Classic Films

User avatar
Thad
Posts: 13165
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:05 am
Location: 1611 Uranus Avenue
Contact:

Classic Films

Postby Thad » Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:10 pm

There's a reason Basil Rathbone is still considered the definitive Sherlock Holmes: I don't think there's been a better casting in the history of cinema. It's like he came straight off the page.

And the films' Moriarty set the stage for every movie supervillain who followed -- he employs a man just to hang out at his house playing sinister music. It is amazing.

The writing, the chemistry, the staging and the mysteries themselves -- they're just perfect. And on top of all that, the first two films were released within six months of each other. 1939 was a hell of a year.


(EDIT TO ADD: It took me a minute to place where I recognized George Zucco from -- he's the model for Hugo Strange. I always knew Strange was a sort of Moriarty to Batman's Holmes, but I didn't realize how direct the physical resemblance was. Must have been a quick turnaround; Adventures of Sherlock Holmes was released on September 1, 1939, and Strange's first appearance was cover dated February 1940, which means it was actually released a couple of months earlier than that.)

User avatar
Büge
Posts: 5440
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:56 pm

Re: Classic Films

Postby Büge » Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:57 pm

Batman seems to have lots of Moriarities.
Image

User avatar
Mongrel
Posts: 21290
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:28 pm
Location: There's winners and there's losers // And I'm south of that line

Re: Classic Films

Postby Mongrel » Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:04 pm

Thad wrote:There's a reason Basil Rathbone is still considered the definitive Sherlock Holmes: I don't think there's been a better casting in the history of cinema.

His series was TV and not a film, but I think Jeremy Brett has a bone to pick with that statement.
Image

User avatar
Thad
Posts: 13165
Joined: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:05 am
Location: 1611 Uranus Avenue
Contact:

Re: Classic Films

Postby Thad » Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:13 pm

Büge wrote:Batman seems to have lots of Moriarities.


Maybe so, but Strange was the first.

Indeed, he was the first of the Rogues -- predating Joker and Catwoman by a few months.

And the reference is pretty direct -- not just his appearance, but that he was (originally) written out in a pretty direct reference to the Reichenbach Falls duel.

User avatar
TedBelmont
Posts: 472
Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2014 6:28 pm

Re: Classic Films

Postby TedBelmont » Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:58 pm



THIS BELONGS HERE

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests