THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
US, 1972, 74 minutes, Colour.
Stewart Granger, Bernard Fox, William Shatner, Anthony Zerbe, Sally Ann Howes, Jane Merrow, Kenny Ireland, John Williams, Alan Caillou, Brendan Dillon, Arlene Anderson, Liam Dunn.
Directed by Barry Crane.
This is a small-budget version of the famous Conan Doyle story, filmed many times, with excellent Holmes like Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing, Ian Richardson. Stewart Granger is pleasantly gentlemanly as Holmes. Bernard Fox is very similar to Nigel Bruce. There is a range of American and British character actors in guest roles. Especially Anthony Zerbe as Dr Mortimer and William Shatner as Stapleton.
There is a flashback history to the curse of the Baskervilles and portraits of the ancestors in the home. The basic ingredients of Conan Doyle story our present, but abbreviated, and, for those not familiar with the story, entertaining in their way. Direction is by Barry Crane, his first television film before a prolific television career.
Critics were not very favourable to this version.
1. Small budget television movie of the week version? In comparison with other versions?
2. London, 1889, streets, buildings, carriages, costumes and decor? The Baker Street office? Devon, the mansion, the Moors? The musical score?
3. Stewart Granger as Holmes? Older, dapper, the English gentleman? Bernard Fox as Dr Watson, in the Nigel Bruce tradition? Watson testing his detective capacities, always wrong? The walking stick, the analysis, going to the talk, the encounter with Dr Mortimer, the explanation of the situation, meetings Sir Henry from Canada? The discussions, the warnings and messages? The coach following Sir Henry? Holmes and Watson losing it? The humour that the pursuer identified the cab driver as Sherlock Holmes? Further messages?
4. The flashbacks, the hunt, Sir Hugo, rake and rogue, the abduction, his behaviour, the hound and its destruction? The legend of the curse? Sir Charles and his being killed on the moor? The paintings in the house – and Stapleton altering Sir Hugo?
5. The train trip, the house, Barrymore and his wife, the story of the three escapees, in the quicksand, shot, in the river? Selden surviving the river, nephew of Barrymore’s wife, the signals, the food? His death – wearing Sir Henry’s clothes?
6. The town, the clue of the paper, Laura, dictation from her father, their alienation, his liking civil suits, her going to visit Stapleton, the story of her divorce, the initials on the paper for Sir Charles, Dr Mortimer giving her the money?
7. Stapleton, his background, teacher, his wife? His suave manner? His wife passing as his sister? The meetings with Sir Henry, with Holmes? Sir Henry attracted to the sister?
8. Holmes, back to London, in fact in disguise, lurking on the Moors, getting information, the revelation of his disguise to Watson?
9. The suspicions on Stapleton, removing the alterations to the portrait? The truth about his being a Baskerville? His wife as his sister? He is using Laura?
10. The setup, the final meeting on the Moors, the hound, its pursuit of Sir Henry, the scent on his missing boot? The shots? The hound returning to base, turning on Stapleton, in
the quicksand?
11. The basics of Conan Doyle’s story?
