Mark Turner Growing up in the sixties we didn't have access to things taken for granted today. No video recorders, no DVDs, no streaming services and for the most part no cable even. If we wanted to see something we watched it when it was on. It also meant that there was plenty of classic films to be found on select VHF stations, collections bought in packages that those stations ran. It was on one of these stations that I was able to watch all of the classic Universal horror films and the wonderful series of Sherlock Holmes movies starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce. But one night I was able to see a different version of Holmes, a more recent one, and loved it as much as I did those in the series. It featured Peter Cushing in the lead role and was titled THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.The film opens in the past with the story of Hugo Baskerville, an entitled rogue if there ever was one, and his demise due to the famed hound from hell that roamed the moors seeking revenge against him. Time has passed and we move forward to the present (in this case late 1800s, early 1900s). The new heir to Baskerville Hall is Sir Henry (Christopher Lee) and an attack on his life has already been made. Holmes is hired to protect him but instead send Watson (Andre Morell) to stay by his side while he finishes business in London.Watson obliges and does his best to protect Sir Henry but mysterious things are afoul in the area. A convict has escaped from Dartmoor Prison nearby and has yet to be captured. A woman is seen prowling the moors and Sir Henry finds himself attracted to her. Lights are lit in the hall where no one should be. And the baying of a hound is heard at night.Clues mount up, Holmes arrives in more ways than one and the mystery of the hound is sought out. It's a story with plenty of those clues giving hints as to what is going on but never quite revealed until the final scene. In other words, a great mystery.The movie succeeds in so many ways it's difficult to pinpoint just which should take credit. Produced by Hammer Films, the studio already responsible for pairing Lee and Cushing in their versions of Frankenstein and Dracula, made the smart move of pairing them here together again. Director Terence Fisher does an amazing job of bringing the best out of all his actors. The sets and locations are perfect. The story moves along at a pace that holds your interest and never releases it. In short it is a near perfect film and perhaps the best made revolving around Sherlock Holmes. So sad to think of how wonderful it would have been to see Cushing star in more films based on the character.Twilight Time is releasing this one and as always they've done a fantastic job. The quality of the transfer is wonderful to see. This time around they also offer more extras than usual. Those include an isolated music and effects track, audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Steven Peros, audio commentary with film historians Paul Scrabo, Lee Pfeiffer and Hank Reinke, ACTOR'S NOTEBOOK: CHRISTOPHER LEE, hound mask creator Margaret Robinson on the film, Christopher Lee reading excerpts from the book and the original theatrical trailer. Once again Twilight Time this is a limited edition and restricted to just 3,000 copies. If you love Cushing, Lee, Holmes or Hammer by all means jump on a copy of this right away. If you just love a good movie it's worth having as well.

Shawn Watson Hound of the Baskervilles is probably the most filmed adaptation of Conan-Doyle's Sherlock Holmes lore. There are literally dozens of HOTB adaptations across movies, TV, plays, mini-series, and even video games. There's not much one can do with the material to keep it interesting and fresh, but Terence Fisher mixes up a few of the elements as best as he can, which might have some Holmes purists crying foul.Holmes and Watson are called away to the gloomy moors of Dartmoor where a giant hellhound has been tormenting the dwindling numbers of the Baskerville family. Sir Henry has recently moved in after a number of years living in Africa and his weak heart is about to pack in as the rumors intensify.Watson takes over for the beginning of the case as Holmes vanishes to sleuth on his own. For anyone who has read the novel or seen any of the previous movies all of this will be so far so familiar, as are the next two acts. What this Hammer production does offer is some nice production design and a few striking shots. Peter Cushing is good as Holmes while Andre Morell, displeased with Nigel Bruce's interpretation of Watson, brings a serious edge to the character.As the first Sherlock Holmes movie made in color it does look very slick and it's never boring. It just fails to bring anything truly new to the table. Though I would have like to see Hammer take this series further. Sadly, the movie underperformed and they did not.

Scott LeBrun Cracking, deliciously fun Hammer version of the classic Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The great detective is played by Hammer star Peter Cushing, in a performance of style and wit. Holmes is hired by Mortimer (Francis De Wolff), the doctor for the aristocratic Baskerville family. Sir Charles Baskerville has just died, and Holmes must not only solve the crime, but make sure that Charles' nephew Sir Henry (Sir Christopher Lee) is protected from harm.Hammers' typically meticulous recreation of a long ago time and place helps to set a palpable mood. Director Terence Fisher is in fine form, as he guides this horror - mystery genre mix through its twists and turns. And these are solid and believable twists and turns. For people such as this viewer who aren't familiar with the novel, they'll be kept on their toes and not two steps ahead of the story at every point. We're always engrossed, and invested in the plight of the characters. We also marvel at Holmes' cleverness and deductive ability. There's just the right amount of tension, especially in a scene where a terrified Sir Henry discovers an eight legged surprise on his body. (Helping to sell the moment is the fact that Sir Christopher himself had a fear of spiders.) The atmosphere is incredible, especially in all scenes that take place on the Moors. James Bernard once again crafts a thunderous and eerie score. It's also nice to take in the vivid colour that Hammer introduced to the Gothic horror genre.Cushing and Lee are a dream team, as always. Cushing is a very good Holmes, and Andre Morell matches him as a very personable Dr. Watson. Lee is touching as his character falls in love with local girl Cecile. A marvelous supporting cast, too: Marla Landi, David Oxley, De Wolff, Miles Malleson (delivering delightful comedy relief as a priest who doubles as an insect & arachnid expert), Ewen Solon, John Le Mesurier, Helen Goss, and Sam Kydd.Well paced and diverting for 87 exciting minutes.Eight out of 10.

BA_Harrison There have been many adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of The Baskervilles over the years, but this 1959 version from Hammer studios has got to rank as one of the best, largely thanks to the impeccable casting of Peter Cushing, who is on top form as legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, and André Morell, whose Watson is far from the bumbling oaf of the earlier Universal Studios series. It doesn't hurt either to have fellow Hammer stalwart Christopher Lee on standby as Sir Henry Baskerville, and with wonderfully atmospheric direction from Terence Fisher, and sumptuous production design throughout, there is much here to enjoy.Fisher opens his movie with the origin of the Baskerville curse, as told to Holmes and Watson by Doctor Richard Mortimer (Francis De Wolff), who has come to Baker Street for help after his friend, Sir Charles Baskerville, is discovered dead on the moors, apparently the victim of a terrifying beast. Holmes learns how wicked Hugo Baskerville supposedly doomed further generations of his family by hunting down and murdering an innocent young woman, thus invoking a terrible hound from Hell that lurks under the moors.Of course, Holmes knows that there must be a logical answer to the mysterious deaths that have plagued the Baskervilles, and with help from Watson, he eventually discovers the truth, but only after plenty of danger involving a deadly tarantula, the perilous Grimpen mire, a dilapidated tin mine, and the hell hound itself.While the plot does deviate somewhat from Conan Doyle's novel, most notably with the introduction of Spanish babe Cecile (Marla Landi) as love interest for Sir Henry, any liberties taken with the source material do little to spoil what is an extremely entertaining movie.8/10, although Miles Malleson's very amusing turn as dippy entomologist Bishop Frankland almost nudged my rating to a 9.