Elementary, My Dear Watson: Five Favorite Basil Rathbone Roles

Growing up, I have always been a fan of classic movies - particularly black and white horror films or movies filled with swashbuckling pirates or renegade highwaymen (I blame my mother letting me read her Harlequin romances for the latter). Through the years, one of my favorite classic actors was Sir Basil Rathbone; the first actor to bring Sherlock Holmes to the silver screen, he left his mark as notable hero and villain in many of the classic movies that I still enjoy today. If you enjoy classic films or are a fellow fan of Basil Rathbone, be sure to check and see if you've seen these great movie finds:

Five Great Basil Rathbone Roles

The Mark of Zorro (1940)

I always loved the tale of Zorro anyhow, but this remains one of my favorite versions. Basil Rathbone plays a very wicked Captain Esteban Pasquale that manages to come off as very handsome and dashing, while still being a bad guy (I so hate when they make the bad guys predictably weasely and sniveling). A fencer since the age of 18, Rathbone possesses the ability to draw you right into the duel, keeping it exciting and graceful up until his character's demise. This may have been way before my time, but you still have to appreciate a man that looks that good, lunging about in white breeches and thigh-high boots.

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

I love classic black and white horror flicks - I used to watch them all the time when I was younger - even though I'd have to run up to the TV and turn the sound off (the suspenseful music was scary). Son of Frankenstein is a particular favorite, as it contains two of my favorite horror movie legends - Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff and, of course, Basil Rathbone. Additionally, it gives the Frankenstein legend a little different spin than the expected version, which is also a pleasant surprise.

Rathbone, playing the part of Baron Wolf von Frankenstein, is the son of the monster's creator. Considering his father a genius, Wolf is hurt by the suspicion of the nearby villagers and the wary Inspector Krogh (who believes Wolf is there to continue with his father's experiments), but he will soon encounter the monster and find himself locked in the same moral battle his father must have suffered. Basil is brilliant in this role, as he does an exceptional job drawing one in and explaining the internal struggle between man's faith in what is morally right ... and a scientist's need to study, examine and test.

Tales of Terror (1962) (also known as Poe's Tales of Terror)

I can remember this movie well, as I was a huge fan of Poe and was rather disappointed that the movies didn't follow the stories as I'd recalled them. A trio of shorts, based off of Edgar Allen Poe's stories, "Tales of Terror" showcased the tales "Morella," "The Black Cat," and "The Case of M. Valdemar." While all three starred Vincent Price as the lead, Basil Rathbone played the part of Mr. Carmichael, an evil hypnotist, in the last. Quite the sinister individual, Mr. Carmichael hypnotized Valdemar just as he died, suspending him at a point halfway between life and death. While the hypnotism was originally done, supposedly to prolong life and trick the grim reaper, Mr. Carmichael begins to lust after Valdemar's lovely young wife and an even creepier plot emerges.

The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966)

I have to give this movie credit - it takes cheesy to a whole new level. However, it's also something like a car crash, thanks to the inventive title... you just can't help but look.

If you're a fan of Killer Tomatoes and other movies that were undoubtedly showcased on MST3K, you'll love this one. It has bikers, a gorilla, and an Indian named Chicken Feather. So where does Basil Rathbone fit in? Of course, he's the evil lawyer who's out to swindle unsuspecting heirs out of their rightful inheritance! If you're looking for a good movie, with a lot of laughs, you'll probably enjoy this. If you're here to see a ghost in a see-through bikini... well... let's just say you're in for a surprise.

Sherlock Holmes (1939-1946)

I've always loved Basil Rathbone in this role, even if I wasn't the biggest fan of the movies, themselves - there was just something believable about him as this role. To this day, the name Sherlock Holmes does not call to mind actors like Jeremy Brett or Robert Downey Jr. Even after all these years, I still imagine Rathbone's version of Holmes and find myself comparing all others to him. Even if the film and script qualities have improved through the decades, watching Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes is an absolute must, particularly if you enjoy old black and white movies. While I enjoy all that I've seen, I'm particularly fond of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," and "The Scarlet Claw."

Starring in more than 70 films during his career, Sir Basil Rathbone shines as a suave villain, a keen detective and a dashing swashbuckler. You may have seen him already, but didn't even realize it was him. Either way, I highly recommend checking out some of his movies. If you're a fan of classic black and white films, you won't be disappointed!

Sources:

Basilrathbone.net - Information on the actor, Sir Basil Rathbone

http://www.imdb.com - Information on various movies