Basil Rathbone falls in the elite special category of very greatest major Hollywood Golden Age supporting actors/actresses who sometimes starred, but who mainly remained in the supporting category - yet who feel entirely like they were top stars in their own right, even from solely their supporting roles work. (Mary Astor and Joan Blondell are two others I mentally group into the same rarified elite category.) He was so major and great in support, and with such substantial and prominent, and plentiful, roles, including in some very prestigious and/or hugely classic films, that he doesn't at all feel like he was other than a huge star himself.

Besides his elegant superb talent, his silky smooth voice, and of course his distinctive profile, his panache for suave villainy is the other thing I most associate with Mr. Rathbone. He was always terrific.

Regarding his profile, I like how an actress named Mrs. Patrick Campbell described his face as "two profiles pasted together." That's so very true, and I understand exactly what she meant in his case! I've always really liked his looks.