Nigel Bruceand Basil Rathbone

William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953) was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). Bruce is also remembered for his roles in the Alfred Hitchcock films Rebecca and Suspicion. Biography Bruce was the second son of Sir William Waller Bruce, 10th Baronet (1856–1912) and his wife Angelica Lady Bruce (died 1917), daughter of General George Selby, Royal Artillery. Bruce was born in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, while his parents were on holiday there. His older brother was the author and adventurer Sir Michael Bruce. He was educated at the Grange, Stevenage and at Abingdon School, Oxfordshire. He served in France from 1914 as a lieutenant in the 10th Service Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry and the Honourable Artillery Company, but was severely wounded at Cambrai the following year, with eleven bullets in his left leg, and spent most of the remainder of the war in a wheelchair. He made his first appearance on stage on 12 May 1920 at the Comedy Theatre as a footman in Why Marry? In October of that year, he went to Canada as stage manager to Henry V. Esmond and Eva Moore, also playing "Montague Jordan" in Eliza Comes to Stay; upon returning to England, he toured acting the same part. He appeared constantly onstage thereafter, and eight years later started also working in silent films. In 1934, he moved to Hollywood, later setting up home at 701 North Alpine Drive, Beverly Hills. Nigel Bruce typically played buffoonish, fuzzy-minded gentlemen. During his film career, he worked in 78 films, including Treasure Island (1934), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), Rebecca (1940), and Suspicion (1941). Bruce participated in two landmark films: Becky Sharp (1935), the first feature film in full Technicolor, and Bwana Devil (1952), the first 3-D feature. He uncharacteristically played a detestable figure in The Rains Came (1939) which became the first film to win an Oscar for special effects. Watson role Bruce's signature role was that of Dr. Watson in the 1939-1946 Sherlock Holmes film series with close friend Basil Rathbone as Holmes. Bruce starred as Watson in all 14 films of the series and over 200 radio programs of The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.[4] Although Watson often appears to be the older of the two main characters, Bruce was actually three years younger than his co-star Rathbone. Though for most viewers Nigel Bruce formed their vision of Dr. Watson, Holmes purists have long objected that the Watson of the books was intelligent and capable (although not an outstanding detective), and that Bruce's portrayal made Watson far dimmer and more bumbling than his literary original. (A nickname resulting from this portrayal was "Boobus Britannicus." Loren D. Estleman wrote of Bruce: "If a mop bucket appeared in a scene, his foot would be inside it, and if by some sardonic twist of fate and the whim of director Roy William Neill he managed to stumble upon an important clue, he could be depended upon to blow his nose on it and throw it away." Conan Doyle said Watson was Holmes' foil; but surely he need not have made him such a clot. Rathbone, however, spoke highly of Bruce's portrayal, saying that Watson was one of the screen's most lovable characters. The historian David Parkinson wrote that Bruce's "avuncular presence provided the perfect counterbalance to Rathbone's briskly omniscient sleuth".[6] Historian Alan Barnes notes that, despite the criticisms against him, Bruce rehabilitated Watson, who had been a marginal figure in the cinematic Holmes canon to that point: "after Bruce, it would be a near-unthinkable heresy to show Holmes without him". The Rathbone-Bruce film series lapsed with the death of producer-director Roy William Neill in 1946. Since then, most major modern adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, especially since the 1970s, have consciously defied the popular stereotype, and depicted Watson faithfully as a capable man of action. Family Nigel Bruce was married from 1921 until his death to British actress Violet Campbell (née Violet Pauline Shelton; 1892–1970) whom he always lovingly called "Bunny" and they had two daughters: Jennifer, married in 1944 (divorced in 1946) Jay Gould III, son of Jay Gould II; Pauline, married in 1946 the British flying ace Alan Geoffrey Page. Later life Bruce, known as "Willie" to his friends, was a leading member of the British film colony in Los Angeles, and was captain of the (mostly British) Hollywood Cricket Club. Unlike some of his contemporaries, and along with other British actors such as Basil Rathbone and Charlie Chaplin, Bruce maintained his British citizenship, despite long residence in the United States. He also retained his membership of London's Garrick Club and Buck's Club until his death. His final film, World for Ransom, was released posthumously in 1954. Death Bruce died from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California in 1953, aged 58. He was cremated, and his ashes stored in the vault at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles. He wrote an autobiography called Games, Gossip and Greasepaint which has never been published; however, excerpts have been printed in the Sherlock Holmes Journal, and these have been posted online, with permission. Filmography Year Title Role 1929 Red Aces Kinsfeather, T.B. 1930 The Squeaker Collie Escape Constable Birds of Prey Manager 1931 The Calendar Lord Willie Panniford 1932 The Midshipmaid Major Spink Lord Camber's Ladies Lord Camber 1933 I Was a Spy Scottie Channel Crossing Nigel Guthrie 1934 Coming Out Party Troon, the Butler Stand Up and Cheer! Eustis Dinwiddle Murder in Trinidad Bertram Lynch Treasure Island Squire Trelawney The Lady Is Willing Welton Springtime for Henry Johnny Jewlliwell The Scarlet Pimpernel The Prince of Wales 1935 Becky Sharp Joseph Sedley She Horace Holly Jalna Maurice Vaughn The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo Ivan 1936 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Thurber Under Two Flags Capt. Menzies The White Angel Dr. West Follow Your Heart Henri Forrester The Charge of the Light Brigade Sir Benjamin Warrenton 1936 The Man I Marry Robert Hartley 1937 Thunder in the City Duke Of Glenavon The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Lord Willie Winton 1938 The Baroness and the Butler Major Andros Kidnapped Neil MacDonald Suez Sir Malcolm Cameron 1939 The Hound of the Baskervilles Dr. Watson The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Dr. John H. Watson The Rains Came Lord Albert Esketh 1940 The Blue Bird Mr. Luxury Adventure in Diamonds Col. J.W. Lansfield Rebecca Major Giles Lacy Lillian Russell William S. Gilbert Susan and God Hutchins Stubbs A Dispatch from Reuter's Sir Randolph Persham 1941 Hudson's Bay Prince Rupert Play Girl William McDonald Vincent Free and Easy Florian Clemington This Woman Is Mine Duncan MacDougall The Chocolate Soldier Bernard Fischer, Critic Suspicion Beaky 1942 Roxie Hart E. Clay Benham This Above All Ramsbottom Eagle Squadron McKinnon Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror Dr. John H. Watson Journey for Margaret Herbert V. Allison 1943 Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Dr. John H. Watson Forever and a Day Maj. Garrow Sherlock Holmes in Washington Dr. John H. Watson Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Dr. John H. Watson Lassie Come Home Duke of Rudling Crazy House Dr. John H. Watson (Cameo appearance) 1944 The Spider Woman Dr. John H. Watson The Scarlet Claw Dr. John H. Watson The Pearl of Death Dr. John H. Watson Gypsy Wildcat High Sheriff Frenchman's Creek Lord Godolphin 1945 Sherlock Holmes and the House of Fear Dr. John H. Watson The Corn Is Green The Squire Son of Lassie Duke of Radling The Woman in Green Dr. John H. Watson Pursuit to Algiers Dr. John H. Watson 1946 Terror by Night Dr. John H. Watson Dressed to Kill Dr. John H. Watson 1947 The Two Mrs. Carrolls Dr. Tuttle The Exile Sir Edward Hyde 1948 Julia Misbehaves Col. Bruce "Bunny" Willowbrook 1950 Vendetta Sir Thomas Nevil 1952 Hong Kong Mr. Lighton Limelight Postant, an Impresario Bwana Devil Dr. Angus McLean 1954 World for Ransom Governor Sir Charles Coutts (final film)

