Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

Amazon.com

Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce star in this 1939 adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's frequently filmed novel, and the result is one of the most atmospheric and purely enjoyable versions of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Except for minor changes, the script is true to Doyle's enthralling mystery about a centuries-long curse against heirs to the Baskerville estate, situated within the haunting and deadly Dartmoor in the southwest of England. With the arrival of a new master, Canadian Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone) and Dr. Watson (Bruce) are called upon to solve the strange case of the "gigantic hound" that may be readying to savage the poor fellow. Wonderful sets, crisp performances, and Rathbone's accessible but no-nonsense take on the Great Detective make this a real delight. Typical of the 20th Century Fox Holmes pictures, there's an in-joke, a final line of censor-defying dialogue alluding to Holmes's little problem with cocaine. --Tom Keogh

Description

The Hound Of The Baskervilles

The most celebrated tale of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's canon, `The Hound of the Baskervilles' is set in the Victorian Age and was originally released by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1939. It is the first of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

When Sir Charles Baskerville is killed outside of Baskerville Hall, his good friend Dr. Mortimer (Lionel Atwill) fears that the curse of the Baskervilles has struck once again. Mortimer enlists the help of Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), before yet another Baskerville can succumb to the evil legend.

Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene) arrives in London to claim his inheritance. Mortimer takes Sir Henry to 221b Baker Street and expresses his fear for Sir Henry's life. Baskerville soon learns that along with the grand mansion on the moor, comes a devilish curse, a curious butler (John Carradine) and a cast of bizarre neighbors.

Holmes, pressed with "other business," sends Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce) to accompany Sir Henry to the dreary moor to protect the young Baskerville from the legend of the wicked hound. Of course, with danger afoot, Sherlock Holmes may not be so far from the scene as is assumed.

Special Features
-Audio Commentary with David Stuart Davies
-Selected Theatrical Trailers
-Production Notes By Richard Valley
-Photo Gallery
Run Time - 80 minutes

Customer Reviews:

The Ultimate Version.......2007-06-27

Many remakes have been done of The Hound of the Baskervilles. None equal this version--not just because of Rathbone and Bruce, but because of the incredible supporting cast: Richard Greene, Wendy Barry, John Carradine, et al. The atmospherics are perfect; the dog is scary and the grimpen mire is practically a character in its own right. This is the Hound against which all others are measured.

Terror by Night is also excellent, if you don't mind the miniaturization scenes of the train, which are a tad cheesy.

Hound of the Baskervilles.......2007-06-21

Arthur Conan Doyle's greatest creation--and the world's most famous detective-- comes to sparkling life in this chilling, quasi-supernatural whodunit, thanks to the wonderfully talented Basil Rathbone. Of course, there are snappy performances all around from an excellent supporting cast that includes Bruce, Greene, Lionel Atwill (as a family friend), John Carradine (as a queer butler), and Wendy Barrie (as Henry's love interest). Rathbone and Bruce's rapport, however, has come to overshadow all subsequent Holmes-Watson actor pairings. Lanfield's quick-paced "Hound" is one of their most thrilling outings (there are 13 in all!), especially with the foggy English moors providing a splendidly ominous atmosphere.

Hound of the Baskervilles with Basil Rathbone.......2007-03-29

My favorite Sherlock Holmes story, family curse, hound from hell, an old family mansion, deserted moor, an escaped convict, and Sherlock Holmes and his faithful Watson, add a fireplace, and hot cup of tea or coco and you have your evenings entertainment. I prefer this movie over most of them (except for jeremy brett version). They made a couple of changes in the story deviating from the book, and it worked. I will always love Nigel Bruce as Watson, and Basil Rathbone as Holmes.

Great!.......2007-01-11

We have not watched this DVD but have seen it before. We wanted it for our collection.

The film that introduced Basil Rathbone in the part of Sherlock Holmes..........2007-01-02

To select just one representative Sherlock Holmes film from the hundred or so made since Sherlock Holmes Baffled is a virtual impossibility, especially as no one actor (including such famous talents as John Barrymore, Clive Brook and Raymond Massey) has yet managed to successfully transfer the true Holmesian character to the screen... But if one has to be singled out probably the best choice would be the 1939 version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles," the most famous of all Conan Doyle's long novels and the film that introduced Basil Rathbone in the part of Sherlock Holmes...

Although no less a critic than Graham Greene found Rathbone unacceptable, complaining of his good humor and general air of refreshing health, the tall, thin British born actor is still the man most people associate with the role... He played in 14 Holmes movies between 1939 and 1946, two "A" productions and twelve double features...

Set in the correct period, "The Hound of the Baskervilles" follows Conan Doyle closely including only one scene, a séance, not in the original story... Its opening sequence on a deserted moor with a man running in terror from the unseen beast and its climax with Holmes going out alone into the foggy night to track down the "Hell Hound" really catches the suspense and mystery of Conan Doyle's story...

The film is most impressive when it convincingly sketches in the streets and fashions of Edwardian London, a remarkable achievement when one considers that recreation of London and English settings has not been one of Hollywood's strongest points over the years...

