The Hound of the Baskervilles

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good if you haven't read the book, I suppose...
Review: I watched this movie last night, and I have to admit, I was rather disappointed. I'd read reviews that claimed this particular adaptation is very true to the book. Having seen it, I cannot help but wonder what people think is meant by the phrase 'true to the book'. I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan for years, and The Hound of the Baskervilles is my favorite of his many cases. I have read and re-read that book at least eight times, so its not as though I don't know what I am talking about. My first complaint is with the actors. Although Peter Cushing looks more or less right as Holmes, the way he exhibits Holmes' personality leaves a lot to be desired. Whenever I read the book, I imagine Holmes as a whimsical, laid-back individual, wrapped up in his little eccentricities, and constantly laughing at the more normal people around him, whom he believes to be mentally inferior to himself. Cushing manages to completely ignore his character's real personality, in favor of a more snappy loudmouthed approach. Why Cushing deems it necessary that Holmes should speak so fast you can barely understand him, is beyond me in every respect. Conan Doyle's Holmes delighted in teasing the brains of those around him, and loved to keep them guessing until the very last minute, before he sat down and carefully unravelled the case so that all would become clear in the end. None of this came through in the movie.
The other actors also left a lot to be desired. I found it hard to warm to Christopher Lee's Sir Henry Baskerville, the one character in the book with whom you can really sympathize. Lee made him seem shallow and insipid. There was no depth to his personality, and so ultimately, I didn't really care whether or not he ended up dead. Every other character was portrayed as being selfish, excessively arrogant, or ridiculously stupid. You can't feel for any of them. And the characters of the Stapletons were changed completely from the book. Even their names were changed. (Since when was Cecile a Spanish name?) Now changes are inevitable when a book is translated to the screen, and I realize that. But most of the changes in this adaptation seem completely unnecessary, because they don't add anything good to the story. Anyway, I give this movie two stars because the musical score was good and if you're new to Sherlock Holmes, the film will probably provide you with a chilling little mystery to while away an evening. Otherwise, I recommend checking out a copy of the book from your local library and sitting down to a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed results in first and last Hammer Holmes adaption
Review: If anybody was born to play Sherlock Holmes it was Peter Cushing. Sure, Basil Rathbone owns the role but Cushing manages to portray Holmes quirks better than just about any other actor that has taken on the role. Hammer's Hound bears very little resemble to Arthur Conan Doyle's original, but does manage to inject atmosphere into this Holmes adventure. What's really refreshing is the fact that Watson isn't portrayed as a bumbling idiot as he is in the Rathbone series of films.

Christopher Lee is a bit miscast as Henry Baskerville and the role is significantly underwritten. Lee gives a solid performance but it's evident in watching him that he doesn't quite have a handle on the character. Part of the blame can be layed at the foot of Jimmy Sangster's occasionally incomphrensible screenplay. It's also possible that director Terence Fisher may have had a hand in rewrites as he was known to do so (and the result was usually pretty incoherent).

Fisher's direction is confident and involving although it lacks the zip he exhibited in his finest Hammer films. The color photography is stunning on this MGM/US transfer and the analog artifacts are kept to a minimum. The extras (particular the observations by Lee on his frequent co-star Cushing)are enlightening at times.

Although not the ultimate Hound adaption, Fisher's film is solid entertainment even if it does take signficant liberities with the story.

Rating:
Summary: Lee and Cushing in their best movie ever.
Review: It's kind of refreshing to see Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in a movie that is not horror per say, but more of a spooky thriller that builds to a Down to Earth climax. It is also great to see Cushing and Lee in different roles outside of being type-casted as horror actors only. Cushing plays Sherlock Holmes, who is investigateing a strange dog like creatoure that haunts the estate of the Baskervilles (Lee plays the head Baskerville). Is it the supernatural at work? or a more human danger at work here? watch the movie and find out. It's a must for any fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's great detective.

Rating:
Summary: What a waste of talent!
Review: It's only right that Hammer Films - home of the "Hammer Horrors" - should do an adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles; the story skirts the line between mystery and horror. It is just right for the Hammer touch of macabre. Terrence Fisher evokes the lonely forbidding isolation of the moors as described in the novel. It has the look of a Hammer film. Of course, the Hammer films never had large budgets and most of the day-for-night shots look like day-for-day, but you have to meet these films on their own terms.

The strength of the Hammer films has always been the quality of its two principal actors - Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing gives another fine performance as Holmes. Christopher Lee has a change of pace from his usual role of playing a monster to playing the romantic lead. Of course, the filmmakers take some liberties with the story but, on the whole, I was surprised just how closely it follows the book.

