Customer Reviews

Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In his foreword to Bantam's "Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories," Loren Estleman called the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson literature's warmest, most symbiotic and most timeless ever: rightfully so. Not surprisingly, film history is littered with adaptations of Conan Doyle's tales and Holmes pastiches (stories using the protagonists but otherwise based on independent screenplays); and I don't think any of Conan Doyle's four original novels has been adapted more frequently than "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Yet - and I'm saying this with particular apologies to the fans of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce canon - none of the prior versions of any Holmes story can hold a candle to the ITV/Granada TV series produced over the decade spanning the years 1984 through 1994, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and first David Burke, then in near-seamless transition Edward Hardwicke as a refreshingly sturdy, pragmatic and unbumbling Dr. Watson; and this certainly includes any and all adaptations of "The Hound of the Baskervilles."

Thus, this version of Conan Doyle's spookiest tale stands out positively not only when compared to some of the other movie adaptations starring Jeremy Brett, which tend to over-emphasize a gothic atmosphere not present in the stories *those* movies are based on (particularly so, "The Last Vampyre" and "The Eligible Bachelor"), but also when compared to earlier versions of "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Indeed, stripped of those other productions' antics and occasionally not much better than B-movie-level special effects, the Jeremy Brett/Edward Hardwicke adaptation relies primarily on the superb acting skills of its stars and supporting cast and tells the story of the Baskerville family's apparent curse in a relatively straightforward manner, which truly manages to terrify where earlier versions were merely unintentionally funny. Largely true to Conan Doyle's original, this is also the only one of the movie-length adaptations that sees Dr. Watson performing an investigation of his own. (He embarks on similar, albeit generally less elaborate missions, in some of the series's shorter episodes, such as "The Solitary Cyclist.")

The tale's storyline itself is well known: Sir Charles Baskerville has been found dead, apparently killed by a mysterious, larger-than-life dog living in the moors surrounding his estate and occasionally heard howling at night; allegedly a hound from hell haunting the family since the days of their evil ancestor Sir Hugo Baskerville. When Sir Henry (Kristoffer Tabori), latest heir to the Baskerville title and fortune, arrives from the U.S., Holmes is hired to investigate the mystery surrounding the beast. And "[y]es, the setting is a worthy one. If the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men ...," Holmes soon comments on the setting of the Baskerville estate. But asked by Dr. Watson whether he is inclined to place any belief into the supernatural explanation of the phenomenon, he proceeds to point out that the devil's agents may well be of flesh and blood, and that the only questions to be resolved in the matter are whether any crime has been committed at all, and if so, what that crime is and how it was committed. As (nearly) always, Holmes is of course proven right in the end.

Jeremy Brett was the only actor who ever managed to perfectly portray Sherlock Holmes's imperiousness, bitingly ironic sense of humor and apparently indestructible self-control without at the same time neglecting his genuine friendship towards Dr. Watson and the weaknesses hidden below a surface seemingly dominated by his overarching intellectual powers. And that dichotomy is clearly in evidence in this movie, where Brett, himself already afflicted by the illness which would eventually kill him, reaches new, intense and particularly great depths in Holmes's soul. If you want to see the best of Holmes, therefore get this production, the equally well-done Jeremy Brett adaptation of "The Sign of the Four" and the collections of the series's shorter episodes (particularly the first two cycles - "Adventures" and "Return" - are a "must"), enjoy and ... have a good hunt, because - come on Watson: the game's afoot!

Also recommended:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels and 56 Short Stories
Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series (12 DVD)
Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street
Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett As Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur and George

Apparently when writing his review laddie5 is unaware of Jeremy Brett's heart condition that affected his performance slightly in his later performances as the world's greatest "unofficial" Detective. Quite honestly, I think Jeremy Brett's later performances as Holmes were among his best. Even up to the end. Everybody considers Basil Rathbone to be the definitive Holmes, which I think is utter nonsense. Most of the later movies with Rathbone as Holmes don't even take place in Victorian England but have Holmes in current settings (well current in 1940) which I think is because they couldn't afford the Victorian backdrops and all that. Jeremy Brett not only looks the way Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the character, but performs the part with all of Holmes's quirks and short comings. Such as his cocaine and morphine addictions (that's right, Holmes was an addict).

This version of "The Hound of the Baskerville" follows Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's version very closely and is among the best productions of his the author's most famous stories. Watson takes center stage in this story as he tries to uncover the Baskerville curse of a demonic hound that haunts the moors. Edward Hardwicke is probably one of the best screen Watson's to date. Much like his predecessor in the Granada series David Burke (who did a great job as Watson), he plays Watson as the intelligent man of medicine that Conan Doyle wrote in his books and not the hamfisted bungler that has smeared the character since Nigel Bruce played the character. Hopefully, future productions of Holmes will continue this tradition with Watson's character.

The production itself is very well done and atmospheric. A really fine cast (those of you who can remember will recognize the actor from "The Bounder")and a brilliant performance by Jeremy Brett which does not lack in the least bit. If you are to buy any copy of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" make this your first. The definitive production starring the definitive Sherlock Holmes

I have now seen several productions of 'The Hound of the Baskervilles', including the Basil Rathbone and Hammer versions, but of all that I have seen this is the definitive production.

