Two beguiling and intriguing shots from two of Basil Rathbone’s lost or very hard to find movies.
The first is from THE GREAT DECEPTION (1926), wherein BR essays one of his first ever villain roles, viz. “Rizzio”, the nasty German agent who nearly gets the hero and his gf killed. At some point he somehow becomes tied to a bed post in what is obviously some fan girl’s fetish dream scenario. Why he’s there, and why the pair have trussed him up in such a kinky way I am not at present aware. But this photo is a caption competition right there.
The second is from AFTER THE BALL (1933), the British film wherein he plays “the flirtatious King’s courier Jack Harrowby, who can fill in an odd hour with any woman, but would rather she were blonde, and preferably with a mole or two.” Does it still exist? I am thinking probably not. Anyhow, at some point, which again does not seem clear with reference to the plot, “flirtatious Jack” apparently finds himself in an artist’s studio attempting to paint a portrait of a naked lady.
I think we can all agree we need to find copies of these films if it’s humanly possible. Someone get on it.
Now.
The Baz 
Wow! that first one is very pretty! although, it couldn’t have been very comfortable for him. It probably pulled on his neck a lot. I bet he was sore after that take.
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Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Basils good pal Clifton Webb born Web Parmlee Hollenbeck b. nov 19 1889 in Indiana.you all thought he was English I bet.
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Wondering were to put this?.made another trip today came back with more info on Weedy..and Fitz. i found his naturelizan papers…and his draft card and about a score of to and fro-ings, there LA addy. I now know way more about George the i ever wanted too. what can I say except..and the hits just keep on comming…
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Here is the NYTimes review of After the Ball in case you want to know the plot. It sounds like typical pre-code froth. http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B01E4D61F3BEF3ABC4851DFB5668388629EDE
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dull with Basil had to be reviewed by a guy. love the lil box beside it that reads get tickets..if only i could!.. running off to fire up my tardis!
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1933 is definitely precode. Which is the work of art — the painting, the blonde, or Baz with the tousled hair and rolled up shirt sleeves?
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Oh I don’t think there is any contest. When Madame X said he was a messy dresser I immediately thought how sexy he would have looked, as in that photo of him playing shuffleboard with Olivia de Haviland and wearing that moth eaten sweater. Dee-lisious.
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I know……I’ve always thought that when Baz’s hair got all messy in his Holmes films and he’d attempt to “fix” it after a scuffle with the bad guy, he was at his SEXIEST. Also, whenever he’s out of breath when involved in some swordfight or physical attack in a movie, my insides feel that little “uh-huh” for him, if you know what I mean. The tousled hair and breathlessness of an extraordinary man like Basil are what I associate with arousal and the “sex-act” itself, subconsciously, I suppose…especially when performed with HIM in particular. 😉
I assumed many YEARS before reading about the details of his life, that Basil was a “casual” type of guy who enjoyed simple things, ’cause I’m somewhat intuitive about people, and I’m also attracted to those who are like myself. I can just picture him in his old, ratty, comfy clothes; lying-about the house in a chair or on a sofa reading a book, taking a nap, or contentedly listening to one of his favorite records with his eyes closed—immersed within the art of the music.
He just seems so easy-going and cozy to have around. If we were lovers, I’d cuddle-up with him ALL the time! 🙂
One of my fantasies, is: It’s Christmas Day in either the ’30s, ’40s or ’50s. We made beautiful, passionate love earlier that evening, and afterwards took a shower; each in turn caringly bathing our counterpart’s precious body. I got both of us sets of sweatpants and hoodies, and pairs of sheepskin slippers, as presents. We’re wearing these items—with NOTHING on, underneath—snuggled warmly on the couch together in the dark, drinking hot cocoa and listening to Bing Crosby and Gene Autry singing carols on the radio, while the fireplace flickers and our tree-lights glow in a rainbow of colors throughout the night. Then, we fall gently asleep while sitting there, wrapped in one-another’s arms—knowing that THIS is our real “gift”.
