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In and Out of Character by Rathbone, Basil (2003) Paperback
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First published January 1, 1956
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Basil Rathbone
100 books5 followersPhilip St. John Basil Rathbone, MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was a South African-born British actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films. He frequently portrayed suave villains or morally ambiguous characters, such as Murdstone in David Copperfield (1935) and Sir Guy of Gisbourne in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). His most famous role, however, was heroic—that of Sherlock Holmes in fourteen Hollywood films made between 1939 and 1946 and in a radio series. His later career included Broadway, self-ironic film and television work; he received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 26, 2018
I have always been a fan of actor Basil Rathbone. In High School, where girls my age had pictures of the Bee Gee's in their lockers I had Basil Rathbone. I had to get his book. I could hear his voice as I read his words. His book is insight into the man himself. I was happy to find that he loved his pets one in particular his dog Moritz. This book is must for any Basil Rathbone fan.
March 6, 2014
As I just finished this book I thought to myself how wonderful! But then quickly it struck me that Basil Rathbone was still in character. I have remarked before on some of the things other memoirs/autobiographies that were left out, those can be taken in stride, those details weren't very much. But he the one and only son was not mentioned, not once, not in passing, not even that he was ever born. That struck me as very odd. Then when I read some incidents he mentioned, that could be seen as minor and yet played a big role and he was candid about them, almost to a fault and from a cool eye to be seen as pure fiction. The people closet to him have a scant mention, parents, brother, sister, friends, his biological son and even his wives. It's not unreasonable that a person would want to keep things private even if he is writing a book to unwrap some of those more private aspects, he is giving something of himself into the public eye. In that sense as a reader one would think that family would have more than a scant mention, he didn't have to mention too much more than he did, but to have a sense they were there, that they were real people. Instead at the end one feels that one had entered a carefully contrived play or some kind of film and for the longest time one was unaware. By writing this book which was to reveal something of himself he reveals absolutely nothing. It is said that if person plays other people long enough they forget to be themselves. I don't know how many do this deliberately and by what reasoning they have to lose themselves into be characters, self esteem has much to do with it. In this book one can be successfully fooled into believing Basil Rathbone distinguished between being in character and out of it.
October 13, 2020
This book was a bit of a disappointment. Written by Basil Rathbone, who is best known for the movies he did with Errol Flynn and of course, for his long run as Sherlock Holmes on film and stage, this autobiography actually concentrates mostly on Rathbone's theater career, social and married life, and philosophy about acting, as well as his frustrated desire to be both a musical conductor and a writer. It is the work of a highly intelligent, sophisticated, thoughtful English gentleman and its qualities are very similar in some ways to the works of Siegfried Sassoon, another English gentleman who was sometimes too gentlemanly to write with the kind of passion that turns pages. It is a very highly personal work, an expression of his love of his art and of life generally, and full of brilliant observations and many, many witty and touching anecdotes. But it is also a slog. I hate to say that because Rathbone's memory is very dear to me, but he was an honest man about his failures as well as his successes, and so too will I be.
Rathbone's early life was marked by tragedy and violence. His family were English folk living in South Africa during the Boer War, and had to flee a step ahead of vengeful Boers, ending up in England. His mother died young, leaving his father heartbroken for life, and Basil's beloved brother John was killed in action in WWI, an event which in the book is told so touchingly it almost brought me to tears. Rathbone himself was an infantry officer in that war and was awarded the Military Cross for heroism, and while he expresses no remorse for those he killed in battle he makes it clear he hates war with a passionate kind of loathing. He turned to acting after the war, worked in the theater, and spent many years trodding the boards and learning his craft before he reluctantly sidled into motion pictures. I say "reluctantly" because it is clear that like so many British actors who start in the theater, they regard all other mediums with suspicion and in some cases, contempt and disgust. Rathbone rather liked movie-making, or came to like it, but he was a harsh critic mindless entertainment, even his own. Eventually Rathbone became quite famous in his own right as Sherlock Holmes, who he played in no less than fourteen feature films, but Rathbone came to despise the role and this dislike reflected the deep conflict he felt between his desire to do serious projects and his need to make money -- in other words, the conflict between art and commercialism, which devils every artist. After WW2, he struggled with the sudden rise of television (he was already frustrated with radio) and found himself unsure of where the future of acting lay -- what kind of art could be produced in a medium that ravenously devoured talent and shat out mediocrity instead. His personal answer was a very successful one-man, two-act show that allowed him to introduce his favorite playwrights to the people in the format he most adored: the theater.
