Arguably one of the ultimate movie villain actors of the Golden Age is the incomparable Basil Rathbone. But most film aficionados know him best as the master of mystery, Sherlock Holmes, in a series of films beginning at Twentieth Century-Fox in the late Thirties, then moving to Universal throughout the duration of the war. Black-hearted, icily suave and sadistically ruthless, Rathbone's pre-Holmes characterizations were anything but forgettable. (Rumor has it that author Margaret Mitchell wanted him to play Rhett Butler in the filmization of her novel Gone With The Wind!) A Shakespearean actor in England, he came to the United States in the mid 1920's to perform on the New York stage, but it was his reputation as a sophisticated villain in Hollywood films that made him famous. Although wonderfully sinister in several classics of the mid and late Thirties, including Anna Karenina (1935) and Tower of London (1939), three of his best roles were in Captain Blood (1935), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Mark of Zorro (1940).
An accomplished swordsman in real life, he fought impressive duels in each of these films with the lead actor (Errol Flynn in the first two and Tyrone Power in the latter) only to lose dramatically in the end. In Captain Blood, Rathbone plays a French pirate who first allies with then defies Flynn. In The Mark of Zorro, the distinctively profiled actor portrays the cool and cruel Captain Pasquale, who acts as nemesis to Tyrone Power's masked avenger. But it's as filmdom's greatest scoundrels, Sir Guy of Gisbourne in Warner Brothers Technicolor masterpiece, The Adventures of Robin Hood, that ingrains in the memory, Basil Rathbone's vision of menacing rogue.
Then in 1939, Rathbone was cast as the definitive detective, Sherlock Holmes, in Twentieth Century-Fox's version of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles. With Nigil Bruce by his side as Dr. Watson, the iconic duo found themselves in the middle of an unforeseen hit. Rathbone's popularity as Holmes was such a surprise he wasn't even top billed but second to Fox contract player Richard Greene. The studio quickly developed The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to cash in on the success of Baskervilles. Both films were set in Victorian England as reflected in the Conan Doyle stories, but when the burgeoning franchise was acquired by Universal in 1942, the setting was changed to the present and many of the story lines revolved around World War II based intrigue. All told, Rathbone and Nigil Bruce would make 14 Holmes films. Quite an offering for what started out as a quaint little period picture.
So, which do you prefer? Rathbone the Rogue or Sherlock Holmes.
Even if people do not think of his name straight away, Basil will still be one of the most remembered actors from the Golden Years. Many will remember him as Sherlock, others as the Sheriff of Nottingham or for his many swordfights, or just recognize that perfect English accent. He was never the man to get the woman, but he always got his man!! (So to speak) One of the best things about the old Hollywood are the support actors; like Allen Jenkins, C Aubrey Smith, Harry Davenport and Nigel Bruce amongst hundreds. Basil fell between the superstar and the support actor, but without his wonderful acting then Hollywood would have been a far poorer place for us all. And I think you have his best films roles well marked Rupert, but it is role as Sherlock Holmes which will hopefully live forever (even if I still enjoy Jeremy Brett as Sherlock even more!!!)
ReplyDeleteBasil is one of my favorite actors. I guess most people consider him a character actor, well one who isn't usually the lead except for the Sherlock films. I loved him as the Rogue the most! He was wonderful with the sword and it probably killed him that he had to be the one to lose at least most of the time I assume. One of my all time favorites movies of his where he played a rogue wasn't a sword fighting movie. It is one of my all time favorite movies, David Copperfield. Oh, did I dislike him in this. He was wonderful in it. I don't think character actors get enough credit. There are so many wonderful actors and actresses that fall under what people call character actors..Donald Crisp, Judith Anderson, Alan Hale(which for a moment there I don't think Errol flynn did a movie without him lol), Agnes Moorehead, etc. there are too many to name. Rupert wonderful review of a wonderful actor again! I love your blog my friend!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't choose between Rathbone as villain or Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes. He excelled in both roles. Thank you, Rupert, for bringing to our attention a fine example of an actor who started his career playing one type of role and evolved into something else.
ReplyDeleteAs a long time fan of Mr. Rathbone's, I have to say thank you for this insightful piece. It's nice to see more people getting know what a fine actor her was. If I have a complaint, it's that this piece was too short :)
ReplyDeleteLove Basil Rathbone! Wish more folks remembered him today for the great actor he was. Hard to choose what he was best at, he was the definitive Holmes and one of the best swashbuckling villains of all time. I think the sword fights in Capt Blood, Zorro, Robinhood and lets not forget, The Court Jester... are some of the best ever put on film.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hard for me to decide between Basil as villain or sleuth. He was great as both. I'm a big fan of his. He definitely stood out whatever kind of character he was playing. This was a really nice post. I really need to watch some of his films again. It's been way too long. He's an amazing actor that needs to get more attention. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteI love Basil Rathbone. Thanks for your piece. I too feel that his work in the Court Jester, and even Comedy of Terrors, shows he understood the very slight difference between being villainous and villainously funny.
ReplyDeleteI've loved Rathbone since my childhood, when a local TV station ran a weekly Holmes film. Villain or sleuth? I guess I prefer him as a hero instead of a stinker, but he excelled at both. And don't forget his epically hammy performance in Son Of Frankenstein - his character in that one, while basically a good guy, was, at the very least, guilty of some serious ethical lapses!
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank you for a wonderful article on a great actor. Villian or sleuth? Impossible to choose but since Mr Rathbone hated being stero-typed as Sherlock Holmes perhaps I will choose Swashbuckling Villian with style and grace.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love swashbucklers--and Basil Rathbone was THE swashbuckler villain--I still think of him as Sherlock Holmes. He not only looked the part, he played it better than anyone else.
ReplyDeleteAlthough brief, Rathbone's character in We're No Angels with Bogart, Ustinov, and Ray is another tribute to his ability to make you hate a character almost immediately.
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