and received the Military Cross for bravery. In 1919, released from military service, he returned to Stratford-on-Avon and continued with Shakespeare but after a year moved onto the London stage. The year after that he made his first appearance on Broadway and his film debut in the silent Innocent (1921). For the remainder of the decade Rathbone alternated between the London and New York stages and occasional appearances in films. In 1929 he co-wrote and starred as the title character in a short-running Broadway play called "Judas". Soon afterwards he abandoned his first love, the theater, for a film career.

During the 1920s his roles had evolved from the romantic lead to the suave lady-killer to the sinister villain (usually wielding a sword), and Hollywood put him to good use during the 1930s in numerous costume romps, including Captain Blood (1935), David Copperfield (1935), A Tale of Two Cities (1935), Anna Karenina (1935), The Last Days of Pompeii (1935), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Tower of London (1939), The Mark of Zorro (1940) and others. Rathbone earned two Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1936) and as King Louis XI in If I Were King (1938). However, it was in 1939 that Rathbone played his best-known and most popular character, Sherlock Holmes, with Nigel Bruce as Dr.

Watson, first in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939) and then in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), which were followed by 12 more films and numerous radio broadcasts over the next seven years. Feeling that his identification with the character was killing his film career, Rathbone went back to New York and the stage in 1946. The next year he won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Dr. Sloper in the Broadway play "The Heiress," but afterwards found little rewarding stage work. Nevertheless, during the last two decades of his life, Rathbone was a very busy actor, appearing on numerous television shows, primarily drama, variety and game shows; in occasional films, such as Casanova's Big Night (1954), The Court Jester (1955), Tales of Terror (1962) and The Comedy of Terrors (1963); and in his own one-man show, "An Evening with Basil Rathbone", with which he toured the U.S. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Lyn Hammond Spouse (2) Had one son with Ethel Marion Foreman: John Rodion .

Had one daughter with Ouida Bergère : Cynthia Rathbone (1939-1969). Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar twice, and lost both times to the very same actor, Walter Brennan . Distant cousin of Major Henry Rathbone, who was part of President Abraham Lincoln 's theater party the night Lincoln was assassinated. Major Rathbone himself was stabbed by John Wilkes Booth as the latter was escaping, but the wound was not fatal. Major Rathbone later married Clara Harris, who was also in the Lincoln party, but he murdered her in an insane rage in 1875 and spent the rest of his life in an insane asylum. He had suffered from what would now be characterized as a form of PTSD ever since the assassination. Had portrayed the title character on Blue (1939-1942) and Mutual (1943-1946) Radio's "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". Following his death, he was interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Cousin of actor/manager Sir Frank R. Benson .

Won Broadway's 1948 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for his performance as Dr. Sloper in the original Broadway production of "The Heiress". The award was shared with Henry Fonda for "Mister Roberts" and Paul Kelly for "Command Decision". Was so frequently typecast as a villain that he literally jumped at the first few opportunities he ever got to play Sherlock Holmes because "for once, I got to beat the bad guy instead of play him". Indeed, he played the legendary heroic detective more than any other character in his career. However, by 1946, he had become so sick of the role that he quit his Sherlock Holmes film series and temporarily returned to the Broadway stage. Over the course of his career, he had played the super sleuth in 16 films and over 200 radio plays. Although he has been immortalized as a screen villain, before he played Murdstone in 1935, he had never played a villain and he was known, both on film and stage, exclusively as a matinée idol and romantic leading man. Fought in the British Army during World War I, and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery under fire.

His final appearance as Sherlock Holmes was in a play written by his wife Ouida Bergère , appropriately titled "Sherlock Holmes". The production opened on Broadway on October 30, 1953, and lasted only three performances. He is considered the greatest swordsman in Hollywood history, superior even to on-screen foes Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power . However, because he was so frequently cast as the villain, he won only two on-screen duels in his career - as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet (1936), for which he earned an Oscar nomination, and as Captain Esteban Pascuale against the friar ( Eugene Pallette ), who was so outclassed by "the Capitan" he was harmlessly disarmed in a matter of seconds, in The Mark of Zorro (1940). His last, filmed when the actor was 63, was with Danny Kaye in The Court Jester (1955). It is considered by some the best sword fight ever filmed. He campaigned in vain for the role of Lord Henry Wotton in the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde 's novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945).

