Disc Reviews

The Hound Of The Baskervilles Blu-ray Review

2nd Jun 2015

Here from Arrow, we have Hammer’s marvellous 1959 version of one of Sherlock Holmes’ most revered adventures. The Hound of the Baskervilles in the hands of Hammer and director Terence Fisher becomes rather more of a mild gothic horror than crime caper. The film holds the honour of being the first Holmes movie to be shot in colour, and is presented here in a rather nice restored, and feature stuffed blu-ray edition. Let’s get on with it then shall we.

Starring Peter Cushing as Holmes, Andre ‘Quatermass’ Morell as a very wonderful and radical (for the time), Dr. Watson, with Christopher Lee, Francis De Wolff, and Marla Landi in supporting roles. The film’s tone is quintessentially Hammer, and although deviating from Doyle’s novel in key places, remains relatively faithful to it when one considers what they did to other literary classics (Dracula and Frankenstein please step forward).

Cushing makes a rapier sharp and energetic Holmes, and despite this author’s (admittedly somewhat hackneyed) opinion that the greatest screen Holmes there has ever been was Basil Rathbone: Cushing makes a decent fist of things, and owns the role rather well. The real revelation though is Andre Morell’s Dr. Watson. The aforementioned Rathbone era Holmes featured of course the loveable, but bumbling buffoonery of Nigel Bruce’s Dr. Watson, with said actor’s portrayals becoming increasingly clownish as the movies went on (what kind of doctor was he supposed to be for goodness sake?!). Morrell by contrast, goes back much closer to Doyle’s books, and creates a rather more capable and formidable Watson. He does this while also retaining a warm, affable and charismatic presence onscreen. It’s just as well really, as the nature of the story is such that Holmes is absent for a decent chunk of it; leaving Watson taking point; not a job for Bruce’s loveable idiot. Also worth a mention is Christopher Lee, who’s dashing performance as Sir Henry Baskerville is remarkably charming, and possibly the closest thing you’ll ever see to him playing the romantic leading man. It must be said that it is rather nice to see Mr Lee in a role like this. We are so used to him as the legendary bloodshot eyed dark prince, or more recently; the aged wizard Saruman the White etc. Here he is young, handsome, tall and dashing. Marvellous!

The film cracks along nicely, and although some might argue that the Baskervilles story is only as revered as it is because it was the first Holmes book from Doyle after an eight year hiatus following the character’s death in ‘The Final Problem’; I think this is to be a little disingenuous. Of course this is a review of the Hammer film, rather than the original novel; but the same arguments apply. For this author’s money, Hammer’s version is second only to the Rathbone version from 1939, but some Rathbone fanboy bias is surely swaying one’s perceptions perhaps. Regardless, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a wonderful mix of elements, and although Hammer’s interpretation seems to cry out for their more typical X rated level of horror, don’t let that put you off. It’s mild, but thrilling nonetheless, with the moors, the mire, and the mystery all working together.

The Blu-Ray

As mentioned in the introduction; the film has had a spiffing spit and polish. It is presented here in 1.66:1 from an original shooting ratio of 1.75:1. This means the image may be slightly taller for home viewing than when originally played in theatres, but not by very much. If this sort of thing passes you by as so much inconsequential technobabble gobbledegook, you’re not alone. Just know that the film has a somewhat televisual horizontal to vertical ratio, especially when compared to the wide look of films shot in ‘scope’. Oh dear, clear as mud. Anyway, It looks great for such an old movie, and this clarity certainly makes the viewing experience that much richer. If one had to be super picky; the Blu-Ray definition can show up a clunky Hammer set something chronic; but then It might be a bit of a stretch to argue that the film’s sets ever convinced, so we could be pedants for even mentioning it. That being said; there is a charm to it all that somehow makes it work. Coming, as it did, only a year or so after Dracula; there is also a rather high degree of repurposed set dressing, props and location shooting. If you are at all familiar with that film; it can be a bit of fun playing guess the candlestick.

Audio is Lossless (linear) PCM Mono at 48kHz 24bit, which for a 1959 movie is pretty much par for the course and perfectly acceptable.

Bonus Features

When it comes to supplemental material Arrow are not shortchanging us with this package, and the disc has a plethora of extras worthy of your time. Here’s a breakdown.

Brand new Audio Commentary with Hammer experts Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby – These guys really know their Hammer, and the conversation is lively and informative; even if at times they sound like two high achieving schoolboys playing a game of ‘who knows more’.
Brand new interview with hound mask creator Margaret Robinson – Bless her cotton socks for agreeing to be interviewed for this release. Robinson explains in her oh so quaint tones, how she designed and fabricated the mask they fitted to the great dane used for the climax.
Brand new interview with assistant director Hugh Harlow
Andre Morell: Best of British – A short documentary about Morell, his career, and his almost love/hate relationship with Hammer. As an intriguing presence in the film (as stated earlier), this is a very welcome feature.
The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes – Documentary produced in 1986 and presented by Christopher Lee. It is a reasonably in-depth look at all the major incarnations (and a fair few of the less major ones). Made around the time of Barry Levinson’s Young Sherlock Holmes, probably as part of that film’s promotion (otherwise why give it any more than a cursory mention). Thankfully references to it are mercifully sparing.
Actor’s Notebook: Christopher Lee – An archive (but by the looks of him, not that long ago), interview with Lee focussing mainly on the making of the movie, and in particular his memories of working with Peter Cushing.
The Hound of the Baskervilles Excerpts read by Christopher Lee.
Original Theatrical Trailer.
Reversible sleeve – Featuring both the original, and some would say misleadingly horror orientated artwork, as well as a really nice newly commissioned sleeve by Paul Shipper.
Collector’s booklet – Featuring a fresh essay on the film by Hammer archivist Robert J.E. Simpson, and illustrated with archive stills and posters.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes movies, buy this release.

If you are a fan of Hammer films, buy this release

If you are a fan of Peter Cushing or Christopher Lee, buy this release.

There, that pretty much sums it up. The film looks great, and even though a chunk of the supplemental material is archive sourced, the sheer volume of it, coupled with the new additions make this package a real treat.