"Peter Cushing is a splendid Holmes" (Daily Mirror) and "Andre Morell is the perfect Dr. Watson" (Daily Herald) in this terror-filled mystery classic co-starring horror legend Christopher Lee. With its "compelling acting a... more »nd spooky cinematography" (Video Movie Guide), this "rattling good movie" (Newsweek) will keep you guessingand gaspinguntil the final frame! A fiendish evil lurks beneath the mist-shrouded cliffs of England's fabled moors. In the formof a hellish hound, it feeds upon the trembling flesh of the heirs of Baskerville Hall. But before this savage beast can sink its teeth into the newest lord of the manor, it must pit its vicious fangs against the searing intellect of the most powerful foe it has ever encounteredthe incomparable Sherlock Holmes« less
Walter B. Conger | California central coast | 03/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"My wife wonders why, oh why, my video/DVD collection contains so many different versions of this classic Sherlock Holmes tale. Well, I understand there have been almost 20 different films based on the story, and I have nowhere near that many. But when push comes to shove, this 1959 Hammer "Hound" starring the wonderful Peter Cushing is probably my most-watched. Rathbone was great, but his version barely had a musical score (imagine having the Hound chase Sir Henry across the moor without a chilling score!) The Brett version is faithful but oddly lackluster. Ian Richardson's version was fine, but felt like a TV movie (which it was).THIS Hammer film, despite massive wanderings from the original story, just FEELS right. It's spooky. Holmes is eccentric and impatient and perfect. Watson is wonderfully portrayed. The Baker Street rooms are fantastic. And the music--this is the stuff that made me duck my head under the covers when I watched old horror films as a kid.There are plenty of different versions of "Hound" out there to see. Many have their "moments" of brilliance. But for pure enjoyment, you can do no better than Cushing's version. (I'm still dying to see his 1968 BBC version, almost impossible to get ahold of.) A pleasant, fun, and memorable "Hound of the Baskervilles."And the few DVD extra features, thanks to Christopher Lee, provide added fun, too."
Beware the moor while darkness reigns and evil is exalted!
Robert S. Clay Jr. | St. Louis, MO., USA | 04/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The most famous Sherlock Holmes story is given a fine Hammer Films treatment. Peter Cushing, more famous for his movie roles as Dr. Frankenstein and Van Helsing of Dracula fame, does very well as Sherlock Holmes. Cushing's late-Victorian portrayal is faithful to the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Andre Morell is quietly dignified as Dr. Watson. Christopher Lee is atypically cast as the romantic lead, Sir Henry Baskerville. The screenplay is generally faithful to the original novel, although Conan Doyle purists will notice some differences and even omissions in the story's characters. The lush color photography and the rich, old English decor of the sets enhances the spooky atmosphere. Baskerville Hall reminds the viewer of Castle Dracula transported to a remote area in England. The classic mystery tale with supernatural overtones of the hound of hell that haunts the foggy moors and stalks the Baskerville family remains chilling. Although this film is not really targeted at children, it can be recommended as an ideal introduction to the world of Sherlock Holmes for the next generation coming up. It's also great entertainment for older viewers who may recall seeing this film and other Hammer horrors at the Halloween horror-fests at "a theater near you" back in the '60s. Make a big bowl of popcorn, dim the lights, and enjoy the experience."
Excellent Film -Cushing IS Holmes
Jim Jr | Buffalo, NY United States | 09/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone who has read the Sherlock Holmes stories has his own personal view of who and what Sherlock is. For me, Peter Cushing is the best and truest interpretation of my view of the character. He outshines J. Brett, Basil Rathbone and all others. The only other actor who comes close is Christopher Plummer in "Murder By Decree" (Holmes meets Jack the Ripper) with James Mason as probably the best Dr. Watson. Cushing was 99% the Holmes I have always pictured.It is wonderful to see a side of Christopher Lee that is never shown in other films. He proved he can be a fine human character as opposed to the supernatural creatures he is usually associated with.The only acting choice I have trouble with is the principal female character as played by Marla Landi. She has a heavy accent that is very difficult to understand. For most of her scenes, I had to turn on the subtitles to know what she was saying. I've never seen a film or TV version completely faithful to the original book, but this version is true to the SPIRIT of the story and is a really engrossing and entertaining film. This should be the true test of the film, does it hold interest, is it well acted and does it entertain. The answers to all of these questions is YES. For anyone wanting an exact reproduction of the original book, it would be better to lock yourself in a quiet room and play the story on the screen of your own imagination. Then you will get the Holmes you dream of and the exact details of the book. For anyone else, this as a fine and satisfying experience."
Wonderful Hammer treatment
Jim Jr | 12/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Peter Cushing is well cast as the mercurial Holmes. Equally well done is Christopher Lee as Henry Baskerville. It is refreshing to see Lee in an altogether different role as the protagonist...he is charming, sensitive and...tanned! The lush Hammer treatment of gloomy backdrop and creepy musical score (reminiscent of the "Dracula" theme music) adds to the experience. One might bypass this as an old relic, but its a riveting story and great flick. Any fan of Lee, Cushing or Hammer Studios will be pleased."
Mixed results in first and last Hammer Holmes adaption
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 11/30/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If anybody was born to play Sherlock Holmes it was Peter Cushing. Sure, Basil Rathbone owns the role but Cushing manages to portray Holmes quirks better than just about any other actor that has taken on the role. Hammer's Hound bears very little resemblence to Arthur Conan Doyle's original, but does manage to inject atmosphere into this Holmes adventure. What's really refreshing is the fact that Watson isn't portrayed as a bumbling idiot as he is in the Rathbone series of films.
Christopher Lee is a bit miscast as Henry Baskerville and the role is significantly underwritten. Lee gives a solid performance but it's evident in watching him that he doesn't quite have a handle on the character. Part of the blame can be layed at the feet of Jimmy Sangster's occasionally incomphrensible screenplay. It's also possible that director Terence Fisher may have had a hand in rewrites as he was known to do so (and the result was usually pretty incoherent).
Fisher's direction is confident and involving although it lacks the zip he exhibited in his finest Hammer films. The color photography is stunning on this MGM/US transfer and the analog artifacts are kept to a minimum. The extras (particular the observations by Lee on his frequent co-star Cushing)are enlightening at times.
Although not the ultimate Hound adaption, Fisher's film is solid entertainment even if it does take signficant liberities with the story."