Basil Rathbone Sparknotes

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The performance of Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes was a very calm and collected foil to Nigel Bruce's performance as Dr. Watson, who in addition to being older was more explosive and argumentative than I initially interpreted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work. Both men and Lionel Atwill as Dr. James Mortimer utilized their roles as protective, but not quite fatherly dispositions towards Richard Greene's Sir Henry Baskerville. Greene's character in comparison was naive which was emphasized by his youth and clean cut looks. This was emphasized when appearing with Rathbone who while clean shaven was dressed more formally than Greene. As well as Bruce and Atwill who appeared older and more knowledgeable due to their dress and apparent facial hair which further highlighted their characters and segregated them as older characters. These differences and choices made by the director brought attention to the inherent genius of Holmes character, while Bruce's quick temper indicated the later man's inability to follow of empathizing his methods. There is also the emphasis of some character and the outright exclusion of others such as the exclusion of Mrs. Laura …show more content…

Most of the scenes took place at night, and with the exception of the beginning sequence in London, stressed the isolated and unpopulated countryside. One key difference between the original text and the film was the variety of murder weapons Morton Lowry's John (Jack) Stapleton implemented. Beginning with the hound, to a pistol, which made multiple appearances, and finally poison, each device heightened the sense of danger and tension especially in the final act. Wherein the audience was aware of the apparent danger of Sir Henry's tonic but not he himself, though it was only within in the final half hour the audience could quickly assess the various clues to determine the

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