Basil Rathbone | Hollywood Yesterday

Perfect Cast, Perfect Script, Perfect Director, Perfect Movie… The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

January 23, 2023 By Joi

Melville Cooper, Basil Rathbone, Olivia de Havilland, Claude Rains, and Errol Flynn

Can we talk about one of the best movies ever made for a minute? The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) wasn’t just directed by one of the best directors to ever wear the title – the wonderful Micahel Curtiz – it also features the type of stellar cast that most films would envy – a cast that includes Olivia de Havilland, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Patric Knowles, Eugene Pallette, Alan Hale, Una O’Connor, Melville Cooper, and Ian Hunter.

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Errol Flynn and Eugene Pallette

This is one of those films that, somehow, seems to be even more enjoyable each time you watch it. I always notice a new expression on one of the star’s faces or a great line that had never quite registered, a piece of background furniture or something delicious that had escaped me the MANY times I’d visited the film before.

In fact, if I’m not mistaken… and in this case I am absolutely not mistaken… I’ll be revisiting this extraordinary film again this week.

You can buy the iconic The Adventures of Robin Hood on dvd (Amazon link) or watch the movie on Prime Video.

Patric Knowles, Herbert Mundin, and Errol Flynn

The Spider Woman (1943): Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey

January 17, 2023 By Joi

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Dennis Hoey star in the wonderful 1943 Sherlock Holmes film The Spider Woman. Director Roy William Neill is best-known for the Holmes films he directed for Universal.

Neill was actually quite an EXPERT on the subject of Sherlock Holmes and was notoriously meticulous over even the smallest details. As a huge fan of these films AND Sherlock, I love that this respect and knowledge always shines through – as in each and every scene.

The Spider Woman is one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes films – not only is the wonderful Gale Sondergaard is in the cast, but Dennis Hoey is also on board as Lestrade. He is so deliciously fun to watch in this role and I’m simply spellbound any time he’s on the screen.

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection (Amazon link)

You can find the wonderful film The Spider Woman on dvd (Amazon link) or watch it on Prime Video.

You can also buy the 14 Sherlock Films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce in a wonderful collection: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection on Amazon. It’s the one my husband and I have in our collection and watch frequently… over and over and over again!

Nigel Bruce, Gale Sondergaard, and Basil Rathbone – The Spider Woman (1943)

Bela, Boris, and Basil in Son of Frankenstein (1939)… Talk about a 1, 2, 3 Punch!

October 30, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi

Some films boast casts and some films boast ICONIC casts. Son of Frankenstein (1939) is the latter. Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Bela Lugosi.. in ONE film?! That’s what I call a film for the ages.

The classic horror was directed by the wonderful Rowland V. Lee and I call him wonderful not just because he was an outstanding (and way ahead of his time) director but also because (as a huge Bela Lugosi fan) I love the extent he went to in order to give Lugosi more respect, credit, and even money while making this film.

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Basil Rathbone

Sadly, Bela Lugosi’s career was beginning to decline when he signed on to make Son of Frankenstein and his fee reflected this decline. Fortunately, director Rowland V. Lee was VERY much in his corner. He realized that Lugosi wasn’t being treated fairly and was perhaps even being taken for granted, so he gave Bela’s character (Ygor) more dialogue and a bigger role in the film, causing Bela be paid (and respected) more.

This role, IMO, is one of Lugosi’s absolute best performances. He more than rewarded Lee’s wonderful efforts!

You can watch Son of Frankenstein on Prime Video (Amazon link). I’m having a heckuva time finding it on dvd for my collection, but if I’m ever to find it, I’ll let you know.

Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi

BOTD in 1892 in Johannesburg, South Africa: The Wonderful Basil Rathbone

June 13, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, The Woman in Green

The question “Who is your all-time favorite Sherlock Holmes” is a question that often comes up on “film Twitter.” This question is asked nearly as often as “Who is your favorite Bond?” While I struggle to answer only one Bond (I have three favorites), my favorite Sherlock is never in doubt… Basil Rathbone.

Sure, I love each actor who has stepped into the role (radio, tv, or film) BUT there’s something about Basil Rathbone’s performance that, to me, is simply perfect. It’s one of those actor/actress and character combinations that make you believe they were born to play the role.

You’ll never convince me otherwise!

Basil Rathbone, The Adventures of Robin Hood

Naturally, while this is one of his more famous roles, Basil Rathbone starred in quite a few extraordinary movies. In fact, he appeared in THREE films that were selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant:

All three are exceptional movies and he adds a GREAT deal to each. Each link above leads to that movie on Prime Video.

“Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.” ~ Basil Rathbone

Danny Kaye and Basil Rathbone

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Court Jester (LOVE This Picture!)

June 10, 2021 By Joi

Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury, Behind the Scenes of The Court Jester

My obsession with and love for “behind the scenes” movie or tv photographs knows no equal. If anyone DOES love them as much as I do, I’d sure love to hear from them!

This photo of Basil Rathbone and Angela Lansbury sharing a meal while filming The Court Jester (1955) is one of my favorites.

She even eats with class!

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce: The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection

March 31, 2020 By Joi

The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection

I recently ordered The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection (Amazon link) with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce and have been kicking myself ever since. I mean… seriously… what took me so long to get hooked on these wonderful, wonderful films?!?!

I only recently saw my first Rathbone and Bruce Sherlock Holmes movie (this year, in fact) and I was hooked immediately. My husband and I have been mowing through them and I literally can’t wait to go back and re-watch each and every one.

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, Terror By Night

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are so perfect in these roles it’s a wonder anyone ever tried stepping into the roles since. Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of the films and television shows that are more modern, but none…. absolutely none… can compare to the magic Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce made.

If you aren’t familiar with these WONDERFUL films, I hope you’ll find them on Amazon – either by watching them on Amazon Prime video or buying the dvds. Like me, you will want to kick yourself for not discovering them sooner.

Only problem is, finding a way to indeed kick oneself would mean taking time away from watching these films… something I have no intention of doing!