The complete story of Basil Rathbone and his amazing film career.
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"Michael Druxman's book is well-researched and well-written--a "must have" for every Basil Rathbone fan."
- Marcia Jessen, Basil Rathbone: Master of Stage and Screen website
- Marcia Jessen, Basil Rathbone: Master of Stage and Screen website
From the Back Cover
To the average moviegoer, the name of Basil Rathbone conjures up an image of fiction's most famous detective - Sherlock Holmes. Certainly, of all the actors who have played the Baker Street sleuth, his interpretation was the most definitive.
Yet, for the true aficionado of the cinema, the actor was much more than the personification of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character. He was also Mr. Murdstone in David Copperfield, Richard III in Tower of London, Louis XI in If I Were King, Tybalt of Romeo and Juliet, Captain Estaban Pasquale in The Mark of Zorro, Sir Guy of Gisbourne from The Adventures of Robin Hood and, of course, the Son of Frankenstein.
For most of his years in motion pictures, Rathbone was the victim of type-casting. During the 1930s, he was known as the screen's ultimate villain - constantly in demand by producers to carry out dastardly deeds against such heroes as Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper and Leslie Howard, as well as leading ladies like Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Loretta Young, Olivia deHavilland and Joan Crawford. Then, he assumed the guise of Sherlock Holmes and his past accomplishments were virtually forgotten. Although the role brought him more fame than he had ever before been accorded, it at the same time irrevocably damaged his acting career.
Out-of-print for over thirty-five years, Michael B. Druxman's Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films is a carefully researched work that thoroughly examines the life and professional career of one of Hollywood's most respected character actors, and the quintessential Sherlock Holmes.
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.
Yet, for the true aficionado of the cinema, the actor was much more than the personification of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's character. He was also Mr. Murdstone in David Copperfield, Richard III in Tower of London, Louis XI in If I Were King, Tybalt of Romeo and Juliet, Captain Estaban Pasquale in The Mark of Zorro, Sir Guy of Gisbourne from The Adventures of Robin Hood and, of course, the Son of Frankenstein.
For most of his years in motion pictures, Rathbone was the victim of type-casting. During the 1930s, he was known as the screen's ultimate villain - constantly in demand by producers to carry out dastardly deeds against such heroes as Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, Ronald Colman, Gary Cooper and Leslie Howard, as well as leading ladies like Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, Loretta Young, Olivia deHavilland and Joan Crawford. Then, he assumed the guise of Sherlock Holmes and his past accomplishments were virtually forgotten. Although the role brought him more fame than he had ever before been accorded, it at the same time irrevocably damaged his acting career.
Out-of-print for over thirty-five years, Michael B. Druxman's Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films is a carefully researched work that thoroughly examines the life and professional career of one of Hollywood's most respected character actors, and the quintessential Sherlock Holmes.
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.
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More About the Author
I was born in Seattle, WA, graduated from Garfield High School and the University of Washington. In 1963, I moved to Los Angeles, eventually opening my own entertainment public relations business. I began writing professionally in the 1970s, starting with books about movies and movie stars, and then graduated to stage plays, screenplays and novels. I've directed for both stage and screen, and also taught several college-level writing courses. My motto: Take all viable opportunities that come your way, because you never know where they will lead.
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The Best book about a favorite actor,
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This review is from: Basil Rathbone: His Life and His Films (Paperback)
Michael B. Druxman (and the people at BearManor Media) should be congratulated for making this fine book available again after so many years.I remember purchasing the original hardcover edition in 1976 in a Sydney bookshop, loaning it to a friend who misplaced it when moving house, so it is great to have this softcover edition back in my collection. A ggod look at such a marvellous actor, his life and his films. Mr Rathbone even comes across as a likeable person off stage. This book goes into more detail about his film work than even Mr Rathbone himself did in his equally enjoyable autobiography 'In and Out of Character'. A very readable and enjoyable book. Recommended.
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