Nigel Bruce

Let's take a quick look at Nigel Bruce (1895 - 1953) today.  No need for introductions to classic film fans, Bruce IS Dr. Watson in the popular Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone (1892 - 1967).

Bruce was actually born in Mexico, while his father was working there.  Royal blood flows (flowed) in his veins, and he was probably not acting very much in many of his roles, just being himself. 

Bruce started acting in films in a Mae Marsh (1894 - 1968) silent called Flames of Passion (1922).  It was a very small role, but he kept at it.  A few more silents, and a good bit of stage work, and he starts moving up the cast list in the 1930s. 

Look for him in the 1934 classic, Treasure Island, starring Wallace Beery and Jackie Cooper.  He then plays royalty (The Prince of Wales, no less) in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) starring Leslie Howard.

Bruce works with Fred MacMurray and Henry Fonda in The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), and the same year with Errol Flynn in The Charge of the Light Brigade. 

In 1939, his two most famous films were released by Twentieth Century Fox, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.  He set the standard for Dr. Watson, just as Rathbone did for Holmes.  Sadly, the other twelve Holmes/Watson films, made for Universal in the 1940s, didn't maintain the quality.  They are still worth watching, though, and if you haven't seen them all, the mysteries are a lot of fun to see for the very first time.

Bruce and Rathbone also made Crazy House (1943) and Frenchman's Creek (1944) together.  I haven't seen either.

Bruce was in four films that included some Alfred Hitchcock work, but only in two that Hitch directed.  Rebecca (1940) and Suspicion (1941).  The other two were Lord Chamber's Ladies (1932) produced but not directed by Hitch, and Forever and a Day (1943) which had Hitch on the writing staff.

In 1943 and 1945 Nigel played a part in Lassie Come Home and Son of Lassie, respectively.  And in 1952 he appears as the Impresario in Charlie Chaplin's final big film, Limelight. 

That is quite a career for a chap who basically played the same type-cast Brit.  He started in silent films and ended making a film with the biggest silent star who ever lived. 

Nigel Bruce has 79 titles listed on IMDb, with only one appearance on television.  I can't name all of his work here, but let me know which were your favorites.  In my book, he will always be Dr. Watson.  I bet I'm not alone.

Dennis Hoey (1893 - 1960)

I was watching The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) on TCM Essentials Jr. the other night.  A movie I have seen many times and always enjoy.  I won't give away the ending if you are new to the classic Rathbone/Bruce series.

In that movie, the second of the Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce offerings, E. E. Clive played Inspector Bristol of Scotland Yard.  Dennis Hoey was not in that one!

Dennis came along in 1943 as Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon.  He appeared as Lestrade in six of the Sherlock Holmes films, until 1946 in Terror by Night. 

It is interesting to note that the character of Inspector Lestrade has appeared 57 times.  The latest is in the release of Sherlock Holmes this year with Ben Syder in the title role.

Hoey has appeared in 73 roles from 1927 to 1952, with only a few late appearances on TV.  In 1941 he was in A Yank in the R.A.F. with Betty Grable and Tyrone Power, and he had a better part in Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman in 1943 with Lon Chaney Jr and Bela Lugosi.  That movie also starred Lionel Atwill who played Professor Moriarty in some of the Holmes films, and of course, Dwight Frye from the original Dracula. 

I don't know how, with his heavy British accent, but he played a Nazi in They Came to Blow Up America in 1943 with George Sanders and Ludwig Stossel.  Many small parts follow...1944 National Velvet, 1948 Joan of Arc, etc.

He ended his movie career in an uncredited part in Plymouth Adventure (1952) with Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney and Van Johnson.  A Bit Actor to the end, he will always be remembered as Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard.  Maybe because it was a good rhyme.