Sherlock Holmes OTR - Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce


(4.4 stars; 27 reviews)

52 shows from the Mutual Broadcasting System radio program starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Dr. Watson. The show was sponsored in 1939-40 by Grove's Bromo Quinine and later enjoyed an extended run as The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes under the sponsorship of Petri Wines. These recordings are of varying quality with most in the good to very good sound range. The files have been tagged with the most accurate information available and each file name begins with the original broadcast air date.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.

License

Chapters

The Adventure of the Missing Submarine Plans 29:23
The Case of the Retired Colourman 29:39
The Copper Beeches 27:25
The Mystery of Mrs. Warren's Key 29:47
The Adventure of the Missing Bloodstains 23:38
The Adventure of the Superfluous Pearl 21:22
The Book of Tobit 30:02
The Amatuer Mendicant Society 29:57
The Viennese Strangler 26:28
The Notorious Canary Trainer 26:44
The Unfortunate Tobacconist 26:21
The Purloined Ruby 30:10
In Flanders Field 33:12
The Paradol Chamber 25:56
The Limping Ghost 28:20
Colonel Warburton's Madness 36:42
The Case of the Out of Date Murder 32:24
The Eyes of Mr. Layton 32:59
The Problem of Thor Bridge 32:17
The Vanishing Elephant 29:11
The Great Gandolfo 29:24
Murder by Moonlight 29:02
The Fifth of November 29:43
The Speckled Band 29:29
The Case of the Double Zero 32:13
The Case of the Accidental Murderess 29:08
Murder in the Casbah 28:44
A Scandal in Bohemia 30:14
The Second Generation 25:24
The Night Before Christmas 26:55
The Strange Case of the Iron Box 28:25
The Strange Case of the Murder in Wax 29:08
Murder Beyond the Mountains 29:32
The Tell Tale Pigeon Feathers 32:04
The Strange Case of the Demon Barber 29:19
The Guileless Gypsy 28:55
The Camberwell Poisoning 29:35
The Indiscretion of Mr. Edwards 32:10
The Terrifying Cats 28:52
The Submarine Caves 29:44
The Living Doll 28:59
The Adventure of the Blarney Stone 29:28
The Girl with the Gazelle 28:27
April Fools Day Adventure 28:58
The Disappearing Scientists 29:04
The Headless Monk 28:23
The Tankerville Club Scandal 29:15
The Waltz of Death 32:19
The Man with the Twisted Lip 29:03
The Haunting of Sherlock Holmes 29:26
The Singular Affair of the Baconian Cipher 29:15
The Adventure of the Uneasy Chair 28:55

Reviews

The new Sherlock and Watson Standard


(3 stars)

Whilst I enjoyed many of the above; they don’t compare with the latest, and I would assert, to date the very best adaptations. It is The Sherlock Holmes starring Clive Merrison ???? Williams all 74 episodes of the BBC audio dramas which can be found here on archive.org. The actor who plays Watson, and has equal billing alongside Merrison is ????? Williams his Christian name for the moment escapes me, (apologies to both reader of this and the actor himself). In their audio dramatisations they are not just perfectly cast, but if you have had the opportunity to view the BBC TV blockbuster series SHERLOCK, when I say Williams & Merrison outshine the recent tv pairing you will better able to grasp just how magnificent this pairing are. The Williams ‘Watson’ is no comedic foil for Holmes, but rather an irascible and at times assertive character which brings a grit which, all this whilst remaining a romantic at heart.... Check it out, one rather thinks you will enjoy!

Rathbone and Bruce continue their charming partnership


(4 stars)

These mysteries aren't all up to Conan Doyle's very high standards, but Rathbone remains the iconic Sherlock, and Bruce, though his interpretation of the Watson role is very much more baffled and bumbling than the original, is nevertheless a brilliant actor and thoroughly entertaining, effortlessly humanizing Holmes' exercises in logic. The writers--as modern writers have--were much to fascinated with Moriarty as a sort of recurring sadistic supervillain character--handy because his crimes don't have to make as much sense as others--and this became tiresome to the point where I would just skip the episode at the mention of his name. Not my thing. Fortunately there are plenty of non-Moriarty adventures and even if they aren't all cracking examples of logical twists, they're at least halfway decent thrillers and good fun.

Enjoyed Immensely


(4 stars)

We must accept these shows for what they are, a twist on the original Holmes and Watson, and far removed from Conan Doyle's original idea. Rathbone plays a more human Holmes and Bruce a bumbling and confused Dr Watson, both characters work well for these scripts and are not for the purist, that must be said. The nostalgia and innocence they evoke is relaxing and enjoyable , while the plots lack depth, they are nevertheless pleasant and somehow soothing. I wouldn't recommend John Stanley's portrayal of Holmes to anyone ; far too egotistical and acerbic, often cutting Watson to the core with sarcasm and mocking retort. as I said earlier, enjoy these shows for what they are, not what we would like them to be.

Introducing Holmes to the American people


(3 stars)

Some of the initial stories are good but as we progress, the quality deteriorates. In trying to shorten the duration , the writers have made a mess of the original stories. I can't even tell if all the stories are original. The stories, especially the end, are wound up hastily. The finer aspects of deduction capabilities of Sherlock Holmes are not portraited thereby giving an impression that it is some ordinary detective at work. Overall disappointing story quality. 3 stars are for Sherlock Holmes, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. However, thanks to Petri wines for entertaining us. And oh, Holmes has NEVER used the phrase "elementary, my dear Watson". He always said "you know my methods"

Up and down quality


(3 stars)

Some of these are quite good, but some are gimmicky and foolish. I agree with the previous reviewer - I'd skip the Moriarty episodes. The may as well have brought in the Wolfman or Charlie Chan. Moriarty - even in the originals - was an excuse to not have to be creative.

Thanks for the upload


(5 stars)

I'm sorry Alyosha48 decided this was the perfect opportunity to complain that THIS wasn't their favorite incarnation. It will come as a surprise to absolutely no one that they've uploaded nothing here. Funny how the folks who actually contribute to the Archive rarely complain about it...

best sherlock ever


(5 stars)

Rathbone was the best sherlock Holmes ever IMO... his voice and presence were great. Watson took a far more comic role in this version the the books..