The final curtain line makes it difficult to believe that the film was made in 1939 with all the restrictions and censorship of that period... References to Holmes' drug taking have rarely if ever been made in Holmes movies but in "The Hound of the Baskervilles" the great detective stalks out of the room calling to his ever faithful companion, "The needle, Watson, the needle."

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

Average customer rating:

A Hound of a Production! (Never Mind the Negative Reviewers)
Jeremy Brett Shines While the Production Is a Bit Dull
Desperately needs remastering - video quality suffers
Better than the book
The Super Hound

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Starring: Jeremy Brett , Edward Hardwicke , Neil Duncan , Kristoffer Tabori , and Edward Romfourt
Director: Brian Mills
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00007G1WK
Release Date: 2003-01-28

Amazon.com

This nearly two-hour Granada Television production of the most popular Sherlock Holmes tale--adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel--stars series regular Jeremy Brett as the Baker Street detective and Edward Hardwicke as his close ally, Dr. John Watson. A thrilling blend of detective yarn and Gothic horror, The Hound concerns the apparent return of an old curse upon the Baskerville family in the terrifying form of a gigantic killer hound. Fans of Hardwicke get an opportunity to see his Watson on a solo mission for part of this story, though Brett--easily the best of all screen actors to play the sleuth--is never far from the narrative. The supporting cast is very good, and the beast itself, revealed in a famously terrifying finale, is indeed a spooky revelation. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A Hound of a Production! (Never Mind the Negative Reviewers).......2007-07-18

First off: though my general comments will be focused on this, Granada's "Hound of the Baskervilles" starring Jeremy Brett, much of what I say might well go for most British programming I have viewed (comedies and dramas.)
I find the dismissals of this production as inferior- lacking in suspense,drama, entertainment value, quality writing, and even quality acting- to be stupefying, and indicative of the lack of taste and quality within most American entertainment, and the lack of brain power and decent attention span amongst those who watch it. It really is appalling that people, presumably ADULTS, cannot get over the slightly sedate pacing; this is not a high-suspense, gory thriller,neither is it an Alfred Hitchcock film! Considering that we're talking about an approximately two-hour TV film, I think the suspense is done well enough, after all the main point of the thing isn't load on as much excess suspense ( and possibly violence) as possible, there is a good and naturally suspenseful story to be told here, and for my money director Brian Mills does it well enough. The writing ( dialog, and general atmosphere and nuance, the latter being particularly lost on modern US entertainment)is first rate, as always with this series ( I also love that the original opening sequence of Holmes and Watson sharing deductions over Dr. Mortimer's walking stick is in place here.) As for those claiming the acting is poor, and/or inferior to a previous, or subsequent version they have seen: not only is Jeremy Brett here (the only screen Holmes worth your time), but you have Edward Hardwicke's Watson, Neil Duncan highly stable as Dr. Mortimer, a wonderfully "American" Kristopher Tabori (American in a British sort of way of course), as Sir Henry Baskerville, and of course Ronald Pickup as Barrymore, the Baskerville estate butler who, along with his wife (played by Rosemary McHale), has something to hide. Now, I hate to hear, or see, ANYONE denounce Ronald Pickup as an actor. I have seen him in BBC's "Chronicles of Narnia" series, an episode of Inspector Morse, and this (plus more), and he is very much a favored British actor of mine. Here, he makes Barrymore a noble, good-hearted, highly likable character, which, for me, balances out well with McHale's emotional portrayal of Mrs. Barrymore. Also to look for is James Faulkner's turn as the murderous Stapleton. All in all great, highly entertaining film.
In sum, the thespian talent, writing, lighting, drama, suspense (however subtle it might be),character development, and excitement where necessary are all first rate. All of these elements, as you might imagine, come together to make a viewing of the film a first-rate film, even lacking as it is in in-your-face style suspense (which by the way I don't mind; I think there is suitable suspense anyway.) Of course, delightful as the packaging of the film is, the DVD can't be said to be much, though it is of a standard quality level (picture and sound are fine), and the bonus that is there (some sketches from original publication of the novel) is good. So, all in all, highly entertaining, well-made, worth-your-time-and money (if you have an taste at all) film, nice, if minimal DVD, what's not to like about this anyway? 5/5; those purchasers and film and television lovers with any taste whatsoever would do well to ignore the negative reviews, and pick up this show. After all, with and open mind, anything can happen...

Jeremy Brett Shines While the Production Is a Bit Dull.......2007-04-16

For awhile I was meaning to see Jeremy Brett's interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, so several days ago I rented 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', which is an episode from 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes' TV series made by Granada Television. It was made in 1988, so I was expecting the production values to be on par with the 'Poirot' series from 1989 starring David Suchet as another ingenious sleuth, but this incarnation of the master of detectives hasn't aged very well.

Jeremy Brett is excellent as Holmes, generally held by many as the ultimate interpreter of the famous private eye, who stayed in character the entire time, never for a moment letting the audience forget who he is. Edward Hardwicke does an admirable job as Holmes' loyal assistant Dr. Watson, but his performance is a bit wooden at times.

The story itself is quite intriguing, involving a seemingly cursed estate out in the English countryside, in which generations of wealthy family members all succumb to the horrible fate of a legendary demon hound, also known as the hound of the Baskervilles. After a brief introduction to Sir Charles Baskervilles who is the current resident of the Baskervilles estate, the story skips ahead to Holmes and Dr. Watson who are greeted by the representative to the last living Baskervilles heir who hails from America, and he asks for their assistance regarding the infamous family curse. Holmes and Dr. Watson quickly realize that there is more to this story than meets the eye, so they decide to take the case and solve the mystery of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Dr. Watson is sent out ahead of Holmes to do some preliminary investigations in the small village in which the mystery is taking place, and from there the plot thickens.

Overall, the film feels a little incomplete. The special effects are nearly dreadful considering that this was made in the late 80s, a time in which movie effects had come quite far, so this aspect brought the movie down a bit in terms of credibility. Also the production values appeared to be skimpy, which hurt the story's atmosphere somewhat. Fortunately the acting was this film's saving grace, for the most part.

Story wise I felt that not enough time was spent on the various characters to explain their motivations, which made the ending rather anti-climactic. Having not read the book, I cannot say how well the story works in this regard, but perhaps this tale was better suited for the written medium and not the cinematic one since some of the plot devices weren't adapted that well.

Given the aforementioned reasons, I'd recommend skipping this incarnation of Holmes unless one is a die hard fan, but I am nevertheless impressed by Jeremy Brett so I will definitely seek out the rest of this series to see how the other episodes hold up.

Desperately needs remastering - video quality suffers.......2007-04-08

I'm not wildly enthusiastic about this -- at 2 hours it seems to be a bit long. I'm not as critical as others are about the performance. Yes, Brett looks puffy and not quite well. Still, the performances are very good.

I just feel that people should know that this DVD offers image quality barely superior to VHS videotape. I know that better results are obtainable. The last Granada series of shorter Sherlock Holmes programs has excellent image quality. This is fuzzy, lacks contrast, it's just plain substandard.

Sooner or later they will remaster these with improved quality, and then you'll be stuck with the old, crummy first edition. But given the importance of the Brett Holmes series, they should have taken the trouble to get it right the first time.

Better than the book.......2007-03-28

Jeremy Brett is Sherlock Holmes. In this movie, they made an important minor change, the spaniel is not killed by the hound. Otherwise, the acting, adaptation, atmosphere all make a great movie. I have this as well as the Basil Rathbone movie. I love them both, but this one is closer to the book and I think, even better.

The Super Hound.......2006-07-05

Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwick star in this very good version of Sir A.C.D's H.O.T.B. Jeremy Brett plays a fantastic Holmes. A part to always remember is the first appearance of Holmes in the film sitting at the breakfast table. Although the actor of Sir Henry Baskerville does not seem the same as in the book, the movie still is very good. I would recommend this version.

Average customer rating:

Very unfaithful to the original! Beware!
Nothing is carved in stone
Good on you BBC
Very stylish, but not really that great
seriously, some people act as though they've read the books and they haven't

Hound of the Baskervilles (2002)
Starring: Richard Roxburgh , Ian Hart , Richard E. Grant , Matt Day , and John Nettles (II)
Director: David Attwood
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
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ASIN: B0000797E7
Release Date: 2003-01-21

Amazon.com

David Attwood's fresh and thrilling BBC adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles grabs the viewer by the throat from its opening scene. The plot of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous story should be familiar: Sherlock Holmes (Richard Roxburgh) and Dr. Watson (Ian Hart) take on the case of Sir Henry Baskerville (Matt Day), hoping to protect him from the terrifying fate that has befallen his family for generations. But if you think you know how the story ends, think again.

While Jeremy Brett remains the definitive Holmes on screen, Roxburgh is also outstanding, as are Hart as an unusually passionate Watson and Richard E. Grant as the neighbor Stapleton. Trivia note: Roxburgh continued his take on the Holmes legend in 2003's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. --David Horiuchi

Description

In this energetic and bold adaptation, Conan Doyle?s legendary characters are portrayed with a pace and vigor that capture the spirit of the original story. Sir Charles of Baskerville lies dead on the moors of his family estate. The look of abject fear on his face and the presence of animal footprints around his corpse suggest the impossible; that the ghost of a fearsome hound, long feared by the Baskerville family, is responsible for his death. As the new heir, Sir Henry Baskerville takes up residence at the estate, legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his trusted associate Dr. Watson arrive to investigate the mystery.

Customer Reviews:

Very unfaithful to the original! Beware!.......2007-07-29

I am very glad that I checked this DVD out from the library instead of blowing my money on buying it, or even squandering three bucks to rent it. I, like every true Holmes fanatic, was very interested when I saw this DVD and immediately snatched it up and hurried home to watch it. What a waste of time!

