Rating: 
Summary: About Mr.Rathbone , not so much Mr.Holmes
Review: Basil Rathbone glosses over his most famous role as Sherlock Holmes in this book . It is mainly concerned with his other works , his early life and his extensive stage career . But it includes some interesting photos of the early Hollywood years and makes interesting reading for fans of the Golden era .
Rating: 
Summary: This book is entertaining,informative and intellegent.
Review: Basil Rathbone was one of the great stage and film actors of all time. He was also a kind, compasionate, passionate lover and promoter of the arts. His book is full of the lore and magic of a wonderful era in the art form of the 20th Century called the movies. He gives us candid and insightful information on some of the original giants of the industry. He is romantic yet concise and realistic. His anecdotes are often hilarous..some times sad, always involving. The stories of his personal life show that qualities like true love, loyalty and dedication do exist in the fickle often ruthless world of show business. His account of his psysic experiences involving his brother is especially intriguing. His devotion to his wife Oudia Bergere is moving. His advice on acting is right on and should be part of any aspiring or working actor's education. It is an intellegent book by a talented artist and human being.
Rating:
Summary: A very thoughtful and sensitive man of letters
Review: I have always enjoyed Mr. Rathbone's performances as Sherlock Holmes. To relish this enjoyment, I have collected the forteen motion pictures and all of the radio plays by Mressrs. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson. None of this familiarity, however, prepared me personally for the reading of "In and Out of Character" by Basil Rathbone.For a number of years, I had attempted to obtain a copy of the book and only recently was successful through "Amazon.com". I'm not entirely sure what I expected in reading the autobiography by Mr. Rathbone. Perhaps seeing "movie stars" and actors interviewed on television, the terms vanity and shallowness became synonymous with the profession. To those of you reading these frightfully inadequate words..I urge you to read this insightful and sensitive work of a truly gifted man. To quote Mr. Rathbone's reference about a fellow thespian in the book, "He had a fine, flexible, inquisitive mind and a beautiful poetic command of the English language." A very refreshing read.
Rating:
Summary: A very thoughtful and sensitive man of letters
Review: I have always enjoyed Mr. Rathbone's performances as Sherlock Holmes. To relish this enjoyment, I have collected the forteen motion pictures and all of the radio plays by Mressrs. Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson. None of this familiarity, however, prepared me personally for the reading of "In and Out of Character" by Basil Rathbone. For a number of years, I had attempted to obtain a copy of the book and only recently was successful through "Amazon.com". I'm not entirely sure what I expected in reading the autobiography by Mr. Rathbone. Perhaps seeing "movie stars" and actors interviewed on television, the terms vanity and shallowness became synonymous with the profession. To those of you reading these frightfully inadequate words..I urge you to read this insightful and sensitive work of a truly gifted man. To quote Mr. Rathbone's reference about a fellow thespian in the book, "He had a fine, flexible, inquisitive mind and a beautiful poetic command of the English language." A very refreshing read.
Rating:
Summary: Well written book by a terrific actor.
Review: I read Basil Rathbone's autobiography over 25 years ago because one of the local libraries just happened to have it. I have since been trying to obtain a copy of this book and have been unsuccessful until now. Basil Rathbone was one of the best actors around and after reading his autobiography I was very impressed with his career and life. If it were not for old motion pictures however these great actors would be virtually unknown. His wrote his autobiography so well that I remember I could not put the book down until I finished it.
Rating: 
Summary: A great insight to the life and work of Basil Rathbone
Review: It took me so long to get hold of this book but when itarrived I just couldn't put it down. His fans who think of him as justbeing Sherlock Holmes can read about his many other roles. His success, his personal life and his ambitions. This book provides a great insight into the mind of Basil Rathbone.
Rating:
Summary: A very honest autobiography.
Review: It's refreshing to read an autobiography where the writer does not protray himself as a 'saint'; someone who always make perfect decisions and judgments. It puts someone's life in perspective when you learn about items in their life which are not widely known: Rathbone's loss of his Brother in World War One, and his adventures in South Africa. This items, and others, help to put someone life into perspective. Better than relying on the sterotypes left behind after someone famous dies.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite...me
Review: Of the many actors who have played me on screen, Basil Rathbone is unquestionably the most famous. He's also the most loved among the general public, though some of my more fanatical admirers (the ones who belong to clubs devoted to my legend) have been known to sneer at ol' Basil, perhaps because many of his films updated the stories that my agent, Arthur, wrote about my adventures, or tend to dislike Nigel Bruce's essentially comic portrayal of old Conan Doyle, I mean Watson (I assure you they are one and the same). Well, what can I say? Rathbone is my favorite, too, even though he did tend to frown on his association with me in later years (not surprisingly, since many people insisted he WAS me). Rathbone was a better man than me in many respects, and I delighted in reading his autobiography, even the sections that did not involve his portrayal of yours truly (the bulk of the book, in fact). Basil was not only a brilliant actor, but a fine human being with an intense love of man's best friend (in fact, he seemed more devoted to his dogs than to his own family). This is an exceptionally good read. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: More than just Sherlock Holmes
Review: This is a well written, insightful autobiography filled with warmth, humor and anecdotes of a life in the theatre. Basil Rathbone was a truly wonderful actor who is known to most people today for his consumate portayal of Sherlock Holmes on film, but who was much more than that singular character. He served in World War I, he was related to Henry and Clara Rathbone - the couple in the booth with Lincoln when he was assasinated. Basil Rathbone was also a dog-lover, and his stories about his dogs are touching, and heart warming. A great read for anyone interested in the man himself, or in the 'behind the scenes' life of an actor in general. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: More than just Sherlock Holmes
Review: This is a well written, insightful autobiography filled with warmth, humor and anecdotes of a life in the theatre. Basil Rathbone was a truly wonderful actor who is known to most people today for his consumate portayal of Sherlock Holmes on film, but who was much more than that singular character. He served in World War I, he was related to Henry and Clara Rathbone - the couple in the booth with Lincoln when he was assasinated. Basil Rathbone was also a dog-lover, and his stories about his dogs are touching, and heart warming. A great read for anyone interested in the man himself, or in the 'behind the scenes' life of an actor in general. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
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