Snowflake Challenge Day #3

[kingstoken]

Write a love letter to fandom. It might be to fandom in general, to a particular fandom, favourite character, anything at all.

I'm having the worst luck with the Snowflake challenge this year, my brain just won't cooperate. I bounced off of the first two challenges, I just couldn't seem to bring myself to do them. So this is my attempt at doing challenge number three.

Okay, I'm going to talk a little about the Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone. I watched them back in the autumn and I can't get them out of my head! Firstly I have to say that these are not for everyone, they are not book actuate, most of the films take place in the 1940s, so they were modern adaptations at the time. The characterization of Watson is off, poor Watson comes off as a bit of a bumbler, mostly for comedic effect, although how much he is a bumbler varies depending on the film. Also there are three different actors who play Moriarty!

Taking all that in consideration I still love these films! I wasn't convinced in the beginning, but as the series went on I became hooked. The Holmes & Watson relationship is not like canon, and yet I still came to love their dynamic. I ship Holmes/Watson, like I do for almost every adaptation.



In a way this terrible for me because the fandom for this 1940s film series is so small! There are only 182 works on AO3, and only a tiny handful of writers who write for the fandom, and usually only for challenges like Holmestice. I'm pretty sure I've read almost every Rathbone!Holmes fic on AO3 in the last couple of months.

I'm probably not doing a good job of selling it, but if you like old Hollywood movies, or are a Holmes aficionado who likes to know all the different adaptations maybe give it a chance. One note, these were made mostly during WWII, so be prepared for a sprinkling of war-time propaganda.

Anyways, here is a cute fanvid to maybe sell you on it:

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[smallhobbit]

I've always been struck by the fact both Rathbone and Bruce served in WWI and that Rathbone was awarded the Military Cross for his reconnaissance work, while Bruce was invalided out with severe leg wounds which would effect him for the rest of his life.

[kingstoken]

Oh, I didn't know that background, thank you so much for telling me. Also, Bruce having leg wounds really fits in with Watson and his leg wound.

[senmut]

Basil was so good in the role!

[kingstoken]

He was!

[lightbird]

I love Basil Rathbone, and he was fantastic as Holmes. These movies are so much fun.

[kingstoken]

He was! And yes the movies are so much fun! Also so compact, each one is a little over an hour long, I kind of wish they would bring shorter movies back in style.

[desecrets]

I've only watched the first two of these, but I enjoyed them (and enjoyed seeing how many other adaptations make reference to them)! Atm I'm in love with the 1954 TV adaptation with Ronald Howard and Howard Marion Crawford, myself. :D

[kingstoken]

I have to watch the Howard version at some point. There is just so much Holmes stuff to explore, and I'm trying not to over saturate myself.

[ravensilversea]

Oh I am a sucker for a good fanvid. Thanks for sharing it!

[kingstoken]

You're welcome!

[mekare]

They are definitely still on my list of Holmes adaptations to check out!

[kingstoken]

I hope you enjoy them!

[potentiality_26]

I didn't quite get to these films on my last Holmes spree, but I will put them on my list for the future!

[kingstoken]

I hope you enjoy them!