THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
UK, 2002, 100 minutes, Colour.
Richard Roxburgh, Ian Hart, Richard E. Grant, Matt Day, John Nettles, Geraldine James, Neve Mackintosh, Ron Cook.
Directed by David Attwood.
The Internet Movie Data Base lists seventeen versions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, the most popular of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Many were made in the silent era. There are several German versions. There is also a Russian miniseries from the 1980s.
Different actors have excelled as Holmes including Basil Rathbone, Peter Cushing and, even, Stewart Granger. Tom Baker, television’s Doctor Who, also appeared in a version of The Hound of the Baskervilles. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore did a 1978 parody of the story.
This film is quite straightforward in its presentation. Richard Roxburgh seems a rather young Sherlock Holmes. There is a great difference in the presentation of Doctor John Watson. He is not the bumbling fool like Nigel Bruce to Basil Rathbone’s Holmes. This is a man who can stand on his own feet, is often very critical of Holmes feeling that he does not trust him? He is much more involved in the action – although the screenplay follows Conan Doyle’s story fairly exactly. Richard E. Grant is very good as the villain, Jack Stapleton. Australian actor Matt Day (who had worked with Richard Roxburgh in Doing Time for Patsy Cline) is Sir Henry Baskerville – with a Canadian accent.
Audiences are familiar with the story – and part of the interest is in looking how a new generation treats the familiar story and characters.
1.The popularity of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson? Of The Hound of the Baskervilles? The relative merits of this version?
2.The 19th century setting, London, Sherlock Holmes’s home? The streets of London? The moors, the country mansions? So much of the film told at night? Darkness and light?
3.The familiar story, characters, the hound itself and its terrifying the people? The motivations?
4.Richard Roxburgh as Sherlock Holmes, arrogant, younger? Doctor Watson’s description of him? His self-assurance? His dealing with the situation in London, sending Watson to Dartmoor? His arrival (and not using disguises as in other films)? The interactions with Sir Henry Baskerville, trying to protect him? The interactions with Jack Stapleton, his wife? The help of Doctor Mortimer, Mortimer not telling the truth about the bequest? Mrs Mortimer and her séances? Barrymore, the convict on the moors, Mrs Barrymore? and her story? The set-up for trapping Stapleton, the hound, the pursuit, Holmes himself in the quicksand, Stapleton willing to let him die? Rescued by Watson? The issues of trust?
5.Doctor Watson, competent, working with Holmes, being used by Holmes? His being genial, with Sir Henry? The meetings with the Stapletons, with Doctor Mortimer? His leaving Sir Henry alone, the attack on Sir Henry? Holmes’s arrival, their arguments? The final set-up, his rescuing Holmes from Stapleton?
6.Stapleton, charming, his sister? The reality of his wife? The resemblance to the paintings? The truth about his getting the hound, starving it, setting it on the moors? Pretending to be an archaeologist? The death of the lord? The heart attack? The attempt on Sir Henry’s life? Sir Henry attracted by Stapleton’s sister? Her refusal to cooperate, his harsh manner towards her? The set-ups, the Christmas Dinner? The walking on the moors? The hound, his wanting to be a rival to Sherlock Holmes? The quicksand, his death? The rescue of his wife?
7.The Mortimers, information about health, death? Mrs Mortimer? and the séance?
8.The Barrymores, their service to the Baskervilles, Barrymore’s story about a relationship? Mrs Barrymore covering for her brother, the convict out on the moors? His escape, the quicksand and his getting out? His being killed by the hound?
9.Inspector Lestrade, the relationship with Holmes, his coming to the country, Christmas, witnessing the Stapletons, the final confrontation?
10.The hound itself, the visuals, the savagery? An icon of Sherlock Holmes’s stories? Of horror?