*utter happiness*
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I personally like daydreaming about me and him walking along by the river Thames at night and him turning to me and..well..kissing me. o_o
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Yeah……my fantasies can be kind of elaborate sometimes, since I’m an artist, and I’ve got QUITE an imagination! 🙂
Another “Basil-Fantasy” of mine, is:
It’s the 1960’s—I’m bored—and aimlessly wandering around a studio’s back-lot, after becoming separated from my “Hollywood tour-group”, while on vacation in Southern California. I come upon Basil sitting alone at a small table (while breaking) on-set during the filming of some GOOFBALL “comedy/horror-flick” he’s making for Roger Corman or something, and he’s trying (with difficulty) to memorize his lines. He notices me as I approach him (wearing my old sneakers, jeans, and a hoodie), and I shyly force myself to ask: “Whatcha doin’?”, to get him to talk. (Smooth, huh?) He politely explains what he’s up-to; then, we formally introduce ourselves to one-another, and begin casually conversing for a while (about our FAVORITE toys we owned as kids, the BEST Christmases we ever had, the DUMBEST things we did in our lives that totally embarrassed us in front of a bunch of people, etc.).
After inviting me to sit beside him, he wonders whether I’d like to share some tea and finger-sandwiches for lunch, and I say I would…then, I whip-out my case of nifty drawing supplies (which I just HAPPEN to have handy), and ask if he’d be interested in doing some art with me. Basil thinks that’s a GREAT idea, since his brain needs a rest from all that memorizing. We start to draw and color together, and we’re having a pretty-good time—when suddenly, Vincent Price (who’s his co-star in the movie) shows-up, and joins us—making it an AWESOME time! They give me their drawings, and I give them mine, after we sign and date them.
While meeting with me—and discovering that I’m actually an ADULT, and not the teenaged KID I physically appear to be—Basil is struck by how intelligent, attractive, and artistically-talented (he thinks) I am, and by all the things we have in common. I know he’s unhappily married, and DESPERATELY looking for a way out; so, when he flirtatiously asks if he can “see me again, sometime” (which means he either genuinely LIKES me, or he’s just lookin’ fer some action), I of course say: “HECK, YES!!”, and give him my address and phone-number……SCORE. 😉
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(Well…I probably wouldn’t SAY “heck, yes”, but I’d sure be THINKING it!!) 😉
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In reply to my reply to my ORIGINAL reply—
Realistically, the end of this fantasy might go something more like:
After Basil looks at me with those sad, sexy eyes, and sweetly asks if he can “see me again, sometime”, I answer: “I’d really like to see YOU again, too. I had fun hanging-out with you today…I’m sure glad I accidentally met you! You’re a good artist; did you know that?” His eyes would light-up, and he’d smile bashfully and attempt to deny it, telling me he thinks I’m a pretty decent one, myself.
Before disappearing around the corner and skipping-away with GLEE in my heart, I’d give him my address and phone-number, and ask for a way in which I could reach him. We’d then shake-hands, wave, and say “goodbye”. Yeah. THAT’S more like it! 🙂
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If Basil was still alive and if he was reading his fangirls comments, he’d probably put a restraining order on all of us. ಠ_ಠ
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I’d like to see him try 😉
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Same. ʘ‿ʘ
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The ONLY one he’d need to “put a restraining-order on”, is Alyssia—nope, wait—make that: “put a JACKET WITH RESTRAINTS on” (if you know what I mean). 😉
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He can restrain me to that bed anyole time..ohhhh bad Countess.
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If he was still alive he’d be 122..he probly die of shock that he could still pull birds.
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We meet in Boston or Cambridge. He is in his 50s (about the same age as I am). I tell him that I’ve read “Judas” and want to discuss it with him. He is very engaged in the discussion, since I’m not interested in Sherlock Holmes. We have tea or coffee together. He looks into my eyes and kisses my hand, saying that I am one of the few people who really understands him. Then, he says that my brown eyes remind him of Olivia deHavilland and that he’s always liked petite women. Then, he asks where I’m staying, and my husband is conveniently out of town…. How has this discussion suddenly become so untheological?
I’ve always told my husband and sons, who are at the computer or in front of the TV when I come home dragging my rollerbag full of student papers that my revenge will be that I’ll die first, go to heaven, and Basil or Cary Grant or Ronald Colman will be making me tea and plumping my cushions while my neanthradals on earth are wandering around trying to figure out where the cooking utensils are, and wondering why the cable’s been turned off because no one could figure out where the bill or the checkbook are.