After having read almost all the reviews of this movie on this webpage, it's fairly obvious to me that the vast majority of the people who actually liked this travesty were people who aren't true Holmes fans. I'm not even referring to Holmes 'purists', I'm talking about anyone who read enough of the Conan Doyle stories to know, and appreciate, who Holmes and Watson were. Trust me, folks... they weren't THESE guys!

Did anybody associated with this movie read any of Doyle's stories? I mean, I understand that if a classic is going to be remade, there is such a thing as artistic license, and a few slight changes can be worked in for the sake of drama. I certainly don't think a movie has to be 100% faithful to the book, but PLEASE! This one insults the sensibilities of all true fans of the great detective. There have been so many remakes of this movie that another was hardly necessary, but the executives behind this flick evidently thought they would bring Sherlock Holmes' greatest adventure to a new generation of viewers by 'modernizing' it and changing the story all around. Well, it stunk because of it, and they shouldn't even have used the original title, IMO. At least the Granada television series, starring the best Holmes of all, Jeremy Brett, had the good sense to change the title of one of Conan Doyle's stories when they made some changes to it (original title: The Noble Bachelor. Granada title: The Eligible Bachelor). No way in hell this dud should have the same title as the 'real' Hound of the Baskervilles. It's almost false advertising to call it that! I have an idea. How about, instead of rewriting half the original story, thus making it unrecognizable to Holmes fans... how about just writing an all new story? Conan Doyle gave his blessings for anyone, anytime to go ahead and write anything they want about Holmes. Why pollute an all-time classic story by removing scenes that were important to the original story, and adding irrelevant scenes like a seance and a Christmas party? What's the point?

As to Holmes' use of cocaine in this movie, it's been said a hundred times already that he never used it while on a case, but even if the re-writers felt it necessary to show him injecting it once, I would have been okay with that. Again, artistic license. But later in the movie, they show him taking it again, and reveal several needle marks in his arm, in order to make it appear that he is a damned junkie! That's too much and very unnecessary.

As for the oft-mentioned CGI animated hound, I agree with those who said it was painfully obvious this was animation. They tried to make a 'monster hound' for the sake of effect, instead of sticking to the script. It was supposed to be a REAL hound that was covered in some sort of luminescent phosphorus, but didn't come off that way in this film. Where is that 'ethereal' glow to the hound that was so well documented by Watson? Instead, we are treated to a 'Frankenstein' hound. The hound was supposed to be seen as something supernatural by those who saw it, not as a cartoon. Lions and tigers and hounds, oh my!

Lastly, the casting and the acting. It has been pointed out many times also that Richard Grant should have been the one to portray Holmes, not Richard Roxburgh. Had those two switched roles, I feel it would have redeemed a little bit of this bogus remake. This is supposed to be a Sherlock Holmes movie, not a Jack Stapleton movie, but in this case, the groom far outshone the bride at the bride's own wedding, if you get my drift. Matt Day, as Sir Henry Baskerville, gave a wooden performance about half the time, I thought. All too often it sounded as though he were reading his lines.

I have read some people's opinion that this is a movie that should be seen by all true Holmes fans. I TOTALLY disagree! This is a movie that all TRUE Holmes fans should avoid like the Bubonic Plague. You will only be disappointed and appalled at the pointless changes to the story, and you would no doubt agree that this movie should NOT be called 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' because, clearly, it isn't. The only way to enjoy this movie, IMO, is to not know anything about the original Doyle story and accept it as a 'new' Holmes story. Those who are familiar with the original story will likely feel much as I do, I believe.

If you must see this movie, do what I did. Check it out from your local library. That way, you won't be wasting your hard-earned money on it. Peace.

Nothing is carved in stone.......2007-07-18

Sherlock Holmes,afterall,is a fiction,and not a real person,and the so-called"canon"of his adventures represent a collection of fictions and not an historical record of any reality...Thus,when a new take on one of these fictions comes along I am hard-pressed to understand why it is so necessary to some that all of the plot devices of the original be maintained and that nothing original be added..This version of "The hound of the Baskervilles" rearranges much of the original story,adds a number of original touches not included in the Doyle work,and comes off as a refreshing break from the same old ground trod repeatedly in the past...Being a fan of the late Jeremy Brent,I can be sympathetic towards those who say that Richard Roxburgh does not measure up,but Brent was all about portraying the classic Holmes as written by Doyle,while this new version calls for a portrayal that departs from the Doyle model,and in this Roxburgh succeeds well...While the basic outline of the story has been maintained,the new Holmes is darker,less secure in his abilities(thus his departure from smoking three pipes in order to think out a problem,and instead his use of the 7% solution),and therefore more human than the Doyle creation,which in itself seems a much-needed improvement..Watson,whom many regard as being in fact Doyle himself,is young,which was what Doyle was when writing most of these original stories,so the fact that he is portrayed here as a young man seems much more true-to-form than the many old Watsons that have come before..Some may quibble with the ending,but,afterall,this film uses the original story only as a launching pad for something new and different and,therefore,one cannot really expect the ending to be the same old same old.

Good on you BBC.......2007-03-17

"Hounds" captured the mood of the period, the strong dominant male attitude of the day, with an accent on more than just the Holmes character.

John Nettles (Midsomer Murders, Inspector Barnaby) as Dr. Mortimer brought depth to the film as an intelligent man of science, caring, intense, troubled and persistent in his quest for answers.

Thanks to all for your production efforts. Worth the remake.

Very stylish, but not really that great.......2007-01-01

I am a Richard Roxburgh fan. Mostly because he is so darn cool, and even in horrible movies you still kind of like him, darn it. He's like an Aussie Tim Allen, zing.

I did not notice his twangy accent, and believe me I looked, because everybody complained about it. I liked watson very much, mostly because he seemed exactly like the one in Doyle's books. The Watson from the Brett movies seemed a little rugged to me, although I liked how he and Holmes had insightful conversations. Here, Watson mostly throws hissy-fits like an angry spouse or something, but I thought it was funny. When Holmes makes him angry, he quickly tries to defuse him with compliments (much like a guy trying to calm his angry girlfriend) but of course it doesn't work. They really are like a couple, no getting around that. But that's what makes it interesting. Holmes would probably be an infuriating friend to have, I think.

Roxburgh may be a little too good-looking, what with his perfect teeth and all, for Holmes, but he downplays it ok. I liked the small touches, like sniffing a perfume-scented letter from a woman (quickly filing that part of his brain away a milisecond later, like a machine), or laughing in a creepy way like in the books.

The main issue is that this story has been done and done. They don't help matters by making the villain totally transparent. In the seance scene, the camera lingers for one frame in a totally bogus way that gives away everything. There are a couple orginial takes on the material, mostly involving Richard E. Grant, who rules as usual. He was perfectly cast and while I agree it's weird that he's taller than Holmes, he himself would not make a good Holmes in my opinion. But I concede he'd be better then *shudder* Rupert Everett.

Overall, I bought it because I like Roxburgh, but as a piece by itself it's a novelty. I still prefer it to the other film adaptations, because the ending to this version derails from the plot of the book in a ludicrous but interesting way.

seriously, some people act as though they've read the books and they haven't.......2006-06-02

This version has the feel of what I thought it should have. Whenever I read holmes stories I think of fog/excitement and oddly enough the darker side of humanity.

I've read almost all the sherlock holmes stories and when people complain about sherlock's drug use in this verion it bothers me because it was mentioned in the various stories that he used morphine and cocaine. Even if it wasn't in "the hound of the baskervilles", it was in doyle's portrayal and therefore accurate to the character.

It's even been mentioned in another film adaption, so it's not like this is the first one to play with the "OMG HOLMES IS A DRUGGIE" thing.

If this scene bothers you pretend it's insulin or something but don't say it's horrible to mention his habit. (and it wasn't really a habit so much as a stress/needing excitement evening out) thing.

So don't give people who haven't read the books the wrong impression.

Obviously there were some liberties, but the drug use WASN'T one of them.

Average customer rating:

Changes to the story of HOUND but cinematically they are all very good
A great plot, a more humane Sherlock Holmes, and Grimpen Mire never looked worse
warning
Probably the best
Unforgettable triumph of storytelling.

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
Starring: Ian Richardson , Donald Churchill , Denholm Elliott , Glynis Barber , and Brian Blessed
Director: Douglas Hickox
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: 6305609330
Release Date: 1999-10-12

Amazon.com

Of all the Sherlock Holmes tales written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles (one of the four novels) remains the best-known. Adding a dash of the supernatural to the Great Detective's adventures, it is certainly one of the most dramatic--and an obvious target for screen interpretation. Prior to Jeremy Brett's indelibly making the role his own to modern TV audiences, Ian Richardson made for a suitably incisive and enthusiastic Holmes in this enjoyable 1983 adaptation. The much-filmed tale finds Holmes and Watson drawn in to the mysterious curse afflicting the well-heeled Baskerville dynasty. Is a monster stalking the heir to the Baskerville fortune, or is the culprit a far from demonic force? As Holmes, Richardson is blessed with the avian features that, like Basil Rathbone's or Peter Cushing's, effectively capture Sidney Paget's original likeness. Though Holmes's more antisocial facets are dispensed with, Richardson is engaging in such a well-explored role, recalling the razor-sharp wit and intelligence of Rathbone. Attracting a distinguished British cast (Brian Blessed, Denholm Elliot, Martin Shaw) and decent production values (though with a few Hammer Horror moments), this will not disappoint fans of Victorian literature's finest detective, nor those in search of a classic, chilling thriller. --Danny Graydon

Description

Sherlock Holmes (Ian Richardson) faces a supernatural mystery when a distinguished but absent-minded doctor (Denholm Elliott) hires the legendary detective to investigate the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville. The doctor recounts the legend of Baskerville Hall, cursed for 350 years since Hugo Baskerville traded his soul to the devil. All Hugo's ancestors have met with unexplained deaths on the hall's moor. With Charles's heir, Sir Henry, due to arrive from America, Holmes sends Dr. Watson (Donald Churchill) to Baskerville to watch for danger. "The game's afoot," Holmes declares, as he sets upon the trail of the Baskerville killer in the sleuth's most heralded and baffling case.

Customer Reviews:

Changes to the story of HOUND but cinematically they are all very good.......2007-06-09

I think of all the HOUNDS I own, this one is cinematically the best. Of course it is not really fair to compare a film made in 1939 (Rathbone) with one made 40+ years later. So this film must be evaluated on its own merits.

Richardson is a terrific Holmes and it is disappointing that he only made one other film from Doyle's "canon".

To purists of Doyle, be warned that the script introduces a few character not found in the original but they only add to the story-line.

And yes, Dr Watson is not played as sharp as say, Hardwicke's characterization (in the Granada series) but overall he is entertaining.

The highest marks for this film go for production values, direction, and cinematography. All are superb.

Recommended for collectors of Holmes films

A great plot, a more humane Sherlock Holmes, and Grimpen Mire never looked worse.......2006-08-16

The tale of The Hound of the Baskervilles has such sturdy bones that it's probably the most filmed of the Great Detective's cases. Let's see...I've watched at one time or another Richard Roxburgh, Peter Cushing, Basil Rathbone, Jeremy Brett, Peter Cook, Matt Frewer and Ian Richardson play Holmes as he pursues the solution to this monstrous plot. One or two I've enjoyed less than the others. One was really grim; an attempt at comedy that had many things but humor, unless you find uproarious a chihuahua with the bladder the size of a bull mastiff's urinating on a person's foot.

With this version, Ian Richardson plays Holmes, Donald Churchill plays Watson, Martin Shaw plays Sir Henry Baskerville and Denholm Elliot plays Dr. Mortimer. Grimpen Mire continues to play Grimpen Mire, and that dark, fog-swept Dartmoor bog is not a place you'd want to venture into, even if a slavering hound weren't bounding after you.

Just to restate the plot: Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson are visited in their rooms at 221B Baker street by Dr. Mortimer. Mortimer tells Holmes the story of the Baskervilles and the curse that was laid upon them. Mortimer's best friend, Sir Charles Baskerville, has died under suspicious circumstances. Now the heir, Henry Baskerville, is arriving from Canada. Mortimer believes Sir Henry is at risk and pleads for Holmes to intervene. Holmes says he cannot leave London for a few days, but agrees to meet Sir Henry. Homes then agrees there are unusual aspects to the case and has Watson accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. Watson is to report back by mail until Holmes can arrive. And now we enter the world of swirling fog, of nights without moonlight, of swamps that can suck an unwary man under, of servants who seem too silent, and of neighbors...a brother and sister who live near by. Then there is the unnerving howling of a great beast to be heard late at night.

Richardson gives us a Holmes who smiles a little more than we're used to. He's just as analytic and perceptive, but seems more understanding of human foibles that, say, Rathbone's or Brett's versions. Because the story is so inherently dramatic, however, as long as the actors are accomplished the issue of who's a better Holmes isn't all that important. It's not a zero-sum game, where if you prefer Rathbone, for instance, then automatically Brett must be diminished. While I might prefer one over the other, I think Richardson, Brett, Rathbone and Cushing all give satisfying performances and I enjoy each of them.

This version, like the others, has first-rate production values and solid acting. The one thing that bothers me is that Donald Churchill as Watson comes perilously close to the Nigel Bruce School of Acting. Churchill doesn't make Watson the elderly buffoon that Bruce turned Watson into, but he makes Watson far more obtuse than necessary to help the story.

Since there was a rapacious Baskerville ancestor, since there were suspicious deaths, since there was a great hound, and since there was an unscrupulous murderer, I don't think I'm giving anything away by quoting Dr. Watson's last line in the movie. "The curse of the Baskervilles," he says to Holmes, with a shake of his head, "...a figment of the imagination." Or Holmes' last line. "Without the imagination," he says with a smile to Watson, "there would be no horror."

The DVD looks fine. There are no extras.

warning.......2004-03-21

I made the mistake of watching this with my kids and family after church one Sunday. I had no idea there would be a rape scene! For kids stick with the Halmark version with Matt Frewer.

Probably the best.......2003-05-18

With the exception of the cheesy merry-go-round dog attack at the beginning of this TV movie, this version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" is superb. Ian Richardson plays Holmes with a flair that matches the great Jeremy Brett. It's a shame that Richardson's Holmes is only captured in one other occasion on film. ("The Sign of Four")

In contrast, it's also a shame that "Hound" is probably the most screen adapted literary work ever (there are at least 10 films) but there is no perfect definitive version. This is probably as close as we're going to get. This film, made in 1983, far outshines the 2000 BBC version with its horrid CGI dog and a Watson who is likely computer generated as well. Fans of the Jeremy Brett film may be surprised at the stellar cast of this one, featuring Denholm Elliott ("Raiders of the Lost Ark"), Eleanor Bron ("The House of Mirth"), Connie Booth ("Monty Python"), and noted actor Brian Blessed (you'll know him when you see him if you don't already). The film also features Ronald Lacey as probably the best Inspector Lestrade ever. (Lacey was also in "Raiders" and the Jeremy Brett version of "The Sign of Four".) Martin Shaw's spin as the Texan Sir Henry Baskerville surprisingly turns out to be more pleasant than not.

