Sign-In
Cart
Sherlock Holmes & the FabulousFaces - The Universal Pictures Repertory Company (hardback)
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781629330587
Publisher: Bearmanor Media
Published: Aug 31 2011
Pages: 302
Weight: 1.26
Height: 0.69 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Film historian Leonard Maltin has defined the character actors who appeared in films of the 30s and 40s as Hollywood's Real Stars. Roy William Neill, who directed nearly all of the Sherlock Holmes mystery-adventures of the 1940s that starred Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, had, as was the case with directors John Ford and Preston Sturges, a repertory company of character actors and actresses whom he liked to use.
This book is a tribute to those 68 men and women whose names appeared in small print below the stars, and who graced hundreds of films with their diversified performances. More often than not these films, be they star-studded spectacles or poverty row quickies, would be that much the better for their presence.
Michael A Hoey, whose father Dennis was the unforgettable Lestrade to Rathbone's Holmes, takes a different and equally interesting approach in Sherlock Holmes & the Fabulous Faces: The Universal Pictures Repertory Company. His personal acquaintance with many of the artistes who contributed to these and other Universal productions gives his biographical sketches an unusually engaging immediacy. It's fascinating to follow the careers of actors such as Reginald Denny, Mary Gordon, Olaf Hytten and Frederick Worlock. The critical summaries of the films themselves are perceptive, pertinent and equally engrossing. Michael Hoey has given us a book that's both important and entertaining.
- Newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London
How fitting that the son of Dennis Hoey, who portrayed Inspector Lestrade in the twelve Universal Sherlock Holmes films of the 1940s, should write a book paying tribute to the character actors and supporting players who comprised the series (and studio's) informal repertory company. This is a most welcome volume.
- Leonard Maltin
Michael Hoey is the son of Dennis Hoey, who played Inspector Lestrade in six of the films. His book Sherlock Holmes & the Fabulous Faces: The Universal Pictures Repertory Company is an encyclopedic, but eminently readable account of the making of these films and the scores of actors, writers, directors and producers involved. Sherlock Holmes had an extraordinary genius for minutiae; he understood their importance. Hoey has followed the Master in this. He has delved very deeply to weave a biographical entry for each of the men and women who helped make these minor masterpieces. Included are production notes, costs, shooting times, and other fascinating information. As he has spent his life in the business, Hoey has personal insights into many of the actors and their careers; then, too, he recounts his visit to the studios during the course of filming The Pearl of Death, and the impression it made on him.
If, like me, Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce were your first Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, or if you're an old-time film buff, you will enjoy Michael Hoey's affectionate examination of the Universal Sherlock Holmes series.
- The Baker Street Breakfast Club Reviewed By Jeff Bradway
Also in
Film Guides & Reference
Screenwriter's Bible, 7th Edition: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
Trottier, David
Paperback
But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition: 40 Love Stories That Inspired Our Favorite Films
Lopez, Kristen
Hardcover
There and Back Again: The Unofficial Oral History of the Lord of the Rings Films
Moore, Sam
Hardcover
The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki: The Influences and Inspiration Behind the Iconic Films
Rapold, Nicolas
Hardcover
The Making of Wicked: The Amazafying Behind-The-Scenes Magic of Wicked & Wicked: For Good
Bennett, Tara
Hardcover
Reality TV for Snobs: Everything You Need to Know about the Shows You're Too Intellectual to Watch
Barthwell, Ali
Paperback
Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Richau, Amy
Brooks, Dan
Crouse, Megan
Hardcover
The Lord of the Rings Movie Trilogy Coloring Book: Coloring Book
Tolkien, J. R. R.
Warner Brothers Studio
Paperback
Family Movie Night Menus: Recipes & Films for Unforgettable Times Together
Maltin, Jessie
Maltin, Leonard
Hardcover
Film Directing: Shot by Shot - 25th Anniversary Edition: Visualizing from Concept to Screen
Katz, Steve D.
Paperback
Directing Actors - 25th Anniversary Edition: Creating Memorable Performances for Film and Television
Weston, Judith
Paperback
Frankenstein: The Complete Screenplay: Written and Directed by Guillermo del Toro
del Toro, Guillermo
Hardcover
Pre-Code Essentials: Must-See Cinema from Hollywood's Untamed Era, 1930-1934
Luperi, Kim
Reid, Danny
Paperback
Godzilla: The Official Guide to the King of the Monsters: Fully Revised & Updated
Ltd, Toho Co
Skipper, Graham
Hardcover
Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know about the Films You're Too Scared to Watch
Hughes, Emily C.
Paperback
Cinematic Immunity: An Oral History of New York Filmmaking as Told by the Crews That Got the Shot
Nirenberg, Michael Lee
Paperback
Ghibliotheque: The Unofficial Guide to the Movies of Studio Ghibli
Leader, Michael
Cunningham, Jake
Hardcover
All the Right Movies: The Stories and Secrets Behind the Making of 25 Iconic Films
Barker, John
Hardcover
Film Directing: Shot by Shot - 25th Anniversary Edition: Visualizing from Concept to Screen (Library Edition)
Katz, Steve D.