Basil Rathbone (1892–1967) Painting by fan, artist Arthur K. Miller. Basil Rathbone was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1892, but three years later his family was forced to flee the country because his father was accused by the Boers of being a British spy at a time when Dutch-British conflicts were leading to the Boer War. The Rathbones escaped to England, with Basil and his two younger siblings. Born: June 13, 1892 in Johannesburg, South Africa Died: July 21, 1967 (age 75) in New York City, New York, USA 1968 Autopsia de un fantasma Canuto Pérez 1967 Hillbillys in a Haunted House Gregor 1967 Soldier in Love (TV Movie) The Duke of York 1966 Summer Fun (TV Series) Governor - Pirates of Flounder Bay (1966) ... Governor 1966 The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini Reginald Ripper 1966 Queen of Blood Dr. Farraday 1965 Dr. Rock and Mr. Roll 1965 Dr. Kildare (TV Series) Frederick Foray - Duet for One Hand (1965) ... Frederick Foray - Perfect Is Too Hard to Be (1965) ... Frederick Foray 1965 Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet Prof. Hartman - Lunar 7 1965 Burke's Law (TV Series) Milo James - Who Killed Hamlet? (1965) ... Milo James 1964 Suspense (TV Series) - The Leader (1964) 1963 The Comedy of Terrors Mr. John F. Black 1962 Two Before Zero Narrator 1962 Tales of Terror Carmichael (segment "The Case of M. Valdemar") 1962 Pontius Pilate Caiaphas 1962 The Magic Sword Lodac 1961 Mystic Prophecies and Nostradamus Narrator 1961 The Black Cat (Short) Voices (voice) 1961 Victoria Regina (TV Movie) Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Lord Beaconsfield) 1960 The Christophers (TV Series) - Tips for the Homemaker (1960) 1956-1960 The Red Skelton Hour (TV Series) Hugh Rubicoff / Sir Robert - Super-Cauliflower (1960) ... Hugh Rubicoff - The Sculpture Show (1956) ... Sir Robert 1959 Fredric March Presents Tales from Dickens (TV Series) Ebenezer Scrooge - A Christmas Carol (1959) ... Ebenezer Scrooge 1958 The Last Hurrah Norman Cass, Sr. 1958 The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) Emperor - Cole Porter's 'Aladdin' (1958) ... Emperor 1958 Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (TV Movie) Dr. Boekman 1956-1957 Kraft Theatre (TV Series) General Zomback - Heroes Walk on Sand (1957) ... General Zomback - Five Minutes to Live (1956) 1957 The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) Duke - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1957) ... Duke 1957 The Lark (TV Movie) Chief Inquisitor 1956 The Alcoa Hour (TV Series) Ebenezer Scrooge - The Stingiest Man in Town (1956) ... Ebenezer Scrooge 1954-1956 Shower of Stars (TV Series) Marley's Ghost - A Christmas Carol III (1956) ... Marley's Ghost - A Christmas Carol (1954) ... Marley's Ghost 1956 The Black Sleep Sir Joel Cadman 1956 Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) Paul Charters - Affair in Sumatra (1956) ... Paul Charters 1955 The Court Jester Sir Ravenhurst 1955 Star Tonight (TV Series) Narrator - The Selfish Giant (1955) ... Narrator 1955 Science Fiction Theatre (TV Series) Dr. Victor Berenson - The Stones Began to Move (1955) ... Dr. Victor Berenson 1955 Svengali and the Blonde (TV Movie) Svengali 1955 We're No Angels Andre Trochard 1955 The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater (TV Series) Robert - Always the Butler (1955) ... Robert 1955 Encounter (TV Series) Captain Edward Fairfax Vere - Billy Budd (1955) ... Captain Edward Fairfax Vere 1954 Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) The Jewel Thief - Volturio Investigates (1954) ... The Jewel Thief 1954 Studio One in Hollywood (TV Series) Hazelton Crome - The House of Gair (1954) ... Hazelton Crome 1954 Love Story (TV Series) - The Yo-Yo People (1954) 1954 Casanova's Big Night Lucio / Narrator 1954 The Philip Morris Playhouse (TV Series) - The Man They'd Murdered (1954) 1953 The Motorola Television Hour (TV Series) Duke - The Thirteen Clocks (1953) ... Duke 1953 Danger (TV Series) - The Educated Heart (1953) 1951-1953 Suspense (TV Series) Sherlock Holmes / Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde - The Adventure of the Black Baronet (1953) ... Sherlock Holmes - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1951) ... Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde 1953 Broadway Television Theatre (TV Series) Benvenuto Cellini / Chief Inspector Tanner - The Firebrand (1953) ... Benvenuto Cellini - Criminal at Large (1953) ... Chief Inspector Tanner 1951-1953 Lux Video Theatre (TV Series) Ambrose Wallington / Sir Paul Maxim / Frampton - Miss Marlowe at Play (1953) ... Ambrose Wallington - Masquerade (1952) ... Sir Paul Maxim - Purple and Fine Linen (1951) ... Frampton 1951 Betty Crocker Star Matinee (TV Series) - An Inspector Calls (1951) 1951 Lights Out (TV Series) Gregory - Dead Man's Coat (1951) ... Gregory 1951 The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) Count Durand - Would-Be Gentleman (1951) ... Count Durand 1950 Nash Airflyte Theatre (TV Series) - The Kind Mr. Smith (1950) 1949-1950 The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (TV Series) - Queen of Spades (1950) - At Night All Cats Are Grey (1949) 1949 The Ford Theatre Hour (TV Series) Mr. Brink - On Borrowed Time (1949) ... Mr. Brink 1949 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Narrating the Story of Mr. Toad / Policeman (voice) 1949 The Wind in the Willows (Short) Narrator (voice) 1946 Dressed to Kill Sherlock Holmes 1946 Heartbeat Professor Aristide 1946 Terror by Night Sherlock Holmes 1945 Pursuit to Algiers Sherlock Holmes 1945 The Woman in Green Holmes 1945 The House of Fear Sherlock Holmes 1944 Frenchman's Creek Lord Rockingham 1944 The Pearl of Death Sherlock Holmes 1944 Bathing Beauty George Adams 1944 The Scarlet Claw Sherlock Holmes 1943 The Spider Woman Sherlock Holmes 1943 Crazy House Sherlock Holmes 1943 Sherlock Holmes Faces Death Sherlock Holmes 1943 Above Suspicion Sig von Aschenhausen 1943 Sherlock Holmes in Washington Sherlock Holmes 1942 Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon Sherlock Holmes 1942 Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror Sherlock Holmes 1942 Crossroads Henri Sarrou 1942 Fingers at the Window Dr. H. Santelle 1941 Paris Calling Andre Benoit 1941 International Lady Reggie Oliver 1941 The Black Cat Montague Hartley 1941 The Mad Doctor Dr. George Sebastian / Dr. Frederick Langamann 1940 The Mark of Zorro Capt. Esteban Pasquale 1940 Rhythm on the River Oliver Courtney 1939 Tower of London Richard - Duke of Gloucester 1939 Rio Paul Reynard 1939 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes 1939 The Sun Never Sets Clive Randolph 1939 The Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes 1939 Son of Frankenstein Baron Wolf von Frankenstein 1938 The Dawn Patrol Major Brand 1938 If I Were King King Louis XI 1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood Sir Guy of Gisbourne 1938 The Adventures of Marco Polo Ahmed 1937 Tovarich Commissar Dimitri Gorotchenko 1937 Make a Wish Johnny Selden 1937 Confession Michael Michailow 1937 A Night of Terror Gerald Lovell 1936 The Garden of Allah Count Ferdinand Anteoni 1936 Romeo and Juliet Tybalt - Nephew to Lady Capulet 1936 Private Number Wroxton 1935 Captain Blood Levasseur 1935 A Tale of Two Cities Marquis St. Evrémonde 1935 Kind Lady Henry Abbott 1935 A Feather in Her Hat Captain Randolph Courtney 1935 The Last Days of Pompeii Pontius Pilate 1935 Anna Karenina Alexei Alexandrovitch Karenin 1935 David Copperfield Mr. Murdstone 1933 Loyalties Ferdinand de Levis 1933 One Precious Year Derek Nagel 1932 After the Ball Jack Harrowby 1932 A Woman Commands Capt. Alex Pastitsch 1930 Sin Takes a Holiday Reggie Durant 1930 A Lady Surrenders Carl Vandry 1930 The Lady of Scandal Edward 1930 The Flirting Widow Colonel Smith 1930 A Notorious Affair Paul Gherardi 1930 This Mad World Philip St. John Basil Rathbone was his birth name and probably how Basil P. Rathbone may have ended up on his death certificate or passport.