At times the film is on the gritty side. The scene with Sir Hugo chasing his servant's daughter for that evening's recreational rape is darker than one would expect, but precisely where it needs to be cinematically. When you consider realism, this "Hound" is unequalled.

Fans of Ian Richardson should also check him out in "Murder Rooms", a BBC series where he plays Dr. Joseph Bell - a real Victorian doctor universally recognized as Arthur Conan Doyle's inspiration for the Sherlock Holmes character.

Unforgettable triumph of storytelling........2003-04-16

Without doubt, this is by far the finest screen version of Conan Doyle's famous story I have (so far) seen. Ian Richardson (who will no doubt be familiar to fans of House of Cards and To Play the King) is perfect as Holmes. The film boasts just the right cast (whether central characters or bit parts, they all give strong performances), the moor's thin line between beauty and deadly is just right, the soundtrack is unforgettable, there is myriad memorable dialogue and the whole thing flows very well. There is not a dull moment. Recommended to fans of Sherlock Holmes, Doyle or just horror in general.

Average customer rating:

The only review on this page is an advertisement. Let's change this...
The Hound of the Baskervilles

Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles
Starring: Matt Frewer , and Kenneth Welsh
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007LPS2W
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

The only review on this page is an advertisement. Let's change this..........2007-01-27

I really don't want to waste too much time reviewing this movie. In fact, I wasn't going to write a review at all, until I saw the average five star rating. It turns out, the other review here is an advertisement, which is perfectly legal...why not?

But I must warn you, this is an AWFUL adaptation of Hound of the Baskervilles. While Kenneth Walsh is a very good, though somewhat elderly Watson, Frewer is embarrassing to Watch as Holmes. In an interview, Frewer claimed that Brett did not play up Holmes' intellect enough. If you Watch Frewer's Sherlock films, not only will you see a performance that lacks intellect, but falls into the kind of accidental slapstick that Monty Python would praise and try to emulate for true comedy.

Perhaps it is because I am a fan of Brett that I was so turned off by this particular production. But looking again at my collection, I have both Cushing performances (excellent), the Rathbone movie (also excellent), the Roxburgh adaptation (I might be spelling his name wrong..that version had atmosphere, but misfired on the relationship between Holmes and Watson), and this version simply does not stand on its own for any reason I can think of. In fact, it sinks deep into the proverbial mire.

There are so many wonderful Sherlock Holmes movies out there...why waste your ninety minutes and your money?

The Hound of the Baskervilles .......2005-04-07

Based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
2004 Hallmark Entertainment/Platinum Disc Corp.
Matt Frewer, Kenneth Welsh, Emma Campbell.
120 Minutes, Color, Full Screen, Interactive Menus, Chapter Selection.
The Mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville is blamed on a longstanding curse that has followed the Baskerville family for two hundred years. Enigmatic sleuth Sherlock holmes is on the case to uncover the truth about a monsterous, supernatural hound who roams the moors, waiting to attack the latest heir to the Baskerville estate.

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Hound of the Baskervilles

Average customer rating:

good, if you speak Russian

Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Hound of the Baskervilles

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

ASIN: B0001WHYCO

Customer Reviews:

good, if you speak Russian.......2007-05-01

This is a good version (one of many good versions) of Hound of the Baskervilles, with fine atmosphere and Victorian-looking sets. It's nice to have yet another version. But I find it more than a little disconcerting to hear Holmes, Watson and the other British people speaking Russian. Of course if you speak fluent Russian or love subtitles, then this is the dvd for you.

Sherlock Holmes - The Definitive Collection (14 Films, Digitally Remastered) [NON-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

Brilliant

Sherlock Holmes - The Definitive Collection (14 Films, Digitally Remastered) [NON-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Featurette with Robert Gitt, Head Preservation Officer at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Discusses the multi-million dollar film restoration project for the series. (5 minutes) Audio Commentaries with Sherlock Holmes Expert David Stuart Davies (author, publisher of numerous books on Holmes and Rathbone) on the following films: -The Scarlet Claw -The Woman In Green -Sherlock Holmes Faces Death -The Hound of the Baskervilles Audio Commentary with Sherlock Holmes Expert Richard Valley (Acclaimed author and publisher of Scarlet Street Mystery Magazine, currently penning a book on Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes). -The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes Extensive Production Notes by Holmes Expert Richard Valley for all 14 films. Photo Gallery/Original Movie Posters

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant.......2007-09-16

This is a marvellous set of all 14 films that Rathbone and Bruce made together.

