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The Curse of Sherlock Holmes: The Basil Rathbone Story
Basil Rathbone is synonymous with Sherlock Holmes.
He played the Victorian sleuth in the fourteen Fox/Universal films of the 1930s and ’40s, as well as on stage and radio. For many people, he is the Holmes.
Basil Rathbone grew to hate Sherlock Holmes.
The character placed restrictions on his before Holmes he was an esteemed theatre actor, appearing in Broadway plays such as The Captive and The Swan, the latter of which became his launchpad to greater stardom. But he never, ever escaped his most famous role.
Basil Rathbone was not Sherlock Holmes.
In The Curse of Sherlock Holmes, celebrated biographer David Clayton looks at the behind-the-camera life of a remarkable man who deserved so much more than to be relegated to just one role.
He played the Victorian sleuth in the fourteen Fox/Universal films of the 1930s and ’40s, as well as on stage and radio. For many people, he is the Holmes.
Basil Rathbone grew to hate Sherlock Holmes.
The character placed restrictions on his before Holmes he was an esteemed theatre actor, appearing in Broadway plays such as The Captive and The Swan, the latter of which became his launchpad to greater stardom. But he never, ever escaped his most famous role.
Basil Rathbone was not Sherlock Holmes.
In The Curse of Sherlock Holmes, celebrated biographer David Clayton looks at the behind-the-camera life of a remarkable man who deserved so much more than to be relegated to just one role.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2020
6 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 27, 2020
The Curse of Sherlock Holmes: The Basil Rathbone story, is a fascinating insight into the life of a Hollywood great. To my mind the greatest actor to play Holmes.
This is a short book (200) pages. It charts Basil’s rise to Holmes fame and his ultimate dislike of the character towards to end of his Hollywood career. In part, his dislike was due to his Holmes portrayal on the radio over 150 times as well as the 14 films he made.
I can understand why he became so sick of him. That and the fact Holmes became a ball and chain for Basil Rathbone. Basically typecasting him for the remainder of his career.
Really interesting, I would have liked more sight from people, actors who knew him. That said, this was an interesting book that shines a light on a once-great English actor.
This is a short book (200) pages. It charts Basil’s rise to Holmes fame and his ultimate dislike of the character towards to end of his Hollywood career. In part, his dislike was due to his Holmes portrayal on the radio over 150 times as well as the 14 films he made.
I can understand why he became so sick of him. That and the fact Holmes became a ball and chain for Basil Rathbone. Basically typecasting him for the remainder of his career.
Really interesting, I would have liked more sight from people, actors who knew him. That said, this was an interesting book that shines a light on a once-great English actor.
January 6, 2026
Growing up in the 1970s, I was steeped in the cinematic world of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. Their films were a regular fixture on television, and for many—including me—Rathbone remains the definitive Holmes, even if those screen adventures only loosely followed Conan Doyle’s originals. I’ve always had a soft spot for his portrayal, and perhaps because I now live not far from where Rathbone may once have resided with his first wife, Marion, I was especially keen to read David Clayton’s biography.
Clayton traces Rathbone’s journey from his early Shakespearian stage work, through the trauma of the Great War, to his move to America—swiftly dispelling any lingering rumours of long-term South Wales roots with Marion. The book follows his Broadway success, his meeting with his second wife, Ouida, and his early film roles as elegant, swashbuckling villains. Then comes the role that defined him: Sherlock Holmes. Between 1939 and 1946, Rathbone played Holmes on both film and radio, a period that brought him fame but also typecasting so severe he eventually came to resent the character.
As television rose to prominence in the 1950s, Rathbone struggled to reclaim his career, drifting into guest appearances, commercials, and later low budget films to finance Ouida’s showbusiness parties. Clayton handles this rise and fall with clarity and compassion, weaving in Rathbone’s own words to give the narrative emotional weight. Some aspects of Rathbone’s life still remain elusive—while his strained relationship with Rodion, his son from his first marriage and later his grandchildren, makes sad reading and clearly displays wounds that still seem to echo nearly sixty years on from his death.
The book teases the idea that Rathbone was “cursed” by Holmes, much like Conan Doyle himself. I’m not entirely convinced. Timing, circumstance, and a few unfortunate decisions feel just as responsible for the downturn in his career—something many people experience, famous or not. Still, it was fascinating to get to know Rathbone beyond the deerstalker, and one can’t help but wish he’d had more opportunities to work in Britain, where perhaps his light might have shone a little brighter.
A strong and absorbing start to my 2026 reading challenge and a winner of a biography from David Clayton!
Clayton traces Rathbone’s journey from his early Shakespearian stage work, through the trauma of the Great War, to his move to America—swiftly dispelling any lingering rumours of long-term South Wales roots with Marion. The book follows his Broadway success, his meeting with his second wife, Ouida, and his early film roles as elegant, swashbuckling villains. Then comes the role that defined him: Sherlock Holmes. Between 1939 and 1946, Rathbone played Holmes on both film and radio, a period that brought him fame but also typecasting so severe he eventually came to resent the character.
As television rose to prominence in the 1950s, Rathbone struggled to reclaim his career, drifting into guest appearances, commercials, and later low budget films to finance Ouida’s showbusiness parties. Clayton handles this rise and fall with clarity and compassion, weaving in Rathbone’s own words to give the narrative emotional weight. Some aspects of Rathbone’s life still remain elusive—while his strained relationship with Rodion, his son from his first marriage and later his grandchildren, makes sad reading and clearly displays wounds that still seem to echo nearly sixty years on from his death.
The book teases the idea that Rathbone was “cursed” by Holmes, much like Conan Doyle himself. I’m not entirely convinced. Timing, circumstance, and a few unfortunate decisions feel just as responsible for the downturn in his career—something many people experience, famous or not. Still, it was fascinating to get to know Rathbone beyond the deerstalker, and one can’t help but wish he’d had more opportunities to work in Britain, where perhaps his light might have shone a little brighter.
A strong and absorbing start to my 2026 reading challenge and a winner of a biography from David Clayton!
November 23, 2022
Quick and comprehensive biography of one of the finest and most versatile actors of stage and screen. First found success portraying some of the best villains in thrilling adventures then became famous for being the quintessential consulting detective in film. This book is not a detailed account of his life but provides a lot of information that made me sympathize and admire Rathbone’s life and career.
August 31, 2025
Great biography of Basil Rathbone. This is not a tell-all, thank goodness. The book is solidly rated G and I’m very, very grateful for that.
Unlike his autobiography, this book is a bit more frank about Mr. Rathbone’s shortcomings as a person without lambasting him or dragging his character through the mud.
It’s a very quick and interesting read for those of us who truly enjoy watching anything with Basil Rathbone in it.
Unlike his autobiography, this book is a bit more frank about Mr. Rathbone’s shortcomings as a person without lambasting him or dragging his character through the mud.
It’s a very quick and interesting read for those of us who truly enjoy watching anything with Basil Rathbone in it.
July 19, 2022
Best Sherlock Holmes Ever.
It is sad to learn that one of my favorite actors of all time, had so much strife in his life. He seemed to love Ouida very much, but she finally is shown to have been a drain on him, treating him like a workhorse, whose job it was to finance the damaging effect of her mental illness. She ultimately tore his family apart.
It is sad to learn that one of my favorite actors of all time, had so much strife in his life. He seemed to love Ouida very much, but she finally is shown to have been a drain on him, treating him like a workhorse, whose job it was to finance the damaging effect of her mental illness. She ultimately tore his family apart.
August 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and I never realised how much Basil Rathbone came to hate playing the great detective. A great and at times sad read. We'll written and researched. I now want to read his autobiography.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews