THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES [1959 / 2015] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Sherlock Holmes’ Most Terrifying Adventure! Never Has The Night Known A Beast Like This!
Sherlock Holmes is the most filmed character of all time – but it is arguably this 1959 re-telling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic tale “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” from legendary horror studio Hammer Films and starring genre stalwarts Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, which stands as the super sleuth’s finest cinematic hour.
Rising up out of the swirling mists of Dartmoor, Baskerville Hall stands tall and gloomy. Its occupant, Charles Baskerville, has been found dead in mysterious circumstances. Could Sir Charles have been the victim of the so-called “Baskerville Curse,” which tells of a deadly beast that stalks the surrounding countryside? Unperturbed by the legend, next-in-line Sir Henry Baskerville, a rare leading man performance from Christopher Lee, and sets out to Dartmoor to assume inheritance of the family estate, under the auspices of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and right-hand man Dr. Watson [André Morell].
Imbued with an atmosphere as thick as fog, ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ is a superlative gothic yarn which benefits from game performances from Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee and André Morell, as well as the expert direction of Terence Fisher, known for helming many of Hammer’s most celebrated efforts including ‘The Curse of Frankenstein,’ ‘Dracula’ and ‘The Devil Rides Out.’
Cast: Peter Cushing, André Morell, Christopher Lee, Marla Landi, David Oxley, Francis De Wolff, Miles Malleson, Ewen Solon, John Le Mesurier, Helen Goss, Sam Kydd, Michael Hawkins, Judi Moyens, Michael Mulcaster, David Birks, Elizabeth Gott (uncredited) and Ian Hewitson (uncredited)
Director: Terence Fisher
Producers: Anthony Hinds, Anthony Nelson Keys, Kenneth Hyman (uncredited) and Michael Carreras
Screenplay: Peter Bryan (screenplay) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (novel)
Composer: James Bernard
Cinematography: Jack Asher,B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audio: English: 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 87 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / United Artists / Arrow Video
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Almost thirteen years after Basil Rathbone had filmed his final screen appearance as Sherlock Holmes, Hammer Studios decided to resurrect Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's internationally famous detective in a colour remake of ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ [1959] which had been previously filmed with Basil Rathbone in 1939. The eerie tale, which opens in a flashback sequence to an earlier time, depicts the origins of the Baskerville curse: the decadent Sir Hugo Baskerville brutally murders a servant girl who flees a group orgy at his mansion. Immediately following her death, however, Sir Hugo Baskerville hears a strange braying on the moors before encountering an immense spectral hound which avenges the girl's death. We then flash forward to the present, where Sherlock Holmes and his partner, Dr. Watson, are investigating the mysterious recent death of Sir Charles Baskerville.
At the time of production, Hammer Films, a small British film studio, was at the height of its success, enjoying huge profits from two trend-setting horror films, ‘The Curse of Frankenstein’ [1957] and ‘Horror of Dracula’ [1958]. Peter Cushing gave definitive performances in both of those period thrillers and producer Anthony Hinds and director Terence Fisher knew he would make a great Sherlock Holmes. The announcement of his casting generated a great deal of excitement about the project in the British press and Cushing was soon joined by André Morell as Dr. Watson and Christopher Lee as Sir Henry Baskerville, the unfortunate heir to a dreadful curse. Christopher Lee was anxious to escape his villainous typecasting, where he played Frankenstein's monster and Dracula in the previously mentioned Hammer horrors, and relished the opportunity to play the victim for a change.
Peter Cushing heavily researched his Sherlock Holmes role prior to creating Holmes' character and took care to incorporate the sleuth's well-known addiction to morphine into his physical appearance and behaviour. He even provided his own costumes which accurately matched the famous Paget illustrations from the Sherlock Holmes series published in the Strand magazine. Peter Cushing added, in an interview for The Evening News, that "everything is accurate right down to the famous 'mouse-coloured' dressing-gown which I charred with cigarettes to get the burns Holmes made during his experiments. The producer had some absurd idea that I should not wear a deerstalker. I told them you might as well play Nelson without a patch over his eye! But still I am avoiding the more obvious props and the things like the huge curved pipe and magnifying glass that make Sherlock Holmes a music-hall joke. Quite a bit of time, I wear a homburg on the moors – which is absolutely right, I find."
Several exterior sequences for ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ were shot near Frensham Ponds, Surrey, which served as a reliable stand-in for the real Dartmoor, but the majority of the filming took place on the Bray studio set. Animation techniques were first considered for introducing the monstrous hound, but cost factors prevented it so the production crew was forced to use a real dog. In Hammer Films: An Exhaustive Filmography by Tom Johnson and Deborah Del Vecchio, crew member Margaret Robinson said, "They had two dogs originally. One had been typecast because he once bit a barmaid! This was Colonel, who actually played the part. The other dog was owned by Barbara Wodehouse, and cost five times as much to hire. Also, Barbara wanted to double for Christopher Lee!" Robinson was charged with creating a frightening mask for the dog to wear and added, "I made the mask out of rabbit fur, and the dog wouldn't allow anyone else to put the mask on him. He was a lovely dog - to me, at least!" As for the climactic scene between Sir Henry and the hound, Robinson revealed that "they duplicated the part of the set in miniature where the dog was to leap onto Sir Henry. A small boy named Robert was dressed to duplicate Christopher Lee. The dog couldn't bear the sound of crumpled paper, and the idea was he would go straight for a prop man as he crumpled it. What we didn't know is that Colonel hated small boys, too! The prop man caught the dog in mid-air before he got to Robert." Otherwise, the rest of the filming went smoothly, even Christopher Lee's hair-raising encounter with a deadly tarantula.
In the end, this version of ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ succeeds as a stylish and colourful period thriller which demonstrates Terence Fisher's skills as a director. For one thing, he was able to compress the entire Baskerville legend into a ten minute opening sequence! Unfortunately, it was not successful enough at the box office to justify Hammer's plans to continue the series despite Peter Cushing's fine portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. And in the United States, the film was marketed as a creature feature and not a murder mystery since the Hammer name was more synonymous with horror there. ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ has since been remade by Andy Warhol protégé Paul Morrissey who directed a parody of it in 1978 starring Dudley Moore and Peter Cook, and again by Douglas Hickox, who helmed a 1983 television version with Ian Richardson as Sherlock Holmes.
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Arrow Video presents this special Blu-ray disc in its 1.66:1 original aspect ratio and the 1080p encoded image looks fantastic nearly 60 years later. Never shy of a bold colour or two, Hammer's feature is well served by this presentation, detail is excellent and colours well rendered with the vivid crimsons of the film's more bloody moments matched by the impressively solid blacks of gloomier scenes. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Arrow Video brings us this special Blu-ray disc in a very nice audio presentation of 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio. Dialogue and sound effects are clear and those dramatic moments in the score come through with suitable vigour and without distortion. James Bernard's quite dramatic orchestral score, however, is very easily breathless, well balanced and very dramatic. The isolated music and effects track has been included, which is of similar quality. As ever, its principal interest is to highlight just which of the sound effects were added in post-production.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
High Definition Blu-ray [1080p] feature presentation
Original Uncompressed 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio
Isolated Music and Effects Soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Special Feature: Release the Hound! [2015] [1080p] [1.78:1] [30:18] This brand new documentary looking at the genesis and making of the Hammer classic gothic horror films, featuring interviews with assistant director Hugh Harlow, hound mask creator Margaret Robinson, film historian Kim Newman, actor/documentarian and co-creator of BBCTV’s ‘Sherlock’ Mark Gatiss, and others. Between them the contributors provide background to the Hammer version of ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ the emphasis is on the gothic elements that had been established as Hammer Films trademark, especially with Peter Cushing and André Morell's interpretations of their roles as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, and their thoughts on the production as a whole. Hugh Harlow, Peter Allchorne [Chargehand Props] and Margaret Robinson also reminisce on their experiences of working on ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ and touching upon subjects as diverse as the colour of Peter Cushing's hair and his love of props to shooting the key scene featuring the hound and the struggles the crew had in getting the desired effect to attack the actors. Margaret Robinson talks in more detail about her working with a supposedly vicious dog that fell in love with her from the moment they met and the process involved in creating the mask for the ill-fated reveal. They also talk about the director Terence Fisher, who was a very thorough man, but also a very quiet man and felt ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ was his best film, because he was able to communicate with the actors, as well as the crew, because everyone knew what they were doing, and of course it was why the film was a great success as a Gothic Horror film genre.
