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Classic Films

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:10 pm
by Thad
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.)

Re: Classic Films

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:57 pm
by Büge
Batman seems to have lots of Moriarities.

Re: Classic Films

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:04 pm
by Mongrel
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.

Re: Classic Films

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 11:13 pm
by Thad
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.

Re: Classic Films

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 8:58 pm
by TedBelmont


THIS BELONGS HERE