He believed that his typecasting as Sherlock Holmes cost him the role, and was a contributing factor in his leaving the Universal series. Although earlier in his career, he had quit playing Sherlock Holmes out of disgust at what he thought was typecasting, later in life he began appearing as Holmes on television and in several movies, and even wrote (along with his wife) a play about Holmes, in which he played the character on stage. That this represented a change of heart seems unlikely though, as until his death, he expressed hostility to his identification as Sherlock. It probably can be explained by Rathbone's chronic lack of money and a need to exploit his previous fame. He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: for Motion Pictures at 6549 Hollywood Boulevard; for Radio at 6300 Hollywood Boulevard; and for Television at 6915 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. He never renounced his British citizenship and was a lifelong member of the Conservative party. Was related by marriage to the famous Huxley family.

His wife's niece, Ouida Branch, whom they brought up from an early age, married David Bruce Huxley, the brother of famed writers Aldous Huxley and Julian Huxley and Nobel Prize-winning scientist Andrew Huxley. British Army Fencing Champion. The Sherlock Holmes-esque Basil of Baker Street in The Great Mouse Detective (1986) is named after Rathbone who was perhaps best known for the many times he played Sherlock Holmes. Distant relative of Julian Rathbone . Rathbone was a firm believer in ESP. When he was four, his parents booked passage on a ship taking them from South Africa to Britain. His mother had a dream that the ship would sink in the bay of Biscay and convinced her husband that they she take a later boat. She was proved prescient when the ship did sink with a loss of all hands. He was the favorite choice of Gone with the Wind (1939) author Margaret Mitchell to play the role of Rhett Butler. The Rathbones were a Hollywood exception in that they remained a happily married couple for more than four decades. During their heyday in Hollywood, they were known to host the most lavish epicurean parties.

For many years, they (and their six dogs) lived in a house in the Los Feliz Hills, overlooking Hollywood, which had once been owned by the prizefighter Jack Dempsey and his wife, the actress Estelle Taylor . Is one of 13 actors who have received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of a real-life king. The others in chronological order are Charles Laughton for The Private Life of Henry VIII.

(1933), Robert Morley for Marie Antoinette (1938), Laurence Olivier for Henry V (1944) and Richard III (1955), José Ferrer for Joan of Arc (1948), Yul Brynner for The King and I (1956), John Gielgud for Becket (1964), Peter O'Toole for Becket (1964) and The Lion in Winter (1968), Robert Shaw for A Man for All Seasons (1966), Richard Burton for Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), Kenneth Branagh for Henry V (1989), Nigel Hawthorne for The Madness of King George (1994), and Colin Firth for The King's Speech (2010). When WW2 was declared in 1939, he wrote to the British War Office to enlist, he wanted to fight. But he received a letter which explained to him that he was too old to fight. He had a good friend, Jack Miltern, who also loved Rathbone's wife Ouida.

The three of them lived together in a cottage, until Miltern died, killed by a hit and run driver. Personal Quotes (4) When you become the character you portray, it's the end of your career as an actor. Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart. [on how he was awarded his Military Cross] All I did, old man, was disguise myself as a tree - that's correct, a tree - and cross no man's land to gather a bit of information from the German lines. I have not since been called upon to play a tree. [from a private letter written when he was serving in World War I] Out here, we step over death every day. We stand next to it while we drink our tea. It's commonplace and ordinary. People who had lives and tried to hold on to them and didn't, and now slump and stare and melt slowly to nothing. You meet their eyes, or what used to be their eyes and you feel ashamed. And now Johnny is one of them. That's an end of it. Grieving is only ridiculous in this place. It could be me today or tomorrow and I shouldn't want anyone to bother grieving over that.

Salary (4) Amazon.com: Sherlock Holmes: The Voice of Terror: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Evelyn Ankers, Reginald Denny, Thomas Gomez, Henry Daniell, Montagu Love, Olaf Hytten, Leyland Hodgson, Rudolph Anders, Edgar Barrier, Robert Barron, Elwood Bredell, John Rawlins, Russell F. Schoengarth, Howard Benedict, Arthur Conan Doyle, John Bright, Lynn Riggs, Robert Hardy Andrews: Movies & TV By Gary F. Taylor HALL OF FAME TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE VOICE on May 8, 2016 Format: DVD Universal Studioâs Sherlock Holmes series brought the characters into the 20th Century, and many of the films had a war-time setting. Although generally well executed and extremely entertaining, the series rarely rose above the level of âB Pictures,â and their great claim to fame was usually in the cast.