As I said, IN AND OUT OF CHARACTER concentrates very heavily on Rathbone's theater career, which is interesting to a degree but depends on the reader sharing his love of theater and also his knowledge of it -- by which I mean that he is speaking of theater legends of the 20s, 30s, 40s, etc. who have faded out of memory. It exhaustively examines his marriage to his beloved Ouida, and there is even most of a chapter on his (almost) equally beloved dog. It features several creative asides, some poetry, and lengthy (and often fascinating) stories about people like Errol Flynn (all too briefly), Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Marlene Dietrich, etc., etc. Love of music, and of Shakespeare, drip from every page. His observations about television, then a still-burgeoning medium, are very deep and hold true even today. But there is a tediousness to the second half of the book which is undeniable. He barely touches on his time as Sherlock Holmes, except to denounce it; he has almost nothing to say about classic films like ROBIN HOOD or CAPTAIN BLOOD and for so chatty a book there is very little scandal or gossip, which frankly would have livened it up. In fact, he seldom discusses much of anything directly related to his movie career (70 films). The passion that he has for theater, music, etc. keeps dragging the focus away from that which made him wealthy and famous, and -- most likely, for who living is likely to have seen him perform onstage? -- from the interest of those who only know him for his movie work. His long asides can be a little confusing, and he has a penchant for name-dropping which reveal that he wasn't as immune from the shallower aspects of Hollywood as he himself surely believed.
For all that, I did enjoy a lot of this book and found it immensely quotable and full of wisdom and many splendid anectdotes -- some funny, some tragic. Rathbone was a born raconteur and a very, very intelligent man with a tremendous passion for his craft and for the human condition generally: indeed, for life itself. He may have been a touch too cool, too thoughtful, too gentlemanly to write a really good memoir, but as the song says, "He remains an Englishman."
Rathbone's early life was marked by tragedy and violence. His family were English folk living in South Africa during the Boer War, and had to flee a step ahead of vengeful Boers, ending up in England. His mother died young, leaving his father heartbroken for life, and Basil's beloved brother John was killed in action in WWI, an event which in the book is told so touchingly it almost brought me to tears. Rathbone himself was an infantry officer in that war and was awarded the Military Cross for heroism, and while he expresses no remorse for those he killed in battle he makes it clear he hates war with a passionate kind of loathing. He turned to acting after the war, worked in the theater, and spent many years trodding the boards and learning his craft before he reluctantly sidled into motion pictures. I say "reluctantly" because it is clear that like so many British actors who start in the theater, they regard all other mediums with suspicion and in some cases, contempt and disgust. Rathbone rather liked movie-making, or came to like it, but he was a harsh critic mindless entertainment, even his own. Eventually Rathbone became quite famous in his own right as Sherlock Holmes, who he played in no less than fourteen feature films, but Rathbone came to despise the role and this dislike reflected the deep conflict he felt between his desire to do serious projects and his need to make money -- in other words, the conflict between art and commercialism, which devils every artist. After WW2, he struggled with the sudden rise of television (he was already frustrated with radio) and found himself unsure of where the future of acting lay -- what kind of art could be produced in a medium that ravenously devoured talent and shat out mediocrity instead. His personal answer was a very successful one-man, two-act show that allowed him to introduce his favorite playwrights to the people in the format he most adored: the theater.
As I said, IN AND OUT OF CHARACTER concentrates very heavily on Rathbone's theater career, which is interesting to a degree but depends on the reader sharing his love of theater and also his knowledge of it -- by which I mean that he is speaking of theater legends of the 20s, 30s, 40s, etc. who have faded out of memory. It exhaustively examines his marriage to his beloved Ouida, and there is even most of a chapter on his (almost) equally beloved dog. It features several creative asides, some poetry, and lengthy (and often fascinating) stories about people like Errol Flynn (all too briefly), Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Marlene Dietrich, etc., etc. Love of music, and of Shakespeare, drip from every page. His observations about television, then a still-burgeoning medium, are very deep and hold true even today. But there is a tediousness to the second half of the book which is undeniable. He barely touches on his time as Sherlock Holmes, except to denounce it; he has almost nothing to say about classic films like ROBIN HOOD or CAPTAIN BLOOD and for so chatty a book there is very little scandal or gossip, which frankly would have livened it up. In fact, he seldom discusses much of anything directly related to his movie career (70 films). The passion that he has for theater, music, etc. keeps dragging the focus away from that which made him wealthy and famous, and -- most likely, for who living is likely to have seen him perform onstage? -- from the interest of those who only know him for his movie work. His long asides can be a little confusing, and he has a penchant for name-dropping which reveal that he wasn't as immune from the shallower aspects of Hollywood as he himself surely believed.
