Michael B. Druxman. Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films.
Duncan, Ok.: Bear Manor Media, 2011 (originally published in 1975).
Basil Rathbone, an actor, was liked by all he knew. Interviews find no one stating they disliked
him. Rathborn was itially typecast as a
“heavy” after his role of a sadistic character in “David Copperfield”. Rathbone could portray a wider range of
characters, yet was often cast as a dark character. He was then typecast as Sherlock Holmes, his
most famous role.
Rathbone portrayed Sherlock Holmes in 14 movies, a radio
series, in TV, and on stage. Fans called
him “Mr. Holmes”. Rathbone never
received another major role after his role as Holmes.
Rathbone was noted for his kindness to others. There are many remembered instances of his
quietly doing favors for people without being asked. Despite Rathbone’s series of portraying
serious characters, he was personally had a strong sense of humor.
Rathbone started in the entertainment field on the British
stage. He served in World War I where he
received a medal for crossing to the German lines to gather intelligence. He claimed he pretended to be a tree and “I
have not since been called upon to play a tree.”
Rathbone had numerous movie roles. His first role was in
“The Fruitful Vine” in 1921. He then
appeared on Broadway while continuing staring in more movies. His first American movie was “Trouping with
Ellen” in 1924.
Rathbone appeared in the play “La Prisonniere” that
concerned lesbianism. It ran for 17
weeks until a few weeks before city elections.
New York officials arrested Rathbone for offending public morals for
starring in a play about lesbians. The
charges were dropped but the play was closed.
Rathbone received the lead role in several talking
movies. He was nominated for a Best
Supporting Actor Academy Award for “Romeo and Juliet”. He was nominated again for a Best Supporting
Actor Award for “If I Were a King”. He
lost both times to Walter Brennan.
Rathbone starred in a movie version of William Gillette’s
play “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” with co-star Nigel Bruce. Rathbone went on to do other movies. NBC decided to have a “Sherlock Holmes” radio
series. Rathborn and Nigel Bruce voiced
their movie roles. The radio series
moved to the Mutual network with Rathbone and Bruce staying with the
series. They did 275 episodes over seven
years. Rathbone once misspoke the line
“horde of bees” as “board of whores”.
In 1929, as war broke out in Europe, Rathbone become
President of the British War Relief’s Los Angeles chapter. He regularly entertained troops in the Los
Angeles area.
In 1942, Universal paid $300,000 to Conan Doyle’s estate for
the movie rights to 22 of Doyle’s writings on his Sherlock Holmes
character. Universal initially was going
to produce a number of low budget Sherlock Holmes movies. MGM agreed to loan Rathbone to reprise his
Holmes role. Nigel Bruce and Mary Gordon
who was on the Sherlock Holmes radio series, were also signed. Dennis Hoey was added as a semi-regular character
beginning with the second Universal Holmes movie The series was updated with Holms facing
Nazis. Each movie was filmed in 12 to 13
days for $300,000. 12 movies were
produced in five years.
Rathbone was counter-cast as a Gestapo villain in “Above
Suspicious”, which was released in 1943.
Universal increased in quality in three Holmes pictures
released in 1944. Yet Rathbone was
tiring of portraying Holmes. Rathbone
also considered Holmes an egotist who was wrong to be so critical of
Watson. Rathbone refused to renew his
1946 contracts with Mutual and Universal/MGM.
He went back to theater work.
Rathbone was active in Actors Equity. He served as its Third Vice President and
then as Recording Secretary.
Rathbone did theater work and several TV plays for American
and Canadian television. Rathbone did a
Sherlock Holmes play on Broadway that closed after three performances. Rathbone returned to film work. His last notable role was in “The Last
Hurrah”. He made recordings where he
read classical stories. He also did readings on NBC’s “Monitor” radio
show.
In 1967, Rathbone was in the movie “Hillbillys in a Haunted
House”, It was his last film as he died
a month afterwards. His estate was
valued at between $10,000 and $20,000.
