THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
UK, 1978, 85 minutes, Colour.
Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Denholm Elliott, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith, Irene Handl, Terry- Thomas, Kenneth Williams, Roy Kinnear, Jessie Matthews, Prunella Scales.
Directed by Paul Morrissey.
This is an unusual version of Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. It is a spoof written by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore with Cook as Sherlock Holmes and Dudley Moore not only as Doctor Watson but several other characters as well. The Stapletons are played by Denholm Elliott and Joan Greenwood with Terry- Thomas as Doctor Mortimer and Kenneth Williams spoofing Sir Henry Baskerville himself. Roy Kinnear is Athol Selden.
The film is something of a hit-and-miss program – many funny sequences, others a bit flat. The direction is by Paul Morrissey who is best known as the director of many of the Andy Warhol features including Flesh, Trash as well as Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.
The film keeps the basic outline which is familiar to audiences, especially since there have been so many versions of The Hound of the Baskervilles including from the silent era (and German films from the silent era as well). Basil Rathbone portrayed Holmes in the 1939 version. Peter Cushing in 1959, Stewart Granger in 1972, Ian Richardson in 1983, Matt Frewer in a Canadian version in 2000 and Richard Roxburgh in 2002.
1. The appeal of the Sherlock Holmes stories from the beginning, the myriad film versions, the variations on the theme? This satire as a product of the seventies and the parodies and send-ups? Basic quality?
2. The contribution of the comic styles of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore? Of Paul Morrisey with his background, Andy Warhol films? A satisfactory blend? The English comedy tradition of the music hall styles, the review sketch, the vulgar popular tone? Whether it worked well for a film version?
3. The importance of the art and decor and the lavish attention to these? The humorous variations on this especially in Baskerville House? The contribution of Dudley Moore's musical score? The opening and the class with his playing the piano? Setting a Victorian atmosphere as well as a music hall style?
4. Audience knowledge of the plot and the characters? How important was this for the effect of the parody?
5. What is the value of such parody? Of the basic story of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, of Victorian murder mysteries, of Victorian manners? The mockery of Victorian styles and primness? The introduction of various review sketches and the atmosphere of skit? A satisfactory blend of these?
6. The film's reliance on British comedy traditions, especially the contribution of the various stars and their varying backgrounds from the stage, Ealing Studios' comedies of the fifties, the Carry On Series?
7. The relating of Conan Doyle's characters to the various types represented by the comedy stars? Was any characterization appropriate? How much a reliance on stock-type and audience recognition?
8. The comic situations? how much based on the original story, the variations on the situations and their exaggeration for parody's sake, for example Holmes himself and his clients, the initial clients being the nuns? Dr Watson? Holmes' mother? The Baskerville situation, the neighbours, (The Exorcist parodies etc.)?
9. The quality of the verbal humour, especially the use of pun and ambiguity?
10. Audience interest in the plot and the device of using chapters and the ironic touches with the nature of the chapters?
11. Audience response to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson over the decades? Their image in people's imagination? The parody here in trying to contradict the image? The use of disguises etc.? How well did Sherlock and Dr Watson emerge from the Cook and Moore parody?
12. Terry Thomas's style as Dr Mortimer and his role of hastening the intricacies of the plot? Terry Thomas's comic style?
13. The presentation of the Stapletons? Denholm Elliot and his comic style? The routine with the dog? Joan Greenwood and a parody of her style of the fifties and her being used for Exorcist parodies?
14. The Barrymores and the satire on the 19th century servants and their running of the house?
15. Kenneth Williams bringing the Carry On tradition to the treatment of Sir Henry and making him ineffective and effeminate? How well did he blend with the comic styles of the others?
16. The sketches of the neighbours, the police?
17. The introduction of Sherlock Holmes' mother? Dudley Moore's presentation of this character? Iris, the parody of the séances? Iris's death and the medium rare jokes?
18. The humour of the room, the lantern on the hill, the hound itself, the code?
19. How dated would some of the comedy routines make the film, for example, The Exorcist?
20. How well did the film achieve its purpose of satiric parodying Conan Doyle, mocking the image of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, providing a humorous entertainment in the traditional British style?
