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Amazon.co.uk Review
Sherlock Holmes gets the Gothic treatment in Hammer's Hound of the Baskervilles, a typical mix of mystery and supernatural horror from the famous studio. Peter Cushing is perfectly cast as the great detective, the very embodiment of science and reason (which also made him a great Van Helsing in the Dracula series) in a case wound around a legacy of aristocratic cruelty and a devilish dog wandering the swampy moors. Christopher Lee is a less satisfying fit as the last of the Baskervilles, as he waffles between fear and apathetic disregard, but Andre Morell is a fine Dr Watson and a far cry from Nigel Bruce's sweet bumbler from the Hollywood incarnation of the 1940s. Director Terence Fisher was Hammer's top stylist and the film drips with the mood of the moors, mist hanging in the air, the dying vegetation itself threatening to come to life and trap the next unwary traveller. --Sean Axmaker
Special Features
- Original theatrical trailer
- Interactive menu screens and chapter selections
DVD Technical Information:
- Region Code: 2
- PAL
- Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
- Full Frame Widescreen 16:9
- Colour
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous Sherlock Holmes story, Terence Fisher's film of The Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the best attempt to immortalise the Great Detective on film. The movie has several things in its favour, notably a director at the top of his game, teamed yet again with the initial Bray crew who made Hammer's initial run of Gothic fantasies so memorable; in particular Jack Asher's cinematography deserves special praise. The cast, too, is almost flawless; in terms of faithfulness to the literary source, the Holmes and Watson team of Peter Cushing and Andre Morell is second only to the Jeremy Brett / David Burke pairing of the Granada TV series, twenty-five years later. The supporting performances are respectable, with such British cinema stalwarts as John Le Mesurier, Miles Malleson, and Francis DeWolff giving their usual accomplished turns, and David Oxley memorably evil as the depraved Sir Hugo Baskerville. The film doesn't quite follow the source novel, subtracting several characters and beefing up the roles of others, but as this is one of the most-adapted stories in TV and film history that is hardly a bad thing; the 1959 adaptation is easily the most enjoyable, being more action-packed than either the 1939 Basil Rathbone version or the 1988 Brett TV movie, whilst still building up a memorable atmosphere of menace and dread, aided by James Bernard's typically doom-laden score. As well as bettering the respected Rathbone and Brett versions, this movie is vastly superior to just about any other adaptation you could mention. The only real flaw in the film (and this is perhaps a controversial opinion) is the casting of Christopher Lee as the victimised Sir Henry Baskerville. Lee is, of course, typically professional in the role, and there is nothing technically wrong with his performance; but after viewing his more forceful performances opposite Cushing in other, more even-handed movies, made both before and after this one, it is a little hard to accept him as a physically weak, mild-mannered aristocrat who is constantly in awe of Cushing's dynamic Holmes. The fact that he towers above both Cushing and Morell, his supposed saviours, doesn't help either; surely an actor who would have been a better fit for the role would have been Francis Matthews, Cushing's young co-star in the previous year's The Revenge of Frankenstein.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It would be easy to dismiss this film as 'a classic Hammer' a term which is slightly double edged - but this film is a classic in every sense, and resoundingly British. The set designs are amazing, with Baker Street and Baskerville Hall being evocatively recreated. The mix between location shooting and the set of the moors is seamless and most unobtrusive. Terence Fisher's direction is again proven to be peerless - not indulging in any unnecessary movements or bizarre angles (compare and contrast to the Corman films), but a meticulous accumulation of detail - quite in keeping with Holmes and particularly Cushing's performance.
With one of the greatest British film actors in the form of Cushing, and one of cinema's enduring icons in the form of Lee, this film was always ensured a cult following. But in this instance, much more wider appreciation is needed. Cushing performance is the very embodiment of Conan-Doyle's prose writing, Lee, playing against type gives one of his greatest early performances. Andre Morell again throws new light on Watson - not a bumbling Nigel Bruce figure, but as Conan-Doyle wrote him, a highly intelligent competant military surgeon who unfortunately has to spout questions to keep the audience informed about Holmes' motivation.
However, one constant criticism of the film has been the fact that the Hound is not entirely convincing. This is true, but in the context of the film, it is entirely appropriate, thus negating all of the criticism.
Alongside 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes', this must be the greatest Conan-Doyle adaptation, and one that richly deserves to be re-discovered. This DVD is a bit scant - only a trailer for extras, but nonetheless, the film itself is a true great.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I am a big hammer fan and have loved this movie from the first time i saw it about twenty five years ago.Peter cushing is excellent as holmes and I also think that andre morell gives a brilliant yet understated performance as watson.Unfortunately christopher lee is left with a smaller role as the reigning baskerville but still gives a fine performance.There is also very good support from the always reliable francis de wolff.The region 1 disc has a couple of featurettes,an interview with christopher lee (13mins)in which he fondly remembers his old friend peter cushing and two readings from the novel(21mins)only the first featurette is mentioned on the cover.Also there is the trailer.As the price of the region 1 disc was so good i sold my region 2 and upgraded .It was well worth it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Classic Hammer
The Hounds of the Baskervilles (or "Le Chien des Baskervilles" as it is known as in France) was the first Hammer production I have ever seen. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Autonome
classic hammer!
having not read any sherlock holme's stories i'm familiar with the character and the story of the hound of the baskerville's.. Read more
Published 6 months ago by darren1983
Pass me that hammer, Watson ...
Hammer meets Sherlock Holmes with very predictable results - that is, more blood and little or no subtlety. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Shrewlord
Holmes meets full Hammer gothic
Although the story has been altered in this adaptation, the full Hammer gothic approach suits this story fantastically well. Read more
Published 9 months ago by downkiddie
Different spin, equally effective.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are requested to keep an eye on Sir Henry Baskerville, who has inherited an estate out on Dartmoor. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Spike Owen
paradigm of european intelligence
I like this film, only one between the many about the famous novel of Conan Doyle and his hero Sherlock Holmes. It's perhaps not the best, but it's very classic and I like it more. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Carlos Vazquez Quintana
Hound of the Baskervilles??
I bought this film for my daughter who studied the text for a GCSE course. After thoroughly enjoying the book she thought it would be a good contrast to watch the film. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lindseyp
Top five Hammer production
This movie is pretty good, it is also one of the best Hammer production out there. The atmospher is quite eerie and mysterious. The actors are in the peak of their acting. Read more
Published 20 months ago by drunkenmaster
Hammer it Holmes!!!!!
It's great to see Cushing and Lee on the same side for once and I guess maybe the only time, it's usually van helsing/dracula
or frankenstein/monster. Read more
or frankenstein/monster. Read more
Published on 19 May 2010 by George Henderson
One of Hammer's finest - and a fine Sherlock Holmes adaptation as well
Although a box-office disappointment in its day, Hammer's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes' most famous adventure isn't just one of the studio's finest films, but one of the very best... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2009 by Trevor Willsmer
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