The Game Is Afoot: The Story Of The Sherlock Holmes Films Series, Starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce

The Secret History Of Hollywood

by Adam Roche

The story of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of Sherlock Holmes films and radio plays, featuring some of their greatest moments, and fascinating insights into the making of the definitive Sherlock Holmes movies. What did The Hoxton Creeper have in common with Abraham Lincoln? Who got top billing on The Hound of the Baskervilles, and why? Who was Harry "The Henchman"? Find out within...

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, History

Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2016

Reviews

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is a nice, concise & informative look at the Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone. The author draws on numerous sources, including the autobiographies of actors Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce. There's a great review of the 1939 film of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Graham Greene & plenty more besides.
After two successful Holmes films starring Rathbone & Bruce (as well as a radio series) Universal Studios took over the rights & also took some huge risks. They decided to make Watson a bungling idiot, in contrast to Arthur Conan Doyle's more thoughtful creation. However, Nigel Bruce gave the character a likeable charm that worked surprisingly well.
The other, even bigger risk, was to set the stories in the present day & have the duo battle against Nazis & other modern villains. Fortunately the risks paid off, thanks to some fast paced scripts & a superb performance from Basil Rathbone as Holmes.
Another major contributor to the success of the Universal Sherlock Holmes films was (Holmes fanatic) director Roy Neill. He made sure these "modern" films still took many elements from Conan Doyle's stories & made the cast & crew into his own film repetory company.
The Games Afoot is a thoroughly enjoyable look at the Rathbone/Holmes films, with some excellent photographs throughout. If you want a more in depth look at the film & TV appearances of Sherlock Holmes I can also highly recommend Starring Sherlock Holmes by David Stuart Davies.

[Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant podcast series from Adam Roche. This is quite a small series and focuses on the Sherlock Holmes films from around WWII. I was aware of some aspects but some where fresh and interesting plus the narration is always compelling. Now it's time to dig out my DVD collection and rewatch these fun films :)

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting documentary/audiobook about one version of the Sherlock Holmes stories with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. I really enjoyed this and found it truly informative and entertaining.

[Rob Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Roche has cornered the market in telling interesting and lesser known backstories to famous Hollywood films and stars. In 1939, 20th Century Fox teamed Basil Rathbone with Nigel Bruce in their lavish production of The Hound Of The Baskervilles and Hollywood introduced one of the most enduring detectives to the world of film. Over the decades interest in Sherlock Holmes wavered and he appeared antiquated to a modern world on the brink on a second world war, until a new plan was instigated....

For people of a certain age who grew up with Basil Rathbone as "their" Holmes, this will be a fascinating narrative. it covers both the stories of the actors and the films themselves. Roche has an engaging style. An enjoyable listen on an unusual but enjoyable subject.

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a look back at the classic Sherlock Holmes films and radio shows starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. It begins with a short bio of both and how the first film Hound of the Baskerville launched their franchise. Clips from the shows and films are played and info for special guest stars are included as well. Rathbone in particular was so typed it was difficult for him to find other work afterwards. Many have considered the duo to be the top Holmes Watson combo until Benedict Cumberbach and Martin Freeman came along. Very entertaining and a must for classic film fans and Holmes fans.

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know Rathbone and Bruce were best friends before they filmed the movies. I adored these as a kid but all the movies have blurred together in my memories. [runs off to check - they are on YouTube - oh now]
And they did radio plays? Who knew?
Fascinating and well presented. The audio production was great with some clips from the movies, interviews and shows it covers.
4 stars

[Rachel England-Brassy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes and this look at his Sherlock Movies and the Hollywood of its time is fascinating.
Recommended.