Special Feature: André Morell: Best of British [2014] [1080p] [1.78:1] [19:42] With this special feature, we take a look at the late great actor looking at the late great actor André Morell who was born in 1909 and his eventual work with Hammer Films in 1952. This is really an excellent piece covering André Morell's career with special focus on his Hammer roles. In particular, his son Jason Morell talks eloquently about his father's life, his early years as an actor and typecasting as an authority figure; André Morell's relationship with his wife Joan Greenwood and the divergence in their acting profiles; his ambivalent attitude to his work for Hammer Films; and the piece concludes with the disarmingly candid perspective of a son recounting his father's decline and death from lung cancer, because from the age of 17 years of age he would smoke 60 untipped cigarettes a day. Favourite moments in ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ are picked out and illustrated, and as a huge fan of André Morell's portrayal of Bernard Quatermass in the original BBCTV production of ‘Quatermass and the Pit,’ who author Nigel Kneale thought he was perfect, because we all loved his rich velvet voice and it is nice to know that the actor André Morell regarded it as one of his finest achievements. Despite the sad loss of this great actor, we still have fond memories of his sterling work, mainly in films of all genre and his brief appearances on Television, which was equally appreciated by the general public and especially of fans of André Morell, which there are many, including me and this special on André Morell is a fitting tribute, that definitely shows the love and respect for this brilliant actor. Contributors include: André Morell (archive footage), Jason Morell, Denis Meikle, David Miller, Jonathan Rigby, John Carson (uncredited), Michael Ripper (uncredited) and Brook Williams (uncredited). Directed by Marcus Hearn. Produced by Marcus Hearn, Screenplay by Sarah Meikle.
Special Feature: The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes [1985] [480i] [1.37:1] [46:04] This special documentary made for American TV, looks at the many incarnations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated characters, narrated and presented by Christopher Lee. Christopher Lee gives an overview of Sherlock Holmes as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote of him, as portrayed on the stage, on radio, television, and in the motion pictures by dozens of actors from 1900 to 1985. One of the most memorable characters in the history of literature is that of Sherlock Holmes. The sleuth made famous by the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is so real that many people do not know that he is a character of fiction. The adventures of Sherlock Holmes and his loyal assistant Dr. Watson have been immortalized in numerous films. This documentary, featuring archival film clips to illustrate some of the many faces of the world's best-known detective. Despite the slightly tacky presentation (almost everything is underscored with music, including the film clips), this is a mine of interesting information for those not already steeped in the subject, and includes extracts from a number of the films under examination, a fair few of which were new to me. The centrepiece proves to be the Basil Rathbone films, extracts from which run on for several minutes. Which is fair enough, given their lasting popularity, but to have Jeremy Brett's superlative interpretation get little more than a quick mention had me screaming at the screen. There's welcome footage of Conan Doyle himself explaining the inspiration for his most famous creation, and Christopher Lee's clear contempt for decision to redub his voice on the German production ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace’ is well worth hearing about. But of course over time lots more Sherlock Holmes appeared with a plethora of different actors, too many to name, and sometimes they brought out comedy films of Sherlock Holmes. But as we come to the end of this Television Special, Christopher Lee says some prophetic words, in saying, “May Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street continues to give us all such keen pleasure for many years to come.” I second that. Contributors include: Lionel Atwill (archive footage), Nigel Bruce (archive footage), Peter Cushing (archive footage), Henry Daniell (archive footage), Warburton Gamble (archive footage), Ronald Howard (archive footage), André Morell (archive footage), Patricia Morison (archive footage), Reginald Owen (archive footage), Basil Rathbone (archive footage), Thorley Walters (archive footage) and Arthur Wontner (archive footage). Directed by Michael Muscal. Produced by Brian Yuzna, Bruce William Curtis, Edward G. Grier Jr., Jeff Simon, Michael Avery, Neil Czujko and Ray Atherton. Screenplay by Bob Greenberg, Michael R. Avery and Ray Atherton.
Special Feature: Actor’s Notebook: Christopher Lee [2002] [480i] [1.37:1] [13:00] An archive interview in which the actor Christopher Lee looks back on his role as Sir Henry Baskerville in the 1959 film ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.’ With this archive interview Christopher Lee discusses his thoughts on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Hammer's adaptation of film ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES,’ and expresses his admiration for director Terence Fisher, his very close friendship with Peter Cushing and his love interest with actress Marla Landi. Christopher Lee also broaches the subject of his aversion and hatred of spiders, and remembers with some horror the scene in which he had a tarantula placed on his shoulder to make the scene in the film all the more realistic and the problematic hound scene. Most engaging of all are the details of his friendship with Peter Cushing and especially when Christopher Lee recounts their poignant final meeting during a 1994 Hammer documentary and his recollection of the last time they met before Peter Cushing's death is genuinely touching and very upset at losing a true thespian friend. This was an M-G-M Home Entertainment presentation.