For all that, I did enjoy a lot of this book and found it immensely quotable and full of wisdom and many splendid anectdotes -- some funny, some tragic. Rathbone was a born raconteur and a very, very intelligent man with a tremendous passion for his craft and for the human condition generally: indeed, for life itself. He may have been a touch too cool, too thoughtful, too gentlemanly to write a really good memoir, but as the song says, "He remains an Englishman."
March 28, 2022
I was excited when I discovered that Basil Rathbone had written his memoirs, since I've always thought any movie he was in was worth watching. I was able to get the hardcopy book from my library. I was, however, ultimately disappointed in the book.
Rathbone clearly considered himself a stage actor and anything else, other than possibly live radio in the 30's and 40's, was a step down. He goes on at length about the plays he was in, often going into details about the rehearsals leading up to opening night, etc. Which is interesting. However, when it comes to his movies he attempts to cover almost all of them in a single chapter, and barely mentions his co-stars. The exceptions are a few paragraphs about Errol Flynn with whom he was in at least two movies and, when he finally devotes a chapter to Sherlock Holmes, we learn a bit about his friend and co-star Nigel Bruce.
But I can name at least 6 movies Rathbone was in that he never mentions. And then there is his reference to one of his later movies by the wrong title. He refers to the movie as My Three Angels when it fact it was called We're No Angels (a lost and underappreciated gem with Bogart and Peter Ustinov).
And finally, Rathbone's writing style borders on Victorian (which might make sense given he was born late in the 19th century) which makes it a slower read.
Rathbone clearly considered himself a stage actor and anything else, other than possibly live radio in the 30's and 40's, was a step down. He goes on at length about the plays he was in, often going into details about the rehearsals leading up to opening night, etc. Which is interesting. However, when it comes to his movies he attempts to cover almost all of them in a single chapter, and barely mentions his co-stars. The exceptions are a few paragraphs about Errol Flynn with whom he was in at least two movies and, when he finally devotes a chapter to Sherlock Holmes, we learn a bit about his friend and co-star Nigel Bruce.
But I can name at least 6 movies Rathbone was in that he never mentions. And then there is his reference to one of his later movies by the wrong title. He refers to the movie as My Three Angels when it fact it was called We're No Angels (a lost and underappreciated gem with Bogart and Peter Ustinov).
And finally, Rathbone's writing style borders on Victorian (which might make sense given he was born late in the 19th century) which makes it a slower read.
July 25, 2012
A very eloquent and philosophical writer. A wonderful read and it makes me realise that they just don't make men like this anymore :-(
February 26, 2020
For me, Rathbone will always be the best screen Sherlock Holmes. I have all the films and have started listening to the surviving radio shows. I came across the title of this autobiography whilst mooching around the Internet, and unexpectedly one of our local libraries had a copy I was able to order.
When reading the book, there is a big caveat. Rathbone was born in the 19th century and was writing about events in the early 20th century. Clearly attitudes were very different at this time. Many of the prejudices which make us so uncomfortable today emerge during anecdotes told by Rathbone, rather than his own opinions. Nevertheless, there is some misogyny and racism which may make some readers uncomfortable.
Taking this into account, I did find his stories fascinating. He speaks with respect (generally!) about stars, directors and producers of the golden age of Hollywood, and the story of his extraordinarily happy marriage is very pleasing. There isn’t a huge amount here about the time during which he played Holmes, and I suspect this has something to do with his resentment at being typecast. Perfectly understandable. I did like the way that he reveals his own feelings at times, not something which was generally approved of for a man of his class and at that time.
The chapter about Judas and the play that built up around that story had me completely baffled. I just didn’t get the obsession. Others might have more understanding, particularly if they are religious.
Overall, an interesting insight into the era and the life of the actor. Fans of Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson might find it interesting; just be aware that there isn’t a great deal about that period in the book.
When reading the book, there is a big caveat. Rathbone was born in the 19th century and was writing about events in the early 20th century. Clearly attitudes were very different at this time. Many of the prejudices which make us so uncomfortable today emerge during anecdotes told by Rathbone, rather than his own opinions. Nevertheless, there is some misogyny and racism which may make some readers uncomfortable.
Taking this into account, I did find his stories fascinating. He speaks with respect (generally!) about stars, directors and producers of the golden age of Hollywood, and the story of his extraordinarily happy marriage is very pleasing. There isn’t a huge amount here about the time during which he played Holmes, and I suspect this has something to do with his resentment at being typecast. Perfectly understandable. I did like the way that he reveals his own feelings at times, not something which was generally approved of for a man of his class and at that time.
The chapter about Judas and the play that built up around that story had me completely baffled. I just didn’t get the obsession. Others might have more understanding, particularly if they are religious.
