Unexpectedly, it isn’t the mystery that’s the highlight of The Hound of the Baskervilles; it’s the cast. Ian Richardson, in particular, stands out as one of the interpretations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective.
When an ancient family curse in the form of a ghostly hound frightens Sir Charles Baskerville (David Langton) to death, Sherlock Holmes (Richardson) and Dr. John Watson (Donald Churchill) investigate. His sole heir, Sir Henry (Martin Shaw) now fears for his life. An unbeliever in the supernatural, Holmes turns his attention to the other inhabitants of the Baskerville House,.
I’ve read a fair amount of Sherlock Holmes’ adventures and seen some of the more notable adaptations. Not knowing the mystery behind The Hound of the Baskervilles, I found it entertaining to solve. As a film, it isn’t air-tight, largely due to the amount of screentime given to the various suspects. Based on this, you can, unfortunately, sort of figure out who is most likely to be the culprit. Big thriller/detective movie fans may see the ending coming (I didn’t). Even if you do, it’s an entertaining mystery with enough red herrings, side plots and puzzling clues to keep you invested in the 101 minute running time.
For those who already know this tale, it’s worth seeing for Ian Richardson as Sherlock Holmes. Not only does the man have the look - particularly in the face, which isn’t too handsome, is easily disguised and has a sharp gleam of intelligence in his eyes - he’s also a great actor. He feels like an actual detective running circles among everyone else, including the audience. Don’t be surprised if he becomes your new mental image when you hear the name “Sherlock Holmes”. Considering the many stereotypical phrases and mannerisms you’ll see him display, I suspect that’s already the case. Also noteworthy is Donald Churchill as Watson, whose charms contain that right mix of intelligence and bewilderment faced with Holmes’ skills. He makes for a good avatar for the audience. While you’ll enjoy the mystery, it’s these actors whom you’ll really remember.
If you’re a fan of Sherlock Holmes - and you should be - The Hound of the Baskervilles is certainly worth a look. Its only true flaw is that it never explode off the screen, or blow your mind like you’d expect a film featuring the legendary detective would. It’s perfectly good entertainment with a fantastic cast. (On DVD, July 3, 2014)