That is particularly true for THE VOICE OF TERROR, which not only features Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watson, but also such notables as Evelyn Ankers, Henry Daniell, and Reginald Denny, all of them giving expert and memorable performances. Although the story is credited as an adaptation of Doyleâs âThe Last Bow,â it seems to have been inspired by Lord Haw-Haw (William Joyce, among others), a radio announcer for German propaganda during World War II. In this story, Britain is being terrorized by broadcasts in which the announcer seems to know about successful sabotage the instant it happens and immediately broadcasts it to a stunned nation. The war council summons Sherlock Holmes for assistance. Not all the members of the council are enthusiastic, but Holmes has a secret weapon in the form of Lime House floozy Kitty (Evelyn Ankers), who goes undercover to help search out the saboteurs. Like most titles in the series, THE VOICE OF TERROR is well madeâbut it also has a standout.

The cinematography is fairly standard in terms of camera movement, cuts, etc., but it is a knock-out in terms of lighting, a memorable sort of proto-noir look. Fans will have a good time, and even newcomers are likely to enjoy this one â¦ and fans of later noir films will be interested as well. GFT, Amazon Reviewer Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson Holmes: In time, no doubt, we shall be portrayed on the cinematograph as well. Watson: Nonsense Holmes, that newfangled thing's only a toy. The Purloined Ruby, Old-time Radio episode Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are still seen by many as the quintessential Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, the definitive screen portrayal of literature's greatest detective and his “faithful watchdog”. Many others have played the parts admirably but Rathbone and Bruce's partnership is one of the most recognisable in cinema. They were so good together, that their version of The Hound of the Baskervilles is the only Sherlock Holmes film that is considered a classic of cinema. Together, they starred in fourteen films from 1939 to 1946 as Holmes and Watson.

Rathbone's portrayal of Holmes is critically acclaimed. His powerful voice, physical resemblance to the great detective, and his screen presence still equates Holmes with Rathbone in the minds of many people, over 75 years later. Other actors have played the part very well, particularly Jeremy Brett, who's excellent and inspired interpretation is considered the best by a good many people. Many, many actors have played Holmes on screen – Peter Cushing and Arthur Wontner are more than worthy of mention, whilst Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch have put a contemporary stamp on the role in this century; but for me, Rathbone's interpretation is archetypal. Nigel Bruce's portrayal of a bumbling Dr. Watson has long been criticised, and there's some merit to this view. However, Bruce has some of the best scenes and funniest lines and after watching the films more times than I care to mention, I see his interpretation in a more flattering light. It is said that when Rathbone was suggested to the film studio for the role of Holmes, Nigel Bruce's name was immediately put forward for the part of Dr. Watson. In addition, before Bruce took on the role of Dr.

Watson, the good doctor had been a minor and sometimes absent character in the Sherlock Holmes films; but Bruce made the role his own, and now it is inconceivable to think of a Sherlock Holmes story in film, radio or on the written page that doesn't have Dr. Watson at centre stage with the great detective. Bruce's Dr. Watson is the one I’d most like to meet and chat about “the mutability of human affairs”, with a brandy at the elbow and smoking a pipe or two. The films all share a great use of noir cinematography (the films themselves are not film noir), which is perfect for creating an eerie atmosphere, and adding to the suspense. There's always a femme fatale or arch criminal in the mix, and more often than not, both. Snappy dialogue, a good helping of humour, and fast–paced plots combined with the aesthetics make a great way to pass an hour or so in front of the telly. Murder, blackmail, theft, fraud and a myriad of other crimes test our heroes' mettle, and the result is fourteen highly enjoyable films which have aged very well.

Click on the film names at the top of the page for a synopsis of the plot, more images, audio clips, quotes and more. I've made a page for each of the fourteen films, with a synopsis of the plot and extra information and trivia, and please hover over the main cast NAMES for screen shot, and click Basil Rathbone: Master of Stage and Screen - Terror by Night Terror by Night (1946), 54 min. b&w Terror by Night, the penultimate film in the Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes series, opens with the history of a 423-carat diamond known as the Star of Rhodesia. "All those who possessed it came to sudden and violent death." The diamond is currently owned by Lady Margaret Carstairs. She and her son Roland are traveling to their home in Scotland by train. Roland Carstairs has asked Sherlock Holmes to accompany his mother and him on the Scotch Express. Holmes demonstrates his skills of deduction in one of the earliest scenes, when he meets young Carstairs at Euston Station: Carstairs: It was awfully decent of you to come, considering the fact that I was so secretive about it all. Holmes: Did Scotland Yard tell you that?

Holmes: [chuckle] Oh no, my dear Mr. Carstairs. But the fact that your mother owns the famous diamond is common knowledge. She came down to London to attend the reception at Buckingham Palace, and quite naturally wore the Star of Rhodesia. You want me to accompany you back to your home in Edinburgh. Therefore an attempt must have been made to steal the Star of Rhodesia while you were here in London. Watson is late getting to the train, and almost misses it. As the train is pulling out of the station, Watson and a friend come running; Sherlock Holmes helps them jump aboard. Watson introduces his friend, Major Duncan-Bleek, and explains that they were reminiscing about India and lost track of the time. Just as Carstairs feared, the Star of Rhodesia is stolen. In addition, Roland Carstairs is murdered. The game is afoot for Sherlock Holmes to find the diamond and the murderer. The murderer is one of the passengers on the train.

In addition to Holmes and Watson, the passengers include: Lady Margaret (Roland's mother); Inspector Lestrade (heading to Scotland supposedly for a "fishing holiday"--or is he on the train for official business?); The Shallcrosses, an elderly couple who are worried that there are police on board; Major Duncan-Bleek, an old friend of Dr. Watson; Miss Vedder, a woman who brought a coffin on board; and Professor William Kilbane (a professor of mathematics). Holmes suspects that one of the passengers is actually Col. Sebastian Moran, a prot�g� of Moriarty, known for spectacular jewel robberies, and mathematical puzzles. The women are still suspects--Moran's accomplice could be a woman. Even Lady Margaret is a suspect; she could have stolen the diamond for the insurance. And she didn't seem particularly distraught over her son's death. Of course there are a number of red herrings on the train, including the suspicious-looking guard in the luggage compartment. At one point Holmes says that he accepted the case because he was convinced that Moran could not resist such a "tempting morsel" as the Star of Rhodesia.

"Great Scot!" Watson and Holmes gawk at the huge diamond. Watching Miss Vedder, a suspicious passenger The serious atmosphere surrounding the murder investigation is lightened by the comic performances of Nigel Bruce (Watson) and Dennis Hoey (Lestrade). When Watson questions Professor Kilbane, Kilbane puts Watson on the defensive by accusing him! When Lady Margaret complains to Holmes and Lestrade that they allowed the Star of Rhodesia to be stolen, she adds, "I intend to report you both to Scotland Yard!" Lestrade sputtered, "But I am Scotland Yard." A short while later Kilbane says to Lestrade, "If you come pounding on my door again, I'll have the law on you." And Lestrade replies, "I am the law." When Holmes observes Professor Kilbane walking to the end of the carriage, he follows him, and is puzzled that Kilbane has apparently disappeared. At that moment someone pushes him out the door, and very nearly off the train. For several minutes he clings to the outside of the train, and then manages to get back in by breaking the glass in the door. After this close brush with death, Holmes visits the baggage compartment to examine the coffin.

He discovers a secret compartment in the coffin, large enough for a small adult to hide in. Holmes now realizes that Colonel Moran has an accomplice. hanging on for dear life discovering the secret compartment If you haven't seen the film yet, and don't want the mystery spoiled, then read no further! Lestrade and Holmes question Miss Vedder again, and she admits that she was paid to take the coffin aboard the train. Strangely enough, in the presence of Miss Vedder and Watson's friend Duncan-Bleek, Holmes tells Lestrade that the diamond wasn't stolen. He had switched it with an imitation--the fake was stolen. Holmes had the real diamond in his pocket all along. He gives it to Lestrade for safekeeping. (Watch carefully the scene in which Holmes first inspects the diamond, and you can see his sleight of hand.) As Holmes and Watson return to the baggage car (and find the baggage guard murdered!), a small, slimy fellow enters Duncan-Bleek's compartment and hands over the diamond, unaware that it is fake. The villain is now revealed to be Duncan-Bleek, and the small man (named Sands) was the one who hid in the bottom of the coffin.

After Duncan-Bleek informs him that Lestrade has the real diamond, Sands attacks Lestrade, knocking him unconscious, and then gets the real diamond. Duncan-Bleek takes the diamond and shoots his accomplice, using an air pistol that fires poison darts. The same weapon was used on Carstairs and the baggage guard. The train comes to a stop and Scottish police board the train. Lestrade is still shaken from his attack, so Holmes and Watson go to talk with Inspector McDonald in the dining car. Holmes informs Inspector McDonald that Duncan-Bleek is really Col. Sebastian Moran. A struggle ensues, the lights go out, but when it's over McDonald and his policemen exit the train with their prisoner. But all is not as it seems. Holmes knew that "McDonald" was not the real Inspector McDonald, and the policemen were not real policemen either. The twist at the end reveals that Holmes still has Col. Moran, now handcuffed, and the diamond aboard the train. The "prisoner" escorted from the train was Lestrade, who now pulls a gun on the fake policemen and arrests them. Amazing that Lestrade figured out the deception that Holmes had planned!