Special Feature: The Hound of the Baskervilles Excerpts read by Christopher Lee [2004] [480i] [1.37:1] [26:56] Here we get an audio contributions from Christopher Lee, where he reads out a selection of extracts from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original novels. Which consist of “Mr. Sherlock Holmes” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” With Christopher Lee reading from the novel “Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” we get to view lots of black-and-white printed illustrations from that novel. With Christopher Lee reading from the novel “The Hound of the Baskervilles,” we also get to view lots of black-and-white printed illustrations from that novel.
Theatrical Trailer [1959] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:57] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.’ I just don’t understand why this trailer is presented in Black-and-White and also why it is being presented in the 1.37:1 aspect ratio, very strange.
New! Audio Commentary: Commentary with Hammer experts Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby: Sit back, try to relax but probably best to brace yourself, because what Marcus Hearn and Jonathan Rigby don't know about Hammer Films and the British horror genre isn't worth knowing and was recorded on the 2nd April, 2015. I tend to be a bit divided on expert commentaries, but the best are enthralling and packed with information, while the worst are an absolute slog to sit through. Well I am happy to report, is one of the best. Official historian for Hammer Films Marcus Hearn and English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby deliver a busy, entertaining and fact-crammed trip through the film and its production, providing plenty of background detail on the shooting of specific scenes and the careers of just about everyone who makes an appearance in the film. But most importantly, together they possess an encyclopaedic knowledge not only of virtually every aspect of the film itself but also manage to fire off biographies on cast and crew along the way with a dizzying array of facts and trivia at their disposal. They are extremely comfortable both with the medium and each other's company makes for a free-flowing, informative yet light-hearted commentary. There's so much good stuff here that listing a few of the areas covered would give only the smallest flavour of the range and quality of the content. Consider this an essential companion to the film ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.’ One fascinating fact we get to hear about the history of the Producers of the film, when watching the UK release you see the name Anthony Hinds, but if you watch American film release, you see the name Kenneth Hyman, who had a very prolific career with Hammer Films. If Arrow Video is planning to release any more from the Hammer Films back-catalogue, they should definitely get these gentlemen back on board. This gets a 5 star rating from me.
Special Feature: Image Gallery [2015] [1080i] [1.37:1] [2:25] here we get to view and extensive 145 promotional material relating to the film ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.’ You get to view Cinema Posters from around the world; lots of wonderful Hammer Films studio promotional material; plus lots brilliant black-and-white and colour images from the film, as well as studio publicity images of the actors, and of course the dog.
PLUS: Beautifully printed reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Paul Shipper who a freelance illustrator best known for producing key art and imagery for film, entertainment and advertising. Born in Manchester, his formal education ended in 1997 with a BA in illustration and Animation from MMU.
BONUS: Beautiful Collector’s 24 booklet featuring new writing on the film by former Hammer archivist Robert J.E. Simpson entitled “Strange Things On The Moors.” Illustrated with original archive stills and posters. It also credits about “About The Transfer;” “Production Credits” and “Special Thanks.”
Finally, the sets, and the costumes of the Hammer horror ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES’ film, combined with tight script and screenplay, create quite an atmospheric film. The plonk of the piano score adds dramatic emphasis that works so well in this 1959 gothic horror film and sets the tone of the scenes throughout the film. The air of mystery and simmering evil bubbles to the surface throughout and it manages to hold on until the final dramatic scenes when the pent up malevolence finally boils over. Whilst the ending does not comes as a complete surprise, there were plenty of elements to it that were indeed a revelation, and as a whole, I really enjoyed the film, and has been a firm favourite of mine ever since I saw it at the cinema. The build-up throughout the film to the finale, was handled extremely well and there is enough to keep the viewer well engrossed, especially exploring the relationship and characters in and around the Baskerville estate. So all in all the Arrow Video release of the Hammer Films ‘THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES,’ is totally beautiful revelation and looks even better than when I saw it in the cinema and top marks of Arrow Video for production an really excellent professional Blu-ray Release and in itself is an enthralling watch from start to finish. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