I agree that the Hound doesn't look very 'spooky' or 'Ghostly', but let's face it, it is just a dog and not a ghost (obviously! ) so it would have been a bit silly to fall into the trap of making it look like a ghost (like so many other films have), only for Holmes to reveal at the end that it wasn't.

In fact I think that this just goes to improve the 'realism' of the story, and along with the usually excellent performance from Jeremy Brett as Holmes, this video is an absolute must.

This faithful movie-length adaptation of the Conan Doyle's tale highlights all the genius and style that Jermey Brett and company brought to these wonderful productions. This diverse and quirky performance shows why Brett will remain indelibly tied to the Holmes legend. A must for mystery fans.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke was the first Sherlock Holmes film I've ever seen, and also one of the best. It's an entertaining and faithful adaption of the original Conan Doyle novella.

Agreeably haunting rendition of Conan Doyle's classic, with Jeremy Brett the definitive Sherlock Holmes. I and my family find this a fine version. Some of the quibbles on this review page seem not to see the forest for the trees, i.e., that even if Jeremy Brett was ill while making this version, it is far and away the very best one made. This is also a fun tape to watch with your children. Mine find Sherlock Holmes' eccentric mannerisms and rushing about funny and intriguing, while the hound is agreeably scary without ever being too frightening. The total lack of expletives make for another reason why this is high-quality family viewing. Most of us discover Sherlock Holmes when we are young; these tapes, this series are great for that.

It's a shame that Jeremy Brett's poor health worked against making this television adaptation of perhaps the most famous Sherlock Holmes story such a disappointingly average production. Brett is obviously lethargic here as Holmes and it's hard to imagine that this is the same Sherlock Holmes we saw in the first series and the majority of the second. Compare his appearance and performance here with his Sherlock Holmes in 'The Sign Of Four', for example. Gone is the quick wit and hawk-like persona that made Brett so notable as Holmes. Here, Brett is bloated and distant. It may have been best in hindsight if the production was postponed until Brett was in better health, but that didn't happen and as a result the film suffers.

The supporting cast are all fine, and Edward Hardwicke is excellent as Watson which is important as the character features heavily in the story. Check out Donald Churchill's terrible performance as Watson in the Ian Richardson version to see how a poor performance as Holmes' companion can sink a film adapation of this story.

Unfortunately the direction and pace is as lethargic as the star. In comparison to other Granada tv movies like The Sign Of Four and The Master Blackmailer, it's hard to believe that this one was made by the same production team. I believe a lot of the blame can be attributed to reported budgetary constraints but lack of money is no excuse for pacing problems. It's a very faithful adaptation of the novel, but some scenes go on longer than necessary giving the production a very theatrical feel which works against the film.

There are some great scenes though...the mysterious figure collecting Watson's letters from the post office, Watson and Dr Mortimer laying in wait for someone who has set up camp in the hills near the Baskerville house, etc.

It's certainly a watchable and sometimes entertaining production, but the production team really dropped the ball with this one especially when you are aware of the excellent productions that have come before. Unfortunately this effort was a sign of things to come as the series steadily declined with only The Casebook Of Sherlock Holmes series and The Master Blackmailer as saving graces. The sad decline in Jeremy Brett's health and the increasingly poor scripting makes the final two tv movies (The Last Vampyre and The Eligible Bachelor) and the final series (The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes) almost unwatchable. Stories in the last series like The Mazarin Stone are not only an embarrassment to the Holmes tv canon but are also extremely poor television.

Once again that classic story of Sherlock Holmes and the hellish Hound of the Baskervilles gets trotted out in film form. This time, it is Granada Television's turn and, for the most part, they do a solid job in bringing this classic to life. Fairly faithful to the book, this film benefits from the top notch performances of Jeremy Brett as the Great Detective and Edward Hardwicke as the faithful Dr. Watson. Despite the fact that Brett's Holmes is off-screen during a large chunk of the film's time, his characterization never ceases to grasp our attention. Edward Hardwicke takes over from David Burke as the trusty Watson and he makes his own indelible mark on the role. Hardwicke's take on the role is a little less brittle than Burke's, making Watson a much more warm and engaging personality. The film is also chock-full of the spooky moorish atmosphere that makes this tale a classic. Also, the supporting cast is top notch with Neil Duncan earning praise as an unconventionally eccentric Dr. Mortimer. If the movie suffers in one instance, it is in the overall pacing and length. At an even 2 hours, parts of the film seem to drag, especially when compared with the Peter Cushing or other versions. But, that's minor quibbling. With either Watson, the Jeremy Brett series still provides the current standard by which most Sherlock Holmes films are judged, and this film more than holds its own. Definitely recommended for Sherlock Holmes fans.

This is a beautiful film. The settings and costumes are so good, they transport the viewer back to the moors of Victorian England.

But what really makes this film first rate is the tension between the supernatural and the cold logic of the scientific method as personified by Holmes. In a line taken directly from the book, Holmes allows: "if ever the devil were to dabble in the affairs of man, it would be here". A remarkable statement for a man of Holmes' character.

I've never seen the Rathbone version, but I've seen this one half a dozen times and still enjoy it.

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.