The remastering is excellent and the difference is quite dramtic compared with some other versions of the same films that I have. Recently I made a direct comparison between the two versions of "Terror By Night" and the improvement is dramatic.

As previous reviewers have said Rathbone and Bruce work very well together and Dr Watson has some wonderfully funny lines, which if not Conan Doyles original lines, still work very well nevertheless. Some of the acting is occasionally a bit wooden, and sometimes the plots are a bit contrived (again I don't think this is Conan Doyles fault) but even so these are classic films regardless.

This set makes all previous boxed sets of Rathbone and Bruce (of which I own one) completely redundant. Buy this one!!

Sherlock Holmes: The Hound Of The Baskervilles [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

Very close to Doyle
Cushing as Holmes on BBC TV late 60s

Sherlock Holmes: The Hound Of The Baskervilles [Region 2]
Starring: George Howell , Nigel Stock , Douglas Wilmer , Phillip Bond , and Enid Lindsay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B0001P1B8Y

Customer Reviews:

Very close to Doyle.......2007-01-27

This particular DVD is a very close adaptation to the novella by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the closest being the Tom Baker version, which had an unfortunate cast and terrible production values, yet stuck to nearly every word). Peter Cushing is razor sharp as Holmes. Nigel Stock's performance in this particular story is akin to Nigel Bruce's. Early on in this series, Douglas Wilmer was cast as Sherlock Holmes. It seems to me that both Wilmer and Stock with trying to emulate Rathbone and Bruce. With Cushing, we get a fresh take on Holmes: sprightly, energetic, and somewhat egoistical. Stock has not yet found his Watson, though by Blue Carbuncle, he ends up creating a character that is entirely his own, and grounded in reality.

I was surprised with how much I truly enjoyed this version. The production values were high for the time, though I admit it did take some getting used to (long shots, sweeping shots, melodramatic music; ah, sixties television!). I suppose if I were to compare production values with another show, it would be Dark Shadows.

All in all, I cannot recommend this adaptation enough, for Holmes purists and for the fan of the detective story.

Cushing as Holmes on BBC TV late 60s.......2006-04-30

I just viewed the 3 disc set from the BBC containing this disc of classic Sherlock Holmes stories and was generally surprised by the quality of the video and the performances (my expectations were low for a series this old) except for this disc. Having seen Cushing previously only in Dracula and Frankenstein-type horror roles (people today probably know him best from his role in Star Wars), I liked his restrained but authentic portrayal of Holmes in this series. Less quirky and exhuberant than Jeremy Brett's benchmark performances, he conveyed the idiosyncratic detective's character well. These films were made 30 years prior to the BBC series starring Brett, on a very apparent low budget, and the interiors are what we have seen in the past from TV series from the BBC at this time period - a bit stagey, theatrical and just slightly unrealistic, although there is some nice exterior work for some scenes. While the other two discs in the series had generally good quality of the video source and digital transfer - sharp images with bright vibrant colors that looked like a modern filming of the older BBC play of the week on tape style - this disc with the Hound of the Baskervilles is the poorest quality-wise with many scenes with motion-artifacts typical of poor digital transfers, particularly in scenes with jerky movement like carriage or train scenes, and in darker segments. Perhaps this is partly due to this being the first story in the series that was filmed - the tape source looked worse than the others. This is a two-part story so there is enough time to cover all the basic elements of Doyle's story. The story and characters are close to Doyle's work, although the finale of the film seemed truncated with no epilogue. If the digital transfer had been better this film would have received more stars as it is quite an interesting version considering the dozen or so different filmed versions of the Hound available. Watson in this series is a bit of a disappointment however, with much more of the Nigel Bruce style in him than the Edward Hardwicke. The best film in this series is the Blue Carbuncle. Recommended for Holmes fans, an interesting comparison to other Hound versions, and entertaining.

The Hound Of The Baskervilles [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]

Average customer rating:

The Hound Of The Baskervilles [Non-US Format, PAL, Region 2, Import]
Starring: Dudley Moore , Peter Cook , Roy Kinnear , Penelope Keith , and Denholm Elliott
Director: Paul Morrissey
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

It could have been a stroke of genius reuniting Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore in a send-up of The Hound of the Baskervilles. In the event, director Paul Morrissey goes for Carry On-style humour: plenty of coarse word-play and camp innuendo, but little wit or subtlety. Cooke is a rather androgynous Sherlock Holmes, while Moore inexplicably attempts a Welsh accent to portray Dr Watson (his cameo as Holmes' mother is far less contrived). The support cast is a compendium of British comedy acting of the period--all now departed, and clearly relishing the one-liners and musical-hall farce. There are excellent contributions from Max Wall, Joan Greenwood (priceless in the seduction scene), and--in one of his last major screen appearances--Terry Thomas, as well as a winning "madame" from Penelope Keith. Don't expect even a free adaptation of Conan Doyle's novel, just let the humour take its enjoyably silly course.

DVD:

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