Why the update? It was the thick of World War II and who better to outwit Nazi spies, saboteurs and their fellow-travelers than the world's greatest (and only) consulting detective? Followed of course by Holmes soliliquising on the durability of England. Basil Rathbone carries it off brilliantly, giving us a Sherlock Holmes who would not be surpassed until Jeremy Brett took up the role and became Holmes.
The reason they updated the movies to the 1940s was because they could not afford to do period stories. It was cheaper to do contemporary stories. They were B movies after all.
As a kid I saw this on late night TV. Holmes hollowed out books 5:35 were so fascinating I had to have them for myself. Destroying a number of books in the process, I finally achieved my own version... and received a hefty punishment as well.
IMO, Basil and Nigel will always be the best Holmes and Watson.
The Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies in the 1940s (there were about a dozen, I think) were largely intended to help the war effort (this was during World War II) and boost people's morale.
I like Jeremy Brett, but Basil Rathbone is a much better Holmes. And Nigel Bruce is a much better Watson then the two actors who played him in the Brett versions. And I like the update to the 1940's. Holmes is still Holmes no matter what era he is located in.
@grimlund You are in luck then because Rathbone actually *was* a narrator. In the 1950s and 60s he narrated a series of audio books, including five Holmes tales. He was quite good at it. Google Basil Rathbone, audio recordings or audio books. You can find some of these on Amazon, see Sherlock Holmes Audio Collection
This looks like it's been thorugh the projector more than once. The UCLA restoration of the file is a must see for Rathbone fans. The MPI DVD and Blu Ray prints of the UCLA (Gitt) restoration are crystal clear and restored to almost first run theater quality.
@eipip1ez Yes this print was originally edited to one hour for television broadcast. It is pretty worn in places but it is a rare cut of the film as the description says.
What on earth is Holmes doing in the year 1940 with automobiles and telephones? He was supposed to have lived in the mid 1880s. It seems ridiculous to place this 60 years later and have Holmes be some kind of British secret agent .
@PeterPiper00 When the early Holmes movies the Victorian era was still living memory. It was natural to update them to the current day because the setting wasn't a distant, exotic past. The ones with Eille Norwood, Arthur Wontner, Raymond Massey, Clive Brook & Reginald Owen were all set in the modern day with cars, speedboats,etc. ACD even wrote new Holmes stories in the 20s so they could be made into movies with Eille Norwood. Check out our Sherlock Holmes playlist for more old SH movies.
@seqqqqqq Regarding Jeremy Brett:'s Holmes: "The idea was to make a totally authentic and faithful adaptation of the character's best cases. Brett conducted extensive research on the great detective and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, and was very attentive to discrepancies between the scripts he had been given and Conan Doyle's stories" - Wikipedia
thanks for the posts,I love Sherlock Holmes :o)
Imarightwing1 1 week ago
What on earth has Basil Rathbone done with his hair?
hezkyden 2 weeks ago
Why the update? It was the thick of World War II and who better to outwit Nazi spies, saboteurs and their fellow-travelers than the world's greatest (and only) consulting detective? Followed of course by Holmes soliliquising on the durability of England. Basil Rathbone carries it off brilliantly, giving us a Sherlock Holmes who would not be surpassed until Jeremy Brett took up the role and became Holmes.
LordZontar 3 weeks ago
The swiss accent of Basil Rathbone sounds very convincing - hats off!
11Kralle 1 month ago
Bravo Holmes ! Gotta ♥ RiiR Act II Scene I @ the close of this case.
BigDon62 1 month ago
The reason they updated the movies to the 1940s was because they could not afford to do period stories. It was cheaper to do contemporary stories. They were B movies after all.
RovingCounter 1 month ago
As a kid I saw this on late night TV. Holmes hollowed out books 5:35 were so fascinating I had to have them for myself. Destroying a number of books in the process, I finally achieved my own version... and received a hefty punishment as well.
IMO, Basil and Nigel will always be the best Holmes and Watson.
gmaureen 2 months ago
Another Great Sherlock Holmes Movie, Thanks.
TheJKVW 2 months ago
The Rathbone Sherlock Holmes movies in the 1940s (there were about a dozen, I think) were largely intended to help the war effort (this was during World War II) and boost people's morale.
fidicen73 3 months ago
I like Jeremy Brett, but Basil Rathbone is a much better Holmes. And Nigel Bruce is a much better Watson then the two actors who played him in the Brett versions. And I like the update to the 1940's. Holmes is still Holmes no matter what era he is located in.
SymphonyBrahms 4 months ago
Rathbone would have been a great narrator. Don´t know exactly what it is but
there is a sort of sharpness and authority in his voice...
grimlund 5 months ago
@grimlund You are in luck then because Rathbone actually *was* a narrator. In the 1950s and 60s he narrated a series of audio books, including five Holmes tales. He was quite good at it. Google Basil Rathbone, audio recordings or audio books. You can find some of these on Amazon, see Sherlock Holmes Audio Collection
PeterPiper00 2 months ago
Why did Basil choose a different style for his hair for couple films
BottomBoosh 6 months ago
classics,thanks for upload
broadband01 7 months ago
This looks like it's been thorugh the projector more than once. The UCLA restoration of the file is a must see for Rathbone fans. The MPI DVD and Blu Ray prints of the UCLA (Gitt) restoration are crystal clear and restored to almost first run theater quality.
eipip1ez 10 months ago
@eipip1ez Yes this print was originally edited to one hour for television broadcast. It is pretty worn in places but it is a rare cut of the film as the description says.
TheVideoCellar 10 months ago
What on earth is Holmes doing in the year 1940 with automobiles and telephones? He was supposed to have lived in the mid 1880s. It seems ridiculous to place this 60 years later and have Holmes be some kind of British secret agent .
PeterPiper00 10 months ago
@PeterPiper00 When the early Holmes movies the Victorian era was still living memory. It was natural to update them to the current day because the setting wasn't a distant, exotic past. The ones with Eille Norwood, Arthur Wontner, Raymond Massey, Clive Brook & Reginald Owen were all set in the modern day with cars, speedboats,etc. ACD even wrote new Holmes stories in the 20s so they could be made into movies with Eille Norwood. Check out our Sherlock Holmes playlist for more old SH movies.
TheVideoCellar 10 months ago
@PeterPiper00 Most of these acted a pro alliance propaganda.
clearlogicify 2 months ago
@PeterPiper00 artistic license
goducks20101 3 weeks ago in playlist B Sherlock Holmes
Thanks for the upload; Rathbone is quintessential Holmes, though poor Watson's made to look like an utter fool in comparison. Love these films.
Fenkaii 10 months ago
I like Sherlok Holmes enected by Mr Basil Rathbone.Better than Mr Jeremy Brett.
seqqqqqq 11 months ago
@seqqqqqq Regarding Jeremy Brett:'s Holmes: "The idea was to make a totally authentic and faithful adaptation of the character's best cases. Brett conducted extensive research on the great detective and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, and was very attentive to discrepancies between the scripts he had been given and Conan Doyle's stories" - Wikipedia
PeterPiper00 10 months ago
this is indeed a great old film brings back memories.thanks
radiorog1 11 months ago
thanks for this upload was good ti see it, i loved these films when i was growing up. cheers
TeamAVProductions 1 year ago