In and Out of Character

By Basil Rathbone

(Limelight). "Basil Rathbone's book about himself...is better written than most books by or about actors and is more intellectually vigorous...Sherlock Holmes fans will be much interested in his remarks on the character with whom he has been so closely identified." Library Journal ; "Quite naturally full of memories, full of names, full of glimpses of stars of stage and screen of yesterday and today." New York Times Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hal Leonard LLC
• Release date: Aug 1, 2004
• ISBN: 9780879105563

Reviews for In and Out of Character

[nickhowes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Basil Rathbone recalls his life starting from his first few years in South Africa, then on to his upbringing in England, and his career on stage and in film, most notably as what some today still regard as the best Sherlock Holmes. (I must admit, my favorite has shifted to Benedict Cummerbatch, but Rathbone is a close second.) In his account, Rathbone disposes of much of his movie career in one chapter and Sherlock Holmes gets another chapter. Throughout he manages to relate interesting anecdotes, including a couple extended stories he folds into the mix, including one about a perfect butler who worked for him until arrested over his sideline as a holdup artist - the butler served his time, went straight, and died in the Battle of Britain. Rathbone also shares his observations on acting as well as modern entertainment media. One wonders what he would think of the flood of (non) reality TV. At the end, he accepts his idleness in later years as something that happens to actors and begins making the rounds with a one-man show which he reveals was pioneered by Charles Laughton. His hobby was fencing and a friend of mine who attended one of Rathbone's presentations said Rathbone claimed he could've cut Errol Flynn to pieces in Captain Blood or Robin Hood. Although he doesn't mention that here, I've heard it elsewhere, also. Another tidbit he doesn't mention, but fencing hobbyist Rathbone crossed swords with Tyrone Power, son of the female fencing champion of Ohio, in The Mark of Zorro, another favorite A quick read, quite enjoyable, with a nice selection of black and white photos.