Is The Hound of the Baskervilles a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
DVD Distributed By: Kino Lorber
Mastered in HD! Peter Cushing (The Skull) is a splendid Sherlock Holmes and Andre Morell (TV’s Quatermass and the Pit) is the perfect Dr. Watson in this terror-filled mystery classic co-starring horror legend Christopher Lee (House of the Long Shadows). With its compelling acting and spooky cinematography, this top-notch murder-mystery will keep you guessing and gasping until the final frame.
A fiendish evil lurks beneath the mist-shrouded cliffs of England’s fabled moors. In the form of a hellish hound, it feeds upon the trembling flesh of the heirs of Baskerville Hall. But before this savage beast can sink its teeth into the newest lord of the manor, it must pit its vicious fangs against the searing intellect of the most powerful foe it has ever encountered – the incomparable Sherlock Holmes.
Hammer legend Terence Fisher (The Man Who Could Cheat Death) directed this masterpiece in suspense and horror, which was called “The Best Sherlock Holmes Film Ever Made!” by Time Out Film Guide.
Trashmen Round Table
Jamie
Since it was my pick, I guess I will start:
Overall, I really enjoyed it but I figured I was going to because: Hammer, Cushing, Lee, Sherlock Holmes. It was a no-brainer that this was going to be good. And it was.
I have never read the book The Hound of the Baskervilles and would be curious to know how truthful this adaptation was. I thought the performances were good, especially Cushing who plays Sherlock Holmes as slightly egotistical and smarmy at times. I wish I knew more about his relationship with Dr. Watson.
Christopher Lee as a romantic lead was a little odd to see. Sets looked great and love the stylish lighting. What did you guys think?
Travis
I liked it. As you said when the words Hammer, Cushing, and Lee are combined it’s hard for it not be entertaining. Certainly a little different take on the source material, and since it is semi-horror fits in well with Hammer material.
When it started and the time period was much earlier than the expected Holmes-era, it was a bit jarring. It did set the tone though with the atmospheric settings, and honestly what better way to start a movie than by having a guy thrown through a window? It helps to differentiate itself from the other adaptations of this popular Sherlock adventure.
Jimbo
I don’t know if it’s easy or hard to tackle a Sherlock Holmes film for review. The character has been around for so many years and in so many different formats that opinions are bound to vary.
The character found new popularity with the most recent incarnation in BBC TVs Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Of course, Robert Downey Jr. fans helped make the character a box office success in two Guy Ritchie films.
By today’s standards the 1959 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles probably feels like a “classical” version of the characters. But back then, I’m willing to bet Hammer’s vision was a radical departure from actual “classic” source material.
Travis
I am a bit surprised that this ended up being a one and done though. Did audiences at the time feel Holmes was passé? Did they just want a straight up horror film? Some making-of material might be helpful here.
Jamie
The Kino DVD only has a trailer and an interview with an old Lee who talked about the dog that was used for the Hound and his friendship with Cushing. I have a feeling after Curse of Frankenstein and Horror of Dracula and The Abominable Snowman, maybe audiences wanted a monster movie.
Jimbo
I think you’re both right. The lack of Cushing/Hammer Sherlock Holmes films indicates that it wasn’t a huge success for Hammer. So the question that keeps swirling in my head is, with all of these other options and versions of the character, how does a group like ours convince others to seek out and watch this version of The Hound of the Baskervilles?
Jamie
For an age group younger than 40? Impossible. Just like you said, the Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes answers that. We would need to convince older viewers to seek it out (which many have seen or forgot they saw since they are old). Or film nerds like us who are sick and tired of the moronic “action” films and terrible directing, CGI, editing, I can go on and on.
Travis
Under 40?
- Horror nerds. They might crossover based on the people and studio.
- Holmes fans that need more of a fix and have already seen all the newer stuff. This is at least in color, so has a chance.
Not sure what else would do it. Unless this is currently on Netflix, there isn’t even a chance that they could even accidentally encounter it.
Jamie
Well Kino has released this on DVD and Twilight Time has released this on blu ray, so there may be a chance there. I think this was on Netflix awhile back too. Maybe fans of the newer stuff may seek it out. I just don’t have much faith in the average moviegoer as of late.
Travis
“Who buys DVDs anymore?” is the most likely answer you’ll get.
Jimbo
Maybe if they remake it with the Lucasfilm Grand Moff Tarkin digital model… I’m sure Peter Jackson’s Weta Studios has the digital version of Sir Christopher Lee. Then the kids will enjoy a modern Sherlock Holmes with iconic actors!
Obviously, I jest. In all fairness I’m not going to bash younger generations for liking the movies they’ve been programmed to like. I like Travis’ comment: “This is at least in color”. This comment resonated with me because when I was a kid, B&W TVs were on the outs but you could still buy them. I remember in my youth preferring color films over B&W. I had to learn to appreciate B&W films and it took classics like Night of the Living Dead to do that.
Craig
The thing that I’ve noticed about “the kids” is that they can appreciate older things for the most part (at least the ones I deal with) they just don’t seek anything out. They happily accept whatever slop (like Guy Ritchie films) is placed in front of their mugs. But if you can gain their attention long enough from watching videos of other people playing video games (get off my damn lawn) then they can appreciate a classy piece of trash like a Hammer film.
Jimbo
Fortunately, I feel Hammer’s adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles can be that “transition” movie. It’s easy to point to iconic actors Cushing and Lee as high points. Frankly I would stop down and watch anything with these two. Cushing especially has such a sophistication and grace to all of his roles. His performances tend to hold your attention and leave impact more subconsciously. He’s one of those actors that make everything he touches better.