Overall, an interesting insight into the era and the life of the actor. Fans of Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson might find it interesting; just be aware that there isn’t a great deal about that period in the book.
January 6, 2012
Although this book is a must read for any Sherlock Holmes enthusiast, I would also recommend this book to any connoisseur of classic film and theater. Mr. Rathbone, of course is best known for his brilliant portrayals of Baker Street's most famous resident. But his professional life as an actor cannot and should not be defined only through his role as Mr. Holmes. The breathe and depth of Mr. Rathbone's career as an actor is one of the most distinguished and pure in the annals of theatre. His primary devotion was to classical theatre, honed in the Shakespearian traditions of Olivier and Barrymore. His life was one dedicated to not only his art, but of writing, and a deep appreciation of music as well. Most fascinating, was his repetitive warnings that he issued (circa 1943), of the impending advances of modern technology. His criticisms primarily focused on the advent of television as a medium for the "arts", as well as other advances in photography and film technologies. He framed and addressed these "advances" as a scourge primarily by its ability to act as a crutch to actual creativity or interpretation by television performances which actors are sometimes devoid. He also warned of the impending assault on the theatre by commercialism, where profit always wins over artistic bona fides. Mr. Rathbone was indeed a pioneer in his thinking as well as his continuing quest to push back against the "trends" of commercial expedience over artistic values.
August 14, 2017
I feel that this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the 20th century motion picture and theatre business - it gives insight.
I've come to understand that Basil Rathbone's autobiography does not cover every event that were part of his life. It does clash with his Wikipedia page, but I consider this kind of inaccuracy to be commonplace in autobiographies.
It was really moving to read his account of the part he played in the First World War, how he lived it, what kind of man it turned him into, and to think about this whole generation of men who became agents, killers and martyrs for just about nothing. Then there's his entire relationship with Shakespeare, and his feeling about his profession as an actor. As I said the insight that Basil Rathbone gives us really make this book worth reading. I found it utterly lovely that I was able, as a reader, to identify with the writer's feelings and opinions when the writing was not professional. Like in any good autobiography, feelings and experiences are shared and it really makes one wonder about the turns and twists of fate and life.
I've come to understand that Basil Rathbone's autobiography does not cover every event that were part of his life. It does clash with his Wikipedia page, but I consider this kind of inaccuracy to be commonplace in autobiographies.
It was really moving to read his account of the part he played in the First World War, how he lived it, what kind of man it turned him into, and to think about this whole generation of men who became agents, killers and martyrs for just about nothing. Then there's his entire relationship with Shakespeare, and his feeling about his profession as an actor. As I said the insight that Basil Rathbone gives us really make this book worth reading. I found it utterly lovely that I was able, as a reader, to identify with the writer's feelings and opinions when the writing was not professional. Like in any good autobiography, feelings and experiences are shared and it really makes one wonder about the turns and twists of fate and life.
March 1, 2018
This book is not just an excellent very good actors autobiography but a record of the workings of Hollywood studios in their heyday. Basil Rathbone is most famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, but he was so much more, his stage career ( and a very successful one ) including Shakespeare and Shaw. He also acted with some legends long since passed including Barrymore and Dietrich. His stories grab and pull you in, this is not just for fans of Rathbone or Holmes it is worth a read for any fans of movies.
February 14, 2014
I was excited when I found a used copy of Rathbone's autobiography, and it turned out to be really disappointing. He is an okay writer, though the early chapters tend to flit around a bit. The problem is he seems like a huge snob. Nothing can touch theater, movies are a necessary evil, and radio and television are only there to pay the bills. Worst of all, his most enduring roles get a sentence here and there. Yes, he dedicates a chapter to Sherlock Holmes, but that chapter is focused entirely on cutting down the character as one of the worst things he ever did professionally. By the time he ties to revive Sherlock Holmes on stage later in his career, you're pretty much hoping he fails. Full of anecdotes that only Rathbone finds amusing. Meh!
November 8, 2019
It was an excellent autobiography of Basil Rathbone. It was just amazing to read about his life and his wife and his life in general with his character acting..I think everybody needs to read it who wants to have a zest for life and to find meaning in it. His life was full of constant work and pleasure in living. Truly amazing to read about such a person today.
September 25, 2019
If he hadn't been an actor, he certainly could have been a writer. Exceptionally well written, and interesting story.
July 18, 2025
My Review: 2.5-3 out of 5 Stars
(DNF at chapter seven)
I really, REALLY wanted to like this book. I haven't read a lot of autobiographies, and Basil Rathbone's caught my attention (mainly because of the title). Once I got to chapter seven, though, I skipped through it, skimmed through a few other chapters, and then stopped altogether. I'm actually at a loss of deciding how many stars to give it (hence the 2.5-3 rating).
