Rathbone / Brett

I have been reading the Sherlock Holmes canon since my first year of college and consider myself quite a fan. Since that time the Granada television series has been the perfect companion to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's mystery stories. Jeremy Brett who played Sherlock Holmes brought the character to life, a living embodiment of the Great Detective. While all the interpretations were done with great respect to detail of the writing and of Victorian London, my favorite shows tend to be my favorite stories: The Musgrave Ritual (for which my cats Brunton and Musgrave are named), The Greek Interpreter (where we meet Sherlock's older brother, Mycroft), the Resident Patient, and the Sign of Four.

It is only within the last few years that I have broadened my horizons and delved into other screen portrayals of Sherlock Holmes. Dressed to Kill was the first one I had seen. I didn't make it through the movie. It took place in the 1940s and had absolutely nothing to do with anything Doyle had written. Basil Rathbone played the detective who looked like, but really did not sound nor act like Sherlock Holmes. He had that very direct, short tone of voice that was common to the actors of the 40s and his sidekick, Nigel Bruce, was a pompous, bumbling idiot and in no way like Holmes' beloved chronicler and friend Dr. Watson. I couldn't believe that these two were the legendary Hollywood Holmes and Watson. I was offended and avoided them for several years.

Since then I have found various DVD compilations of the old movies and even a television show from the 50s. While I still hold the opinion that Brett is the ultimate Holmes, I have softened my stance on those other guys. This is partly due to the radio shows that Rathbone/Bruce did in between shooting the films. While the movies were set in modern day, the radio shows go back to 221B Baker Street in London at the end of the 1800s. While the sound effects and organ playing are often campy, they do highlight the action that stays much truer to the original accounts of Dr. Watson than do the WWII era films.

So, if you are a fan of the writings seek out the Jeremy Brett collection. There is no question that he becomes Sherlock Holmes in each performance; the mannerisms, the habits, the speech patterns. If you are more into black and white 1940s Hollywood then Basil Rathbone will serve you well.