Ask most Conan Doyle aficionados who gave the definitive acting portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and the choice usually comes down to one of two men: Basil Rathbone or Je... more >
Ask most Conan Doyle aficionados who gave the definitive acting portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and the choice usually comes down to one of two men: Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett. But Brett had the virtue of high production values, accurate period settings and (best of all) fastidious attention to the original Doyle texts, whereas as Rathbone’s incarnation appeared in a series of low-budget Universal 'B' movies, low prestige offerings, most of which ill-advisedly updated the period, usually to the Second World War. So how is it that the Rathbone films still work incredibly well today? And how can those of us who applaud the authentic, intelligent Watson of Edward Hardwicke still love Nigel Bruce's bumbling idiot in the Universal series? As these two welcome releases attest, there are two factors that make these films still essential viewing: impeccable, authoritative performance from Basil Rathbone as the Master Detective and the highly efficient atmospheric and inventive direction of journeyman filmmaker Roy William Neill. Even in two lesser entries such as The House of Fear and Pursuit to Algiers, the virtues of these craftsmen shine out gloriously. Unlike earlier issues in the Orbit re-issue series, there are no extras, and with just one movie a disc, they're not exactly great value. But they remain essential viewing for anyone interested in a certain violin-playing cocaine user. A nice touch, too, is the retention of the original period artwork of the sleeves.
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