The Hound Of The Baskervilles [DVD]

I have many versions of The Hound of the Baskervilles and I enjoy almost all of them. This version with Ian Richardson I consider among the best. I am very happy with the transfer to Blu-ray as unlike The Sign of Four which I also bought this transfer is well done. I don't know if this was 4.3 stretched to 1.78.1 but at least they have not cut the heads off the actors like they have on The Sign of Four. The picture and sound quality is very good given that it was a made for TV film also given the age of the film. In the casting of this movie I have one small niggle and that is with the actor who played Dr Watson, I'm afraid he was too Nigel Bruce for my liking and the way he did it did not quite work for me. I still however highly recommend it to Sherlock Holmes fans.

Aaargh, it's not fair: an overall mark is so misleading. Richardson is super as Holmes and I'd give him 5 stars on his own. Then it all starts to fall apart. Watson is portrayed as a buffoon, which he wasn't. Martin Shaw? Hmmm. Denholm Elliott and Eleanor Bron do well enough. Brian Blessed's larger than life way of playing things actually works not too badly. The Mire - we'll pass over, quickly. An almost spotlessly clean Victorian London, however, won't do. A few nods (intended or otherwise) to Hammer Horror, which are rather endearing. A few liberties with the plot but that's almost expected, alas, with screen adaptations. So, all in all, a mixed bag: some of it very good, much of it ok and .. some other bits as well.

Lets be honest here, Ian Richardson, a brilliant actor, wasn’t as well suited to the role of Sherlock Holmes as Jeremy Brett. He plays it a little too ‘by the book’, taking his cues from Basil Rathbone instead of trying to make the part his own. That said though, this is a very watchable adaptation of Conan Doyle’s classic tale, the whole cast do their utmost to invoke a sense of fear and mystery, and the settings and cinematography are beautifully executed. This isn’t the best version of the story you’re likely to see, but it’s far from the worst. Well-worth a place on the shelf!

This is a version of the "Hound of the Baskervilles" that I got mainly because I enjoy Ian Richardson's acting, so I really don't mind the fact that this one deviates from the story written by Doyle in some-quite a few actually- places. This is not the version to get if you are after an accurate rendition of the story-if that's what you are after, try the version with Jeremy Brett instead. In this one, Mrs. Stapleton remains very much alive at the end and it is indicated that she and Sir Henry Baskerville will be together. Mr. Stapleton is still the villain of the piece, but seems slightly more prone to emotional outbursts than counterparts of his are in other versions of the "Hound of the Baskervilles".Ian Richardson is quite good as Holmes but the rest of the cast is also good. It includes Brian Blessed,Nicholas Clay and others.

Great movie, terrible Blu-ray. Wrong aspect ratio, picture is cropped from its original fullscreen ratio to fit widescreen TVs. The image quality leaves a lot to be desired as well, clouding and strange shadows all over. Avoid this Bru-ray like the plague and buy the old DVD version instead.

Holmes is well played but the rest is pretty poor and why rewrite such a great story - there was no additional dramatic effect from changing the story at all . I was very disappointed with this version and regretted buying it when so many good versions are around .

Excellent Doyle title featuring the estimable Ian Richardson as Holmes. This might have become a series had not the Granada/Jeremy Brett project stymied it. Unlike the 'Sign of Four" release, made about the same time, The "Hound" script allows Watson to be the "Doyle original" Dr. Watson, an intelligent, helpful colleague of Holmes, and David Healy steps up with a very fine performance.Disc quality is fine.

Ian Richardson is brilliant as Sherlock Holmes.The film is atmospheric and captures the horror of Conan Doyle's famous story. The supporting cast is equally great -especially Brian Blessed, Denholm Elliot ,Connie Booth, Nicholas Clay and the gorgeous Glynis Barber . There's a nice cameo by Ronald Lacey as Inspector Lestrade.The film is shot on the moors giving it a eerie foreboding feel .In all a very entertaining movie .However a new copy is very expensive to get hold of.I managed to obtain a very good used copy for a reasonable price.