Terror by Night is not based on a Sherlock Holmes story, but the writers may have been inspired by "The Adventure of the Empty House." Some elements in the film that are also in that story are: Colonel Sebastian Moran as the villain; the air pistol as the weapon; the name Carstairs (In the story it is a place name. Ronald Adair "had been engaged to Miss Edith Woodley, of Carstairs.") The idea of a secret compartment could be from "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax." Two promo photos: Holmes examining the air pistol Holmes holding the Star of Rhodesia "This episode in the famous detective's career is told in a tight continuity and with flavorsome atmosphere...Mr. Rathbone is silky smooth as usual." --Bosley Crowther, New York Times "Universal ran through a good deal of stock train footage as transitions during the film, and while these quick shots are darkened to simulate the nighttime in which the story occurs, any reasonable astute train buff can discern they are of wildly differing engine and carriage models!" (Steinbrenner and Michaels, The Films of Sherlock Holmes (Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1978) p.

175) There are a number of unanswered questions in this film. For example, why didn't Watson recognize that Moran was not his old friend Duncan-Bleek? Watson: "I've know him for years; he's a member of my club." And how did Sands get out of Roland Carstairs' locked compartment after murdering him? And remember how Watson and Duncan-Bleek had to run to catch the train in the beginning? When we know that Duncan-Bleek was really Moran, how odd that he would take such a chance on missing the train! What was the point in being so late? But if we refrain from such nitpicking, we can enjoy the fast-paced film and be pleasantly surprised by the plot twists. Terror by Night trivia: It is the shortest of the 14 Sherlock Holmes films with Rathbone and Bruce; It was Dennis Hoey's last appearance as Lestrade; and Alan Mowbray (Duncan-Bleek) played Lestrade in the 1933 film A Study in Scarlet. Watch the trailer for Terror by Night: See more photos on page two and page three !

Cast ‘Sherlock Holmes’: Hollywood finally plays by the book with Watson | Hero Complex – movies, comics, pop culture – Los Angeles Times ‘Sherlock Holmes’: Hollywood finally plays by the book with Watson Jan. 06, 2012 | 9:48 a.m. Nigel Bruce, right, played Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes in 14 films. The pair are shown here in 1939's "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." (American Cinematheque) Link Robert Duvall played Dr. Watson opposite Nicol Williamson's Sherlock Holmes in the 1976 Oscar-nominated film "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution," based on the novel by "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" director Nicholas Meyer. In the film, Watson tricks Holmes into going under the care of Dr. Sigmund Freud. (Universal Pictures) Link Patrick Macnee, right, best known for his role as "John Steed" in "The Avengers" series, portrayed Dr. Watson in several TV movies, including "Incident at Victoria Falls." Christopher Lee, left, played Holmes in the films.

(Revelation Films; Kirk McKoy/Los Angeles Times) Link It’s a mystery worthy of Sherlock Holmes — you might call it “The Doltish Doctor of Baker Street” — and the scene of the crime was in Hollywood the day before April Fools’ Day 1939. That’s when 20th Century Fox released “ The Hound of the Baskervilles ,” the first of 14 films starring Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson, that daring duo from Arthur Conan Doyle’s famed books. Doyle has deeply devoted fans across the globe and through generations, and the eager ones who went to see “The Hound of the Baskervilles” in theaters back in ’39 were surely shocked when they realized there was something very different about this new Watson: The man was a complete idiot. Doyle readers since 1887 had known John Watson as a bright, handsome man of the world, a battlefield surgeon and former rugby player who had yet to reach his 30th birthday when he set out for adventure with his eccentric and brilliant friend.

But that hale and hearty Watson never made it to the screen with the plump performance of Bruce, who played the sidekick as an endearing but daft uncle whose primary functions were to express baffled amazement and get into trouble. Doyle purists jeered at the parlor nitwit (they nicknamed him “Boobus Britannicus”) but moviegoers adored the elementary appeal of the character, as did the radio listeners who tuned in to hear Bruce (paired at first with Rathbone, then later with other Holmes actors) put on jolly good shows in 259 weekly episodes . Over the last seven decades, Bruce’s portrayal of Watson has maintained more traction in the public imagination than any other version in any medium. That may change, however, with the unfolding success story of director Guy Ritchie’s revival of the great detective and his physician friend, played now by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, respectively. “ Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows ” opened Dec. 16 and has grossed $254 million worldwide , which adds to the $545 million brought in by the first installment in 2009.