What I Loved:
Part of the reason I got this book to begin with was for research. Since he was involved in WW1, I figured "In and Out of Character" would give me some insight regarding life as a soldier. He jumps right into that aspect, which was very interesting. I also loved the loyalty and love he had for his brother, John. Something else I enjoyed was his sense of humor and wittiness. One particular quote that made me laugh out-loud was this:
"I felt physically sick to my stomach as I saw or heard or read of the avalanche of brave young men rushing to join "the colors"; and if needs-be to give their lives for God and King and Country (for King and Country maybe - but for God! What utter blasphemy so casually to inform God which side He was on)" (pg 11).
The book, in and of itself, is engaging and personal. He inserts his thoughts into certain conversations at times, which I particularly enjoyed. Lastly, I appreciated the love and devotion he had for Ouida (his second wife). She also seemed like a determined but pleasant individual. Basil's remarks about her disdain for golf (and her throwing his golf club into the river after a hard round) were quite funny. It was interesting to have a look into his life, his acting career, and his annoyance towards his long career as Sherlock Holmes.
What I Didn't Care For:
I guess I wasn't expecting him to be such a ladies' man. The amount of times he mentioned all the women he ran into was nothing short of nauseating (all of them being more beautiful than the one before). He falls in love with several women throughout the book (at one point while he was still married to someone else). At one point, he climbs a tree to find a young lady's bedroom, while calling his intentions "evil" (his plans are foiled, thankfully). Childhood crushes are recalled, as well as his love life. He and his first wife got a divorce (he doesn't talk about it much due to the pain it caused him). There are some details I could have done without, such as . His second wife also did not want to share a room with him while they were unmarried. There were many other instances where he put himself--and others--in unwise situations. In conclusion, he had a problem with lust, it seems. There are several instances of language, ranging from God's name in vain to d**m, b***h, b*****d, h**l, p**s, and probably more since I didn't finish the book.
What Made Me DNF The Book:
Other than the content above, there was a strange section about angels and a line of a poem that made me a little uneasy (line in spoiler): . Lastly, the story in chapter seven decided the whole thing for me. I remember hearing of this story before but wasn't sure if Basil would include it in his autobiography.
He did. That was a lesson learned on my part.
I don't particularly want to hear about a play with a in it, especially since the cast seemed perfectly okay with performing it. As it turns out, the cast
To quote the author of this book, "But certain it is that broken marriages, particularly where children are involved, inevitably lead to hurtful and sometimes tragic consequences" (pg 17). Well said, Basil. Well said. "In and Out of Character" is an interesting autobiography, for sure. I just don't feel right about finishing it, especially with the content I mentioned above. And that was just about halfway through the book!
When one makes bad decisions, it affects those around them. It is truly sad, but there is nothing new under the sun. For the moment, I will leave this book alone...
Content Warning: Other than the romance mentioned, Basil also
(DNF at chapter seven)
I really, REALLY wanted to like this book. I haven't read a lot of autobiographies, and Basil Rathbone's caught my attention (mainly because of the title). Once I got to chapter seven, though, I skipped through it, skimmed through a few other chapters, and then stopped altogether. I'm actually at a loss of deciding how many stars to give it (hence the 2.5-3 rating).
What I Loved:
Part of the reason I got this book to begin with was for research. Since he was involved in WW1, I figured "In and Out of Character" would give me some insight regarding life as a soldier. He jumps right into that aspect, which was very interesting. I also loved the loyalty and love he had for his brother, John. Something else I enjoyed was his sense of humor and wittiness. One particular quote that made me laugh out-loud was this:
"I felt physically sick to my stomach as I saw or heard or read of the avalanche of brave young men rushing to join "the colors"; and if needs-be to give their lives for God and King and Country (for King and Country maybe - but for God! What utter blasphemy so casually to inform God which side He was on)" (pg 11).
The book, in and of itself, is engaging and personal. He inserts his thoughts into certain conversations at times, which I particularly enjoyed. Lastly, I appreciated the love and devotion he had for Ouida (his second wife). She also seemed like a determined but pleasant individual. Basil's remarks about her disdain for golf (and her throwing his golf club into the river after a hard round) were quite funny. It was interesting to have a look into his life, his acting career, and his annoyance towards his long career as Sherlock Holmes.
