Nigel Bruce which became the first film to win an Oscar for special effects. Bruce's career signature role was that of Dr. Watson in the 1939-1946 Sherlock Holmes film series, alongside his friend Basil Rathbone playing Holmes. Bruce starred as Watson in all 14 films of the series, and over 200 radio programs of "The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes". Although Watson often appears to be the older of the two main characters, Bruce was three years younger than Rathbone. Though for most viewers Nigel Bruce formed their vision of Dr. Watson, Holmes purists have long objected that the Watson of the
Adaptations of Sherlock Holmes 1960s, there was a BBC TV series entitled "Sherlock Holmes" with Douglas Wilmer and Nigel Stock. Peter Cushing, who had earlier played the detective in the Hammer version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles", later took over from Wilmer in the lead role. The 24 part series "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson" (1979–1980) starred Geoffrey Whitehead as Holmes and Donald Pickering as Watson. In 1982, Granada Television aired an eight-part series entitled "" which told the story of Holmes' youth. The show starred Guy Henry as Sherlock Holmes. Also in 1982, the BBC produced an adaptation of The Hound of