One of the most valuable additions to this DVD is a new interview with Christopher Lee. Lee is always fond of reminiscing about the old days. He talks about what it was like filming the Hammer Horrors and he gives a moving tribute to the late Peter Cushing.

Rating:
Summary: A must for any Hammer fan...
Review: It's only right that Hammer Films - home of the "Hammer Horrors" - should do an adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles; the story skirts the line between mystery and horror. It is just right for the Hammer touch of macabre. Terrence Fisher evokes the lonely forbidding isolation of the moors as described in the novel. It has the look of a Hammer film. Of course, the Hammer films never had large budgets and most of the day-for-night shots look like day-for-day, but you have to meet these films on their own terms.

The strength of the Hammer films has always been the quality of its two principal actors - Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Peter Cushing gives another fine performance as Holmes. Christopher Lee has a change of pace from his usual role of playing a monster to playing the romantic lead. Of course, the filmmakers take some liberties with the story but, on the whole, I was surprised just how closely it follows the book.

One of the most valuable additions to this DVD is a new interview with Christopher Lee. Lee is always fond of reminiscing about the old days. He talks about what it was like filming the Hammer Horrors and he gives a moving tribute to the late Peter Cushing.

Rating:
Summary: Good acting, but disappointing plot
Review: Let me first say that I have read the Arthur Conan Doyle novel and the story is fantastic. It is often considered the best detective novel, certainly from Doyle, and for the rest of the literary world. I watched this version in high hopes that Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee would do well. They did not disappoint. However, the story left me baffled. There were plot changes from the original story, some so off from the novel that it made me cringe. The part with the tarantula was outrageously bad. Never happened in the novel. The characters were all mixed up in their roles. I was very disappointed and perplexed. Why does Hollywood take great works of literature and stain them into this garbage? The movie wasn't a total loss, but the negatives greatly outweigh the positives. I would not recommend this to any teacher for viewing in class because it strays too far away from the novel's plot and characterization. To the passing viewer, enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Two Paws Up
Review: Much better than the Jeremy Brett "Hound" and much, much worse than the (definitive) Basil Rathbone version, this late-50s "Hound" features all the usual Hammer Films trademarks: bloody daggers, heaving busoms, thunderous music, and Christopher Lee bulging his eyes out. Peter Cushing, with his short stature and snippy acting style, is a truly terrible Sherlock Holmes, and the alterations to Doyle's text are really unforgivable. But there are compensations... Andre Morell's Watson is sturdy, the location shooting is nice, and as time goes by, the gaudy color and innocent attempts to be shocking give it a charm it did not have 40 years ago. It's trash, but I'm forced to admit it's pretty enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: A Memorable HOUND
Review: My wife wonders why, oh why, my video/DVD collection contains so many different versions of this classic Sherlock Holmes tale. Well, I understand there have been almost 20 different films based on the story, and I have nowhere near that many. But when push comes to shove, this 1959 Hammer "Hound" starring the wonderful Peter Cushing is probably my most-watched. Rathbone was great, but his version barely had a musical score (imagine having the Hound chase Sir Henry across the moor without a chilling score!) The Brett version is faithful but oddly lackluster. Ian Richardson's version was fine, but felt like a TV movie (which it was).

THIS Hammer film, despite massive wanderings from the original story, just FEELS right. It's spooky. Holmes is eccentric and impatient and perfect. Watson is wonderfully portrayed. The Baker Street rooms are fantastic. And the music--this is the stuff that made me duck my head under the covers when I watched old horror films as a kid.

There are plenty of different versions of "Hound" out there to see. Many have their "moments" of brilliance. But for pure enjoyment, you can do no better than Cushing's version. (I'm still dying to see his 1968 BBC version, almost impossible to get ahold of.) A pleasant, fun, and memorable "Hound of the Baskervilles."

And the few DVD extra features, thanks to Christopher Lee, provide added fun, too.

Rating:
Summary: One of Fisher's Best
Review: One of Terence Fisher's best films, in an immaculate transfer to DVD. Buy immediately; this is one the best Holmes films, and one of the finest films that Hammer ever made. Superb performances, excellent set design (Bernard Robinson), excellent score (James Bernard), excellent performances (Chris Lee, Peter Cushing, Andre Morrell). Buy this; you won't be sorry! Simply a must have!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant atmospheric Classic
Review: Peter cushing is excellent as Sherlock Holmes in this classic portrayal of 'Arthur Conan Doyles', "Hound Of The Baskervilles". A superb movie from beggining to end, a non stop chiller that grips you from the start and doesn't let go until the frightening conclusion. Another Great Peter Cushing movie. Well worth watching. Please contact me if you too are a Peter Cushing fan. See You!!!