Basil Rathbone
ActingAbout Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967), was an English 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 and television work; he received a Tony Award in 1948 as Best Actor in a Play.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Basil Rathbone reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Crime
The majority of Basil Rathbone's filmography leans towards the Crime genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 82% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Basil Rathbone remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in A Christmas Carol, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Basil Rathbone Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Basil Rathbone's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Basil Rathbone.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Adventures of Errol Flynn | Self / Various Roles (archive sound) (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | The Great Mouse Detective | Sherlock Holmes (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock Holmes (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | The Horror of It All | Carmichael (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Madhouse | Basil (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Movie Orgy | Self (archival footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Comedy of Terrors | John F. Black | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Tales of Terror | Carmichael ("The Case of M. Valdemar") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Pontius Pilate | Caiaphas | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | A Christmas Carol | Scrooge | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Norman Cass Sr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Court Jester | Sir Ravenhurst | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | We're No Angels | Andre Trochard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | A Christmas Carol | Marley's Ghost | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad | Narrator (segment "The Wind in the Willows") | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Wind in the Willows | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Dressed to Kill | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Terror by Night | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Pursuit to Algiers | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Woman in Green | Sherlock Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The House of Fear | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Pearl of Death | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Scarlet Claw | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Spider Woman | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sherlock Holmes Faces Death | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sherlock Holmes in Washington | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon | Sherlock Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | International Lady | Reggie Oliver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Black Cat | Montague Hartley | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Mad Doctor | Dr. George Sebastian / Dr. Langamann | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Mark of Zorro | Captain Esteban Pasquale | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River | Oliver Courtney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sherlock Holmes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Son of Frankenstein | Baron Wolf von Frankenstein | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Dawn Patrol | Maj. Brand | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | If I Were King | Louis XI | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Adventures of Robin Hood | Sir Guy of Gisbourne | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Tovarich | Commissar Dimitri Gorotchenko | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Romeo and Juliet | Tybalt | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Private Number | Thomas Wroxton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Captain Blood | Levasseur | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | A Tale of Two Cities | Marquis St. Evremonde | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Kind Lady | Henry Abbott | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | A Feather in Her Hat | Captain Randolph Courtney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Anna Karenina | Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | David Copperfield | Mr. Edward Murdstone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | A Woman Commands | Capt. Alex Pastitsch | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | This Mad World | Paul Parisot | Hit | Similar → |
Basil Rathbone - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Basil Rathbone?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Basil Rathbone is "A Christmas Carol" with a rating of 8.7/10.
How many movies has Basil Rathbone acted in?
Basil Rathbone has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Basil Rathbone?
Other notable films include "The Horror of It All", "A Woman Commands", and "The Adventures of Errol Flynn".