The Silver Screen Oasis

Me too, what an exciting thought

She Died With His Boots On!

I love Rathbone and Bruce in the Holmes pictures. It irks me somewhat when, in connection with these, Rathbone is referred to alone. It should always be Rathbone AND Bruce. Years ago, I read Rathbone's autobiography (if I recall correctly, it's entitled: In and Out of Character). A strange book--shot-through with an almost palpable sense of melancholy and longing.

Thanks, Joe, for rewaking this thread so that I read the whole thing. He was one of my favorite actors, even after one reviewer referred to him, typesetter error I'm sure, as Rasil Bathbone!

And thanks, Moira, for filling us in on his later years. At least now I know why, when I spent a summer doing stock in 1957, he appeared for a week in Witness for the Prosecution. He was by far the biggest name that year (although we did see the likes of Joan Bennett, Donald Cook, Nancy Walker, and Ed Begley, Sr.). I got to watch his performance several times that week and was sorry to see how exhausted and out-of-it he seemed.

As to Robin Hood, it takes a mighty fine actor to make the other guy look like he really could win at a swordfight!

L.V., Rathbone in Witness for the Prosecution. Sounds fascinating. Which part did he play (I'd guess Sir Wilfred)?

Joe Macclesfield wrote:L.V., Rathbone in Witness for the Prosecution. Sounds fascinating. Which part did he play (I'd guess Sir Wilfred)?

That's right, and he spent most of the play sitting at the Defendant's Table and looking at (reading?) papers that might have been the script. Old age is a beast! Even Lord Olivier admitted to problems.