5 Contemporary Holmes
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James Chapman
Abstract
Chapter 5 examines the series of twelve Holmes adventures – again starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce – produced by Universal Pictures between 1932 and 1946. These were contemporary pastiches which combined elements of the original stories with new plot elements. The films demonstrate the ideological and industrial contexts of series film production in the 1940s. Following three films in which Holmes served the ideological needs of wartime propaganda by joining the Allied effort against Nazi Germany, the rest of the series steered towards macabre Gothic-influenced thrillers which aligned with both the Universal horror cycle and the emergence of film noir.
Abstract
Chapter 5 examines the series of twelve Holmes adventures – again starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce – produced by Universal Pictures between 1932 and 1946. These were contemporary pastiches which combined elements of the original stories with new plot elements. The films demonstrate the ideological and industrial contexts of series film production in the 1940s. Following three films in which Holmes served the ideological needs of wartime propaganda by joining the Allied effort against Nazi Germany, the rest of the series steered towards macabre Gothic-influenced thrillers which aligned with both the Universal horror cycle and the emergence of film noir.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of Illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements xiii
- Abbreviations xv
- Note on source texts and titles xvi
- Introduction 1
- 1 From stage to screen 13
- 2 Silent Holmes 40
- 3 Talkie Holmes 63
- 4 Gaslight Holmes 97
- 5 Contemporary Holmes 121
- 6 Gothic Holmes 148
- 7 Television Holmes 169
- 8 Revisionist Holmes 197
- 9 Parody Holmes 226
- 10 Heritage Holmes 248
- 11 Action Holmes 278
- 12 Postmodern Holmes 294
- Conclusion 324
- Select bibliography 329
- Index 339
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- List of Illustrations viii
- Acknowledgements xiii
- Abbreviations xv
- Note on source texts and titles xvi
- Introduction 1
- 1 From stage to screen 13
- 2 Silent Holmes 40
- 3 Talkie Holmes 63
- 4 Gaslight Holmes 97
- 5 Contemporary Holmes 121
- 6 Gothic Holmes 148
- 7 Television Holmes 169
- 8 Revisionist Holmes 197
- 9 Parody Holmes 226
- 10 Heritage Holmes 248
- 11 Action Holmes 278
- 12 Postmodern Holmes 294
- Conclusion 324
- Select bibliography 329
- Index 339