What I Didn't Care For:
I guess I wasn't expecting him to be such a ladies' man. The amount of times he mentioned all the women he ran into was nothing short of nauseating (all of them being more beautiful than the one before). He falls in love with several women throughout the book (at one point while he was still married to someone else). At one point, he climbs a tree to find a young lady's bedroom, while calling his intentions "evil" (his plans are foiled, thankfully). Childhood crushes are recalled, as well as his love life. He and his first wife got a divorce (he doesn't talk about it much due to the pain it caused him). There are some details I could have done without, such as . His second wife also did not want to share a room with him while they were unmarried. There were many other instances where he put himself--and others--in unwise situations. In conclusion, he had a problem with lust, it seems. There are several instances of language, ranging from God's name in vain to d**m, b***h, b*****d, h**l, p**s, and probably more since I didn't finish the book.
What Made Me DNF The Book:
Other than the content above, there was a strange section about angels and a line of a poem that made me a little uneasy (line in spoiler): . Lastly, the story in chapter seven decided the whole thing for me. I remember hearing of this story before but wasn't sure if Basil would include it in his autobiography.
He did. That was a lesson learned on my part.
I don't particularly want to hear about a play with a in it, especially since the cast seemed perfectly okay with performing it. As it turns out, the cast
To quote the author of this book, "But certain it is that broken marriages, particularly where children are involved, inevitably lead to hurtful and sometimes tragic consequences" (pg 17). Well said, Basil. Well said. "In and Out of Character" is an interesting autobiography, for sure. I just don't feel right about finishing it, especially with the content I mentioned above. And that was just about halfway through the book!
When one makes bad decisions, it affects those around them. It is truly sad, but there is nothing new under the sun. For the moment, I will leave this book alone...
Content Warning: Other than the romance mentioned, Basil also
August 14, 2024
If you’re looking for a fireside chat with Basil Rathbone, one of early Hollywood’s pre-eminent thespians, about his life, then you’ve found it. This book is like sitting down with Rathbone in a comfy upscale drawing room, glass of expensive cognac in hand, and listening to his recollections, stories, and opinions.
This is not a tell-all. Rathbone is up front about wanting to respect boundaries of privacy for those of whom he is writing, including himself. The book is therefore always personable, but rarely personal. And in many ways insightful, but without offering much insight into the man himself. It is an aristocrat’s and an artist’s story about themselves, told their way, by their rules, and often holding the reader at a “proper” arm’s length. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. I quite enjoyed it. But I can also see it being disappointing for anyone who wants juicy details about fellow actors or situations of the period. And while Rathbone recognizes the life of privilege he lead starting from a very young age, coming from a connected family and the upper crust of Scottish/British society, there are many points in the book where a certain elitist disconnect comes through quite heavily.
It also may be disappointing to anyone who wants to delve heavily into Rathbone’s film career, for which he is now most well known. Rathbone was a child and patron of the theater first and foremost, and his thoughts on the mediocrity of film, including projects lay-people at the time were most excited about, sometimes borders on disdainful. While recognizing the monetary benefits afforded by some of his most well known roles alongside Errol Flynn, or his stint as Sherlock Holmes, he is completely dismissive of their artistic value, and in the case of Holmes was actually rather bitter about its affect on his legacy and potential typecasting. In many ways he comes across as a theater purist, while also someone who was able to navigate the changing technology of the time to maintain his accustomed lifestyle as theater became a less popular form of entertainment. You’ll hear a fair amount of the latter points across the book, but of those famous Hollywood projects you’ll find but a few pages throughout the entire work.
All that said, it’s something I’d still recommend for anyone interested in this great actor. His career straddled a chasm of change experienced by the entertainment industry before and after WW2, and it provides a unique if managed perspective from one of the greats about their own life and times.
This is not a tell-all. Rathbone is up front about wanting to respect boundaries of privacy for those of whom he is writing, including himself. The book is therefore always personable, but rarely personal. And in many ways insightful, but without offering much insight into the man himself. It is an aristocrat’s and an artist’s story about themselves, told their way, by their rules, and often holding the reader at a “proper” arm’s length. That doesn’t mean it’s bad. I quite enjoyed it. But I can also see it being disappointing for anyone who wants juicy details about fellow actors or situations of the period. And while Rathbone recognizes the life of privilege he lead starting from a very young age, coming from a connected family and the upper crust of Scottish/British society, there are many points in the book where a certain elitist disconnect comes through quite heavily.