Today’s young moviegoers may have bought into the franchise’s Victorian Era adventures because they connect with Downey’s dark, bratty charisma and Ritchie’s trademark slo-mo / fast-mo mayhem, but it is Law’s Watson that has created the biggest stir among silver-haired Sherlockians. “For years, Sherlockians have wrung their hands and bemoaned the fate of poor Watson on screen in films and television and told anyone who would listen that this wasn’t the real Watson,” said Leslie S. Klinger , the editor of “ The Annotated Sherlock Holmes ” and an advisor on both Ritchie films. “The thing that Sherlockians say is, ‘Why would a genius like Sherlock Holmes want to hang around with a fool like Nigel Bruce’s Watson?’ It doesn’t make any sense…. The way we have always thought of him is as an intelligent person, young and certainly not older than Holmes, someone who is stalwart and courageous, a little bit physical. He’s someone who can mostly give back as good as he gets from Holmes….

I’m on the payroll so I am not unbiased, but I think Jude Law is probably the finest on-screen Watson ever.” Naming the best Watson in film or television would lead to spirited debate for members of the Baker Street Irregulars, the invitation-only literary society with a name inspired by the Doyle detective’s famed street address, and many would point out that the redemption of a capable Watson has been achieved in the past. In the 1980s and 1990s, for instance, first David Burke and then Edward Hardwicke played Watson with distinction in the highly regarded Granada productions for British television. Still, when Law took on the role, many Sherlockians felt that Hollywood had finally delivered a Watson who was more buff than buffoonish. In “A Game of Shadows,” Holmes most certainly wants Watson around, but the doctor’s impending marriage threatens to smother their adventures. There’s also a rising danger as Professor Moriarty, played by Jared Harris , sets in motion a plot to create massive strife for all of Europe and massive profits for himself.

Stephen Fry joins the cast as Mycroft Holmes, brother of Sherlock, and at one point in the film, right after meeting Watson, he finds himself impressed by the doctor’s incisive deductions. Turning to his brother, Mycroft points out that Watson is not nearly “as slow-witted as you’ve led me to believe” — a fitting sentiment for the celluloid career of Watson. Nigel Bruce, right, played Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes in 14 films. The pair are shown here in 1939's "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." (American Cinematheque) There have been more than 200 movies featuring the character of Sherlock Holmes (and more than 75 actors), and by most citations he is the most persistent fictional character in film history, ahead of Dracula, Tarzan and old Ebenezer Scrooge. And, Klinger points out, Dr. Watson is in almost every one of those Holmes films. With each new portrayal, the creative team and the actor have looked at the past (with Doyle’s writings and Bruce’s performances looming most large there) and decided what to leave in and what to leave out.

André Morell, Robert Duvall, James Mason and Colin Blakely are among the actors who have played Watson on the big screen. There’s no end in sight. CBS announced in September it was moving forward with plans for a prime-time Holmes series from the producers of “Unforgettable.” The fact that CBS’ approach will be to move the detective to a modern-day setting was not received well by the creative team behind ’ Sherlock ,” the Emmy-winning U.K. series that premiered on BBC One in summer 2010 and later aired in the United States under the PBS “Masterpiece” banner. “Sherlock” stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the cerebral sleuth and Martin Freeman as Watson, and, yes, that show transplants the tandem’s exploits to contemporary England. Jude Law, right, returns as Dr. John Watson with Robert Downey Jr. in "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows." (Christopher Raphael / Warner Bros.) If the two television projects look to bring the 19th century hero up to modern times, the Ritchie films try to transport a modern sensibility back to old London.

For Downey, who is already turning his sights to a third Holmes film, the key to the franchise’s success is respecting the rhythms of Doyle’s universe and being brave enough to “not treat it like a museum piece that might break.” During an interview at his Venice Beach office last spring, Downey said it was amusing to note the number of reviewers who have criticized the movies for making the detective duo younger and edgier when in fact they were returning to the core of the source material. “I’m a big believer in literary significance and Doyle is a standalone innovator in the art of reverse storytelling, and Guy is not a linear thinker, so that suited him,” Downey said. “Working with Jude is just a delight and we have this adventure, this expedition into character, and if we do to it correctly we have something that really works. There’s a reason Doyle and Holmes and Watson endure.” The Holmes and Watson canon not only endures, it has just expanded.

In November, “The House of Silk” by Anthony Horowitz became the first new Holmes adventure to be sanctioned by the late author’s estate and became an official addition to Doyle’s 56 short stories and four novels featuring the detective, which were first collected and published in 1930 as “The Complete Sherlock Holmes.” The new bestseller earned strong reviews for its macabre tale that opens years after the death of Holmes with aged Watson revealing for the first time details of a shocking early case. To Lionel Wigram, a producer of the Ritchie films, there was no great mystery to solve in the salvation of Watson — it just required a respectful reading of Doyle. “This is the 115th anniversary of the first Sherlock Holmes story and it all comes down to the brilliance of Arthur Conan Doyle,” Wigram said. “In Watson we see ourselves, the reader or the audience; he is our way into the adventure, and in Holmes we see the very best of all of us, the power of intellect. The friendship and the writing of Doyle, which is underrated, is why Holmes and Watson still matter and will continue to matter.” — Geoff Boucher Sherlock Is Back! Who's the Best Holmes of All Time? Sherlock Is Back!

Who's the Best Holmes of All Time? January 19, 2014 – 7:05 PM 10 Awe-Inspiring Military Monuments to Visit on the 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor After last season’s cliffhanger ending, Sherlock (PBS) starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the sleuth and Martin Freeman as his Watson, has returned for its highly anticipated three-episode third season of thrilling mysteries with high-tech twists. The show has gained a passionate cult following and plenty of praise from critics: “This is TV pleasure at its most intense, without even a shade of guilt,” said one reviewer , and another lauded it as “clever and classic.” And Cumberbatch’s Holmes may not smoke a pipe (though he does play violin), but his Sherlock ranks among the other great Holmes portrayals, from Robert Downey Jr. to Peter Cushing and beyond. Who’s the best? Check out our picks for the most memorable Sherlocks, and vote for your favorite, below. Benedict Cumberbatch The 37-year-old actor delivers Sherlock‘s whip-smart dialogue with an acerbic edge.

(Courtesy of ©Hartswood Films for MASTERPIECE) Robert Downey Jr. Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the eccentric sleuth in the 2009 Guy Ritchie-directed film in and its sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (check out a digital copy of the film here ). One reviewer raved : “Downey has a winning take on Holmes: He’s always on. As he assesses situations, we see things happen as he predicted or surmised.” Jeremy Brett Brett played Sherlock throughout the 80s and 90s in several TV movies, including The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Basil Rathbone Between 1939 and 1946, Rathbone was Sherlock in 14 films alongside Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. Peter Cushing Cushing played Holmes in the 1968 TV series as well as the 1959 film The Hound of Baskervilles.

Nicol Williamson In the 1976 Oscar-nominated film The Seven Percent Solution, Williamson played a Sherlock who crosses paths with Sigmund Freud, played by Alan Arkin. Jonny Lee Miller Miller plays another modern Sherlock alongside Lucy Liu‘s Watson in the TV series Elementary. There's a discussion among 49 members. Press "Read Comments" to view. Leave A Comment Uh-oh! Empty comment.It looks as though you’ve already said that.You seem to be logged out. Refresh your page, login and try again.Whoops! Sorry, comments are currently closed. You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down. Login Doctor Watson - Actors by Character Doctor Watson - The "Underestimated" Friend The part of Doctor Watson, Sherlock Holmes's best and only friend, can be a thankless task for an actor. And yet the character plays such an important role: As readers of the original stories we see Sherlock Holmes through John Watson's eyes. The stories are nearly all written from the doctor's point of view. John Watson puts the superhuman detective into perspective for us. Because of him we can relate to the intellectual genius of Holmes in the first place. Dr Watson is a retired army surgeon who has seen battle action in Afghanistan.

A mutual acquaintance introduces him to the detective. Eventually they decide to share lodgings. John Watson is a stout and loyal fellow; willing to follow Holmes into every possible dangerous situation. Sounds like the perfect companion for the detective? I am sorry to disappoint you. The original stories are not everything. Some movies paint another picture. Dr Watson looks like a bumbling fool and I ask myself how Sherlock Holmes could ever have put up with him in the first place. Unfortunately, these movies are also some of the best known Sherlock Holmes movies. Yes, I am talking about the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce films. Don't get me wrong. I like Nigel Bruce. His comic talent is fantastic. Some of his scenes as Doctor Watson are hilarious. Check out the scene in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", where he lies on the floor playing a corpse for Holmes and the conversation which ensues, when a pedestrian asks him what he is doing. But Bruce's portrayal also degraded Doctor Watson to a laughing stock. Many people still equalise his interpretation with the character. This is really unfair. Yes, the good doctor might be slightly less intelligent than the detective. But Watson is not stupid (he is a doctor of medicine for god's sake).