Paperback
Wes Anderson All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short
Narbonne, Christophe
Hardcover
Interstellar: The Complete Screenplay with Selected Storyboards
Nolan, Christopher
Nolan, Jonathan
Paperback
The Films of A24: The Iconic Films of Hollywood's Most Daring, Disruptive Studio
Barsanti, Chris
Hardcover
Rewinding the '80s: Cinema Under the Influence of Music Videos, Action Stars, and a Cold War
Malahy, John
Paperback
Star Wars the Blueprints: Designs and Artwork from the Skywalker Saga
Hidalgo, Pablo
Rinzler, J. W.
Hardcover
The Filmmaker's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for the Digital Age: Fifth Edition
Ascher, Steven
Paperback
Marvel Studios the Marvel Cinematic Universe an Official Timeline
Ratcliffe, Amy
Theodore-Vachon, Rebecca
Breznican, Anthony
Hardcover
Ghiblipedia: A Bite-Sized Guide to the Creatures, Characters and Creators of Studio Ghibli
Leader, Michael
Cunningham, Jake
Hardcover
Flying on Film: A Century of Aviation in the Movies, 1912 - 2012 (Second Edition)
Carlson, Mark
Paperback
A Chronology of Film: A Cultural Timeline from the Magic Lantern to the Digital Screen
Smith, Ian Haydn
Paperback
Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker the Visual Dictionary: With Exclusive Cross-Sections
Hidalgo, Pablo
Hardcover
Producer to Producer -3rd Edition: A Step- By- Step Guide to Low Budget Independent Film Producing
Ryan, Maureen A.
Paperback
Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A.
Alleman, Richard
Paperback
From Tailors with Love (hardback): An Evolution of Menswear Through the Bond Films
Brooker, Peter
Spaiser, Matt
Hardcover
The Fans' Love Story Encore: How the Movie Dirty Dancing Captured the Hearts of Millions!
Tabashnik, Sue
Paperback
The Sound of Music Family Scrapbook: The Inside Story of the Beloved Movie Musical
Bronson, Fred
Cartwright, Angela
Hardcover
The Age of Disclosure: Inside The True Story Of UFO Secrecy, Cover-Ups, And The Quest for Answers
Brady, Andrew
Paperback
Star Wars La Enciclopedia (Star Wars Encyclopedia)
Richau, Amy
Wainerdi, Brandon
Ratcliffe, Amy
Hardcover
Producer to Producer 2nd Edition: A Step-By-Step Guide to Low-Budget Independent Film Producing
Ryan, Maureen
Paperback
The 'Reel' Hollywood: The San Fernando Valley - A Century of Filmmaking and Filmmakers
Cooper, Martin M.
Paperback
Alfred Hitchcock All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short
Joudet, Murielle
Benoliel, Bernard
Esposito, Gilles
Hardcover
The Ghibliotheque Anime Movie Guide: The Essential Guide to Japanese Animated Cinema
Cunningham, Jake
Leader, Michael
Hardcover
The Companion Guide to the Godfather Trilogy: Betrayal, Loyalty, and Family
Spence, Karen M.
Hardcover
Complete Guide to Film Scoring - 3rd Edition: The Art and Business of Writing Music for Movies and TV
Davis, Richard
Alison Plante
Paperback
But Have You Read the Book?: 52 Literary Gems That Inspired Our Favorite Films
Lopez, Kristen
Hardcover
Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide: The Modern Era, Previously Published as Leonard Maltin's 2015 Movie Guide
Maltin, Leonard
Paperback
Steven Spielberg All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short
Schaller, Nicolas
Bousquet, Olivier
Devillard, Arnaud
Hardcover
98.6 Mortality Movies to See Before You Die: Remarkable Films and TV Shows to Discuss Death and Plan Ahead
Rubin, Gail
Paperback
Filmlandia!: A Movie Lover's Guide to the Films and Television of Seattle, Portland, and the Great Northwest
Schmader, David
Paperback
A Hundred Years of Japanese Film: A Concise History, with a Selective Guide to DVDs and Videos
Richie, Donald
Paperback
The de Palma Decade: Redefining Cinema with Doubles, Voyeurs, and Psychic Teens
Bouzereau, Laurent
Hardcover
Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielberg's Classic Film
Morton, Ray
Paperback
The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors on Their Epiphanies in the Dark
Elder, Robert K.
Paperback
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - The Making of the Classic Film
Tenuto, John
Tenuto, Maria Jose
Hardcover
Twenty-One Pilots: MORE THAN WE EVER IMAGINED: An In-Depth Cinematic Exploration of the Music, Performances, and Cultural Impact
Abner, Robert H.
Paperback