It also may be disappointing to anyone who wants to delve heavily into Rathbone’s film career, for which he is now most well known. Rathbone was a child and patron of the theater first and foremost, and his thoughts on the mediocrity of film, including projects lay-people at the time were most excited about, sometimes borders on disdainful. While recognizing the monetary benefits afforded by some of his most well known roles alongside Errol Flynn, or his stint as Sherlock Holmes, he is completely dismissive of their artistic value, and in the case of Holmes was actually rather bitter about its affect on his legacy and potential typecasting. In many ways he comes across as a theater purist, while also someone who was able to navigate the changing technology of the time to maintain his accustomed lifestyle as theater became a less popular form of entertainment. You’ll hear a fair amount of the latter points across the book, but of those famous Hollywood projects you’ll find but a few pages throughout the entire work.
All that said, it’s something I’d still recommend for anyone interested in this great actor. His career straddled a chasm of change experienced by the entertainment industry before and after WW2, and it provides a unique if managed perspective from one of the greats about their own life and times.
July 7, 2017
I absolutely adore the old Holmes & Watson films, which I knew before I opened the book, would be in contrast to the author. But I thought I would be good with that. So many actors hate the roles that made them famous, it's a given that they will complain about them. But to complain & then go back to the role when work gets a little sparse, was a little too much of a middle finger salute for me.
He clearly wasn't keen on discussing personal information much, which again, is his right, but it did make things confusing as people came & went, and I had to flick back and forth to make sure I knew who he was talking about. He finishes with a piece of fiction he clearly thought was up there with Shakespeare, as he desperately tried to show he was more than the guy who says 'hello' a thousand times a picture.
It was an interesting, if confusing, read, and just struggled from his desire to tell me about his versatility. I read biographies because I love Classic Hollywood, and want to soak in the period. But this was not the best example of that world.
He clearly wasn't keen on discussing personal information much, which again, is his right, but it did make things confusing as people came & went, and I had to flick back and forth to make sure I knew who he was talking about. He finishes with a piece of fiction he clearly thought was up there with Shakespeare, as he desperately tried to show he was more than the guy who says 'hello' a thousand times a picture.
It was an interesting, if confusing, read, and just struggled from his desire to tell me about his versatility. I read biographies because I love Classic Hollywood, and want to soak in the period. But this was not the best example of that world.
August 5, 2018
Whether playing Shakespeare on stage with the likes of Katharine Cornell, appearing in films with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich or John Barrymore, playing Sherlock Holmes with Nigel Bruce as Watson, reading the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Oscar Wilde, or Nathaniel Hawthorne on Caedmon recordings, or playing comedy in Roger Corman's horror films, Basil Rathbone was an actor of style, great technique, versatility and dignity. His autobiography covers much ground, revealing him to be also a man of humor, compassion, a great animal-lover and a surprising spirituality. He even gives us glimpses of the might-have-been writer or critic with a short story and his analysis of the shortcomings of television. An interesting read and look into a bygone era. - BH.
March 27, 2021
I originally bought this book as my father-in-law had some interaction with Basil Rathbone and I wanted to know more about his charitable work. I am a huge fan of old-time radio so was very familiar with his character of Sherlock Holmes but I wanted to learn more. I ended up reading the whole book and enjoyed it. This man did more for the war effort in World War II than anyone else and I am sorry I never knew about it before I began researching my father-in-law's life.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes biographies and also for those who follow old-time radio.
Highly recommended for anyone who likes biographies and also for those who follow old-time radio.
September 25, 2022
I was disappointed with this autobiography by Basil Rathbone. I am a big fan of his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, as such was looking forward to his memories of the making and other actors of the movies. In particular Nigel Bruce, who although wrote an autobiography never published it.I can understand his love for theater was greater than his love for the movie he made, but it was those movies that gave him game all over the world. I feel this autobiography has a huge gap left unspoken, which is why I have only 3 stars.
December 12, 2020
Actor Basil Rathbone discourses on his life (mostly in theater). There are some lovely stories that he tells, though not all are very PC. Actors, musicians and various ghosts parade through the tales. I wish he'd dwelled at greater length on some of his movie roles, but he disparaged those and preferred his life in the theater. He adds a couple of short stories that he'd composed. All in all, a fine, fun set of reminiscences.
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March 26, 2025Rathbone was as erudite as Holmes. His writing crisp, his vocabulary expansive and his storytelling interesting. Reading the words he wrote is a pleasure even though the timeline is sometimes choppy [back and forth]. He is honest with his foibles as well as his successes.
December 31, 2017
Smart, clever, full of interesting film facts. I love Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and his character was an interesting match for the person. If you love old movies, this is a must read.
June 13, 2019
Bit of a disappointment
I Was looking forward to this but there was more about him and his wife that the era they lived in.
I Was looking forward to this but there was more about him and his wife that the era they lived in.
June 19, 2022
Terrible
January 28, 2023
Basil Rathbone has such a unique writing style and a truly gracious appreciation for the people in his life. His insights and storytelling are artful and musical.