Nor does he blindly agree to just anything Holmes demands of him. Fortunately most actors who play Dr Watson have shown their professional strengths. Find out more about the men who had the privilege to play the detective's best and only friend: ~ ~ ~ Hubert Willis joined Eille Norwood in a series of silent black and white movies in the 1920s. ~ ~ ~ Ian Fleming (the Australian actor, not the creator of James Bond) played Doctor Watson opposite Arthur Wontner in a series of films during the 1930s. ~ ~ ~ Ian Hunter took the reins from Fleming for one adventure alongside Wontner. ~ ~ ~ The German actor Heinz Rühmann accompanied Hans Albers in "The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes". ~ ~ ~ The most famous actor duo playing Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, joined forces against different villains from 1939 until 1946. ~ ~ ~ Howard Marion-Crawford is perhaps best known to the American audiences as Ronald Howard's Dr Watson. ~ ~ ~ André Morell had to confront the "Hound of the Baskervilles" in his partnership with Peter Cushing.

~ ~ ~ Thorley Walters as Doctor Watson first accompanied Christopher Lee and later joined Douglas Wilmer in the parody "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" as well as Christopher Plummer in "Silver Blaze". ~ ~ ~ Donald Houston faced Jack The Ripper together with John Neville in "A Study in Terror". ~ ~ ~ Nigel Stock offered his services as Watson to two actors playing the detective: Douglas Wilmer and Peter Cushing. ~ ~ ~ Colin Blakely chronicled "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Stephens in the title role. ~ ~ ~ Patrick Macnee left Emma Peel behind and followed first Roger Moore in New York and later Christopher Lee. ~ ~ ~ The American actor Robert Duvall intervened on behalf of his friend. He duped Holmes and got him to Vienna to consult with Sigmund Freud in "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution". ~ ~ ~ Vitaly Solomin was a youthful John Watson alongside Vasily Livanov in the Russian adaptations. ~ ~ ~ James Mason's Watson challenged Jack the Ripper together with Christopher Plummer. ~ ~ ~ Donald Churchill and David Healy both offered their services to Ian Richardson's Holmes.

~ ~ ~ John Mills' older version of Watson supported Peter Cushing's ageing detective in "The Masks of Death". ~ ~ ~ David Burke and Edward Hardwicke both played Holmes's Boswell in the Granada series with Jeremy Brett. Burke played Watson in the first two seasons and Hardwicke after the hiatus in the remaining seasons. ~ ~ ~ Ben Kingsley had a hard time convincing the editor of the "Strand Magazine" that he as John Watson was the mastermind behind the successful cases. Everyone thought that Michael Caine as Reginald Kincaid was Sherlock Holmes. ~ ~ ~ Kenneth Welsh accompanied Matt Frewer on his quests for the truth in a couple of films produced for Canadian television broadcaster, CTV. ~ ~ ~ Roger Morlidge played a younger version of Watson alongside James D'Arcy. ~ ~ ~ Ian Hart stood his ground as Dr Watson against two brilliant detectives; Rupert Everett and Richard Roxburgh. ~ ~ ~ Bill Paterson helped the Baker Street Irregulars with their investigations in order to help Jonathan Pryce's Sherlock Holmes. ~ ~ ~ Jude Law plays one of the latest incarnations of Dr Watson in the action movies from director Guy Ritchie with Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes.

~ ~ ~ Gareth David-Lloyd left Torchwood to help Ben Syder against dinosaurs amongst other threats. ~ ~ ~ John Rhys-Davies, widely known as Gilmli from the Lord of the Rings movies, voices a rather bumbly cartoon version of Watson in an adventure with Tom and Jerry. ~ ~ ~ Martin Freeman is also a recent addition to the league of good doctors. His modern-day Dr Watson has seen battle in the current Afghanistan conflict. He is teamed up with Benedict Cumberbatch's Holmes in the BBC series "Sherlock". ~ ~ ~ Lucy Liu is the only female companion to the Great Detective. She assists Jonny Lee Miller in New York in the CBS TV show "Elementary". ~ ~ ~

Question: Basil Rathbone made 14 Sherlock Holmes films. Who played the part of Dr Watson?
Answer: NIGEL BRUCE