THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
UK, 1959, 86 minutes, Colour.
Peter Cushing, Andre Morell, Christopher Lee, Maria Landi, Ewen Solon, Francis de Wolff.
Directed by Terence Fisher.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of the many screen adaptations of Conan Doyle's classic. It was made with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as well as with Stewart Granger.
Peter Cushing seems eminently suited to Holmes - though he is a bit more vigorous than might be expected, especially in comparison with Basil Rathbone and his style. Andre Morell is a genial, if more serious, Watson. Christopher Lee has a straightforward role as Sir Henry Baskerville. (The film was made in the years of Hammer Studios' great days with Cushing and Lee in so many films from Dracula to Frankenstein to The Mummy.) Director is Terence Fisher, the veteran and considered the best director of the Hammer horrors.
The film is colourful, makes do on a small budget, has an atmosphere of horror as well as presenting Sherlock Holmes and his work.
1.Entertaining Sherlock Holmes story? Popularity of the detective, of Dr Watson, their methods? The popularity of the stories and the many film versions?
2.Peter Cushing and Andre Morell in the tradition of Holmes and Watson? Bringing the characters to life? Methods?
3.The book as a classic, the many variations and versions? How satisfying this as a version of the '50s?
4.The prologue, Sir Hugo and his depravity, his revelry, cruelty, the pursuit of the maid, her murder? His death and the legend of the Hound of the Baskervilles? (As reinforced by Dr Mortimer and Mr Stapleton?)
5.Dr Mortimer, telling the legend to Holmes and Watson? Their reactions? His concern about Sir Henry, not wanting to work with him as physician there? The fight with Sir Henry and leaving him? The going to the mine, plotting Holmes's death, collaboration with Stapleton?
6.Sir Henry, the South African background, his presence in London, the first meeting with Holmes and Watson, his lost shoe (and later as a clue)? Friendship with Holmes, returning to his home? The Barrymores and working with them? Going hunting? The visit of the bishop and his generosity? The warning not to go on the moor, the scare and his heart? The encounter with Cecile, attracted to her? The plan to go for the meal? Kissing her and being seen by Stapleton? The build-up to the final evening, Cecile luring Sir Henry to the murder scene, the hound, the rescue?
7.Stapleton, his background, the property, poor land, the trap and his warning Dr Watson? Friendship with Sir Henry? Treatment of Cecile? The truth, the Baskerville descendency, the mine and trying to kill Holmes? The plot to kill Sir Henry - the dagger, the hound? Being shot? Cecile, her explanation of her background, Spanish mother, kissing Sir Henry, attracting him, the invitation, leading him to the moor, her vengeance? Her death in the mire?
8.The story of Seldon, the escaped criminal, helping Holmes on the moor, wearing Sir Henry's clothes, killed by the hound? The Barrymores and their work, helping Seldon?
9.Peter Cushing as Holmes - the expected manner, dress, deductions, elementary? Listening to Dr Mortimer, his plans, hiding on the moor, taking over the household, the clues, the picture, the hound, the mine, his getting out alive and waiting for Dr Mortimer and Stapleton? The final confrontation, egging Sir Henry to go? The solution? His vanity? Dr Watson and his genial assistance, on the spot, walking on the moors, encountering Stapleton, friendship with Sir Henry, with Cecile? His participation in the adventures?
10.The atmosphere of the 19th century, Victorian England, the city and the countryside, sinister evil, murders and greed? Murder mysteries and solutions?