Craig
Cushing is great as Holmes here and you can tell he’s having a good time with the role. I mean, you can always count on Cushing for a good performance but you can tell when he’s invested and when he’s phoning it in (I think he’s phoning it in for Star Wars).
Jimbo
And I don’t want to short change Andre Morell’s take on Dr. Watson. There’s a fairly sizable portion of the movie where Mr. Holmes is off screen doing something else, leaving Morell and Lee to carry the picture. Both are up to the task.
Jamie
You make a good point about Andre Morell as his Dr. Watson wasn’t the goofy sidekick that I assumed was Watson. I liked that he wasn’t there for comic relief (although seeing maybe Peter Lorre in the role would have been great to see, or Donald Pleasence).
Craig
I do happen to like my Dr. Watson a bit bumbling though. It’s a nice contrast to Holmes. Not that I dislike Morell, I’ve just grown up on the Rathbone/Bruce combo.
Jimbo
Don’t forget Watson’s troublesome sherry habit. Although he’s not the only character pouring the spirits liberally.
Jamie
There is a ton of sherry drinking and cigar and pipe smoking!
Jimbo
Especially the Bishop. He really liked a good drink! He was probably the one character that was intentionally written to bring a little levity to the movie.
Jamie
His dumb haircut…
Jimbo
Hahaha!!! Yeah, you kept pointing that out.
I consider this to be one of my all-time favorite Sherlock Holmes movies. In addition to sherry consumption and bad haircuts, there’s a great blend of the classic Hammer gothic horror, wrapped in a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Everything from the set design, the costumes, down to the photography is organic, tactile, and real. And (as Craig pointed out during the screening) day for night photography is shot properly. The entire production is just brimming with very skilled artists and craftsmen (who subsequently don’t sit behind a computer.)
Craig
I do like the denseness of Jack Asher’s photography. And those splashes of color are fantastic. That’s one thing that I really miss watching movies now. All movies just seem to be either blue or orange. Just throw a random green light in there somewhere, who cares if it ‘makes sense’. Sometimes things make more emotional sense then logical sense, you know?
Travis
I was serious (when we were watching) that I love how female flesh looks in Hammer films. It only appears that way on actual film. Thanks Technicolor. Suck it digital!!
Jimbo
That “splash of green” might be the kind of film logic that the under 40 crowd doesn’t understand. It’s like a foreign language. “Why is that green? That doesn’t make sense. I don’t like this!”
I shouldn’t make presumptions. And again, I don’t want to insult anyone under 40. When all you are fed is superhero movies and Star Wars spin-offs, can you blame them for not having a taste for something different? I’m not against modern movie making, but when you find honest to goodness classics like this, I think we need to be good stewards to their legacy. If nothing else, hopefully someone reads our discussion and take a break from the current industry machine.
Travis
Yes, I can blame them. If all you served me to eat is shit covered lima beans, I don’t get a pass for thinking it tastes good. I should know it’s awful and know something better is out there.
But to be somewhat fair, it’s harder to search things out on your own. Even with hundreds of cable channels the “late night movie” doesn’t exist anymore, video stores are gone, Red Box only stock things brand new, and streaming services selection suck. It takes serious effort now.
Hound wasn’t even a big hit in its own time, so in general I think this is stuck as a cult/niche film no matter what. You’re never going to get most people to give it a glance. I enjoyed it at least.
Jamie
I have no problem bashing the younger generation. I was an 80’s kid but still loved black and white and watched Abbott & Costello, Godzilla, NOTLD, silent films, and of course Hammer. But I didn’t seek these out on my own. My parents introduced me to these since I didn’t have siblings. My mother introduced me to Little Shop of Horrors, Day the Earth Stood Still and Psycho / Hitchcock. My father introduced me to all the classic comedians and Tarzan films and westerns.
The younger generation needs some guidance to open up their narrow minds. I work with a guy here who is in his late 20’s and saw Raiders of the Lost Ark for the first time and said he thought it was “too real” and “wasn’t fun”. He wouldn’t last five minutes with The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Craig
I don’t know. Maybe it’s not a problem with “the kids” so much as it’s a problem with humanity in general. I’ve known plenty of dipshits who will only watch films from the 80s and won’t watch anything from the 70s or earlier.
Travis
This is turning into a serious old man rant.
Jamie
Good! We are old men. The Hound of the Baskervilles made me want to watch more Sherlock Holmes films, save for the Robert Downey Jr movies.
Jimbo
I’ll say this and finally put it to bed…
I wouldn’t go so far as to say modern films are “shit covered in lima beans”. Current filmmaking is, and has been for a long time, more like McDonalds. It’s overly processed, on every corner, and is offered at a price easily attained by everyone. And to be 100% honest, even I sometimes want a Big Mac even though my Doctor says my cholesterol is too high.
I would just caution against writing off a possible piece of our future readership. For every “Bro” that thinks Raiders is boring, I’m more optimistic that there are a handful of malleable youth who would love to discover the good stuff. The challenge comes in resources and availability, as Travis points out.
This film is currently available in both DVD and limited edition Blu-ray. And because I’m not opposed to whoring myself for this website, I ask our readers to use the included Amazon links to buy this damn movie. How else will I put my kids through college?
There is a free option…TubiTV
So those social media obsessed youth have no excuses. They can even watch it on their phones.
Travis
I rate this 3.5 out of 5 sherry casks.
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
| Jamie: |  (4.0 / 5) |
| Travis: |  (3.5 / 5) |
| Jimbo: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Craig: | (4.0 / 5) |
| Average: |  (3.9 / 5) |
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Special Features
- Featurette with Christopher Lee
- Trailers