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You would’ve saved him a fortune in tailoring bills,after all,what need is there to dress fancy for many casual occasions.Could understand if tailoring for Baz was where most of his earnings went.OR should’ve been an ambassador’s wife,not the Queen Bee of H’weird parties.
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Why do so many of the most intriguing films he made seem to be lost?
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I was thinking that exactly. Gorgeous pics. I second the messy hair thing.
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Love the second one. Was it precode? I mean the girl is unambiguously naked.
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Heyes code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_Production_Code 1930 not strickty enforced till 1934 as I read it. So in essence yes. And yes some of the silent films were pretty risque.Not compared to now,but for the time..yep.
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Love the slightly suggestive arc of his body against the bed post
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Caption for the top pic:
“We’ll let you go if you PROMISE we don’t have to come to any more of Ouida’s parties”
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My parties aren’t that bad, are they? o_o
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Heaven forfend Ouida. Your parties are fantastic. And definitely worth bankrupting your husband for. 🙂
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Yay! ^_^ Let’s PARTAAAYYY! *Starts randomly dancing in the middle of the room*
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This person is an impostor. Everyone knows the real Ouida is over at her blog faking photos of the “diary.”
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Actually that does sound like something she might do 😉
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OH Im shocked!Shocked I tell you! Weedy fake or lie..NEVER! NEVER! NEVER! [trying to sound sinsere she snkckers] Why the womant hasnt got a liying bone in her inocent lil body!
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*Gasps* I’ve been found out! *Takes off Ouida mask to reveal Nigel Bruce*
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Leave poor Willy out of this before someone claimes he’s “COOLY” strung out on herion or something!
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Dinosaur. *Walks out of room*
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ba dump!
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Does anyone remember the photo of young Basil where his (hem) endowments are fairly on display? It was awesome (not because of that I mean, well maybe a little bit because of that). I’m trying to find it. Where is it?
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Mark Of Zorro and THE white pants..thats your answer.
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Oh dear the fan girls are back in town Just when the place seemed more civilised 😀
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You took the words out of my mouth Ken
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I never stopped fangirling 😀
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Women are entitled to admire men,too.At least we’re not like the disgusting comments construction workers/overgrown high school boys come up with,sexual harassment,actually.Besides,it’s mainly women who respond on this blog,so if you don’t like it,logoff until another day.
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He was such a gorgeous man
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Oh ho ho, they didn’t tie him there! I tied him there and they were rescuing him!
I’m blonde, and I have a mole or two. *Punches air* HECK YES! XD
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Save some for the rest if us. You have to share 🙂
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Aaw Okay, here you go.:( *Passes him over*
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Yay the Sunday Pic is back.
Drool btw.
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I am so jealous of that girl in the second pic. Not because she’s posing nude but because she’s in the same room as Basil when he looks like that
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OMG the 2nd pic is makeing me drool! He looks so cute with his hair all messy.I know slicked hair was the style but he’s SO cute with his hair messy and his hair is so pretty.
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Tell me about it. And what about those forearms. *leans in and tries to lick the pic surreptitiously*
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Forearm porn!
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What (dare I ask) is forearm porn?
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Just look at the picture 😀
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Messy hair! Can’t get enough of it. I LOVE his look in Rio. Messy hair, stubble, torn shirt.
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Not to mention those eyes,why don’t they show that again,TCM or AMC played RIO on his b’day many moons ago,when AMC had no commercials.
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Oof. That tied-to-a-bedpost thing.
I want to be that woman. I would send boring guy with gun out the room. And then it would just be me and helpless, trussed up Baz.
What would you do first girls? 😀
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It would involve slow removal of his clothing. And the eventual application of massage oil.
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Indeed. *Strokes imaginary beard*
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What,no holey jumper?Or is that being used as dropcloth?Love the mussed hair,sleeves up.Bedpost photo,ok,esp if the man wasn’t there to maintain order,prevent Baz being toyed with.Oh,sorry,did I forget to mention OR tied in another room,hanging out window by a thread.Just couldn’t resist.
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UNTIE HIM! I dont want him tied up I want him free and unemcumbered..I can find better things to do with basil and bed then tie him up to it, in a tux.=^..^=
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*sighs thinking about all the things you could do with Basil and a bed*
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Untie him eventually, after you’ve done teasing him in his helpless state 🙂
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Sexy! That top one is almost porn 😆
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