February 16, 2024
Basil Rathbone is one of my favorite actors. There is so much he shared, but at the same time, not enough. Overall, it was a taste to a life well lived!
June 28, 2023
A bit of a mixed bag, this. Rathbone writes fairly well, but is given to overuse of exclamation marks and superlatives. He sometimes comes across as self-aggrandising (perhaps as a result of insecurity as his career was on the skids when he wrote this), but at other times he's admirably open about some of the embarrassing things which have happened to him, such as being snubbed by Garbo and making an ill-judged attempt to resurrect Sherlock Holmes on stage out of desperation. However, he does not always show good judgment regarding what is likely to engage his readers and focuses far more on his career in the theatre than in film. There's a whole chapter devoted to a pet project - a failed stage play about Judas - which is unlikely to be of interest to anyine else. But the low point of the book is when he indulges in a massive lapse of taste by relating what he terms an 'amusing story' which turns out to be about the playwright Frederick Lonsdale making an appallingly racist quip about Anna May Wong. Not amusing. Fortunately, other parts of the book are more edifying, such as the opening chapter, which details Rathbone's experience on the front line in World War I, and the penultimate chapter, a bizarre but oddly moving story involving a couple he knew whose names he has changed.
April 6, 2014
I picked this up at a used bookstore with some excitement, as I always enjoyed Basil Rathbone's film performances, and the book blurb promised a high quality of writing and lots of details of an actor's life in the early part of the Twentieth century. It supplied plenty of the latter. Rathbone had a long and distinguished stage career before Hollywood snagged him to play villains and of course, Sherlock Holmes. I enjoyed learning about the actor's theatrical background, as well as his deep love of music and many friends in opera, classical music and related arts. He also writes at some length about specific roles he became somewhat obsessed with, and reveals his more typically actorish qualities of believing a role, play or film will be the greatest of his career--even when wiser heads warn him that the opposite is more likely.
He led an interesting life, working with many stars of stage and screen while pursuing his own ambition to be seen as one of his professions great actors; and yet was a devoted family man, collected dogs like some people collect seashells, and loathed television. He disliked movies nearly as much, in the end. His auto-biography shares his failures as well as his successes. But it is a bit dated in worldview and he digresses several times into fictional short stories related to some part of his long career. I'm glad I read it, but hesitate to recommend it to anyone but other classic film fans.
He led an interesting life, working with many stars of stage and screen while pursuing his own ambition to be seen as one of his professions great actors; and yet was a devoted family man, collected dogs like some people collect seashells, and loathed television. He disliked movies nearly as much, in the end. His auto-biography shares his failures as well as his successes. But it is a bit dated in worldview and he digresses several times into fictional short stories related to some part of his long career. I'm glad I read it, but hesitate to recommend it to anyone but other classic film fans.
December 6, 2009
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Here is someone who has lived a life full of adventure and strange experiences, but like David Niven, can articulate his life with both wit and an awareness for their meaning and impact.
I don't usually laugh at loud or cry when I'm reading books, especially non-fiction -- but this is so well-written that I couldn't help myself. I wonder why this book is not still remembered?
Packed with stories about famous people of the day, but those aren't the best ones. Watch out for the story about the car crash death of his friend... and how there are no dogs in heaven.
I don't usually laugh at loud or cry when I'm reading books, especially non-fiction -- but this is so well-written that I couldn't help myself. I wonder why this book is not still remembered?
Packed with stories about famous people of the day, but those aren't the best ones. Watch out for the story about the car crash death of his friend... and how there are no dogs in heaven.
March 17, 2013
I have always loved Basil Rathbone as an actor, from Sherlock Holmes to the villainous Sir Guy of Gisbourne he has had a spectacular and varied career on stage and screen. Rathbone understands how to tell a good story and in an era of google, Wikipedia and imdb this book stands out as an autobiography. Rather than an endless list of who he worked with and general self congratulation, in and out of character let's Rathbone examine who he is and how his experiences have shaped his life. This really is a great read, written by one of the classic gentlemen of the screen.
September 26, 2021
Not so much an autobiography...
....as a series of ruminations. Reading the book is like having a conversation with Basil Rathbone. He does talk about various episodes in his life, but leaves much out. For example, not once does he mention his son Rodion. I got the impression he was a very private person. It was lovely, though, to read about how much he loves his wife Ouida.
....as a series of ruminations. Reading the book is like having a conversation with Basil Rathbone. He does talk about various episodes in his life, but leaves much out. For example, not once does he mention his son Rodion. I got the impression he was a very private person. It was lovely, though, to read about how much he loves his wife Ouida.
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