flammentanz:Recollections of my youth: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce and “The Hound of The Baske

flammentanz:

Recollections of my youth: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce and “The Hound of The Baskervilles”

My first encounter with the English master detective Sherlock Holmes took place in 1984. I was a young teen at that time and for the first time I watched the atmospheric classic “The Hound of the Baskervilles” starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. The film was dubbed and broadcast by the East German television.

Until then I had only heard of the famous characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle but never read any of the stories or novels, which were hard to come by in the GDR anyway nor I had watched a movie starring the two gentlemen from 221 B Baker Street.

I was immediately fascinated by the two brilliant actors, the atmosphere and the exciting story. Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce started my lifelong fascination for Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.

I received the East German paperback edition of the stories by Arthur Conan Doyle as a birthday present. My dear parents must have been moving heaven and earth to purchase these very hard to get by books. Of course I still have them, a bit well-thumbed but still treasured.

I’ve seen a lot of different actors as Holmes and Watson since then, but Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce will always have an altogether special place in my heart.

Forever in my heart: Basil Rathbone (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967)