Your Favourite Version Of The Hound Of The Baskervilles

[billy farmer]

I thought i would start a new Thread to see what Brit Movie Members favourite version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles is and what other versions of The Hound Of The Baskervilles they like.



I first saw the Basil Rathbone Holmes films in the early 1980's and they introduced me to the world of Sherlock Holmes and i have been a big Sherlock Holmes fan since, the first film in the Rathbone Holmes season to be shown was The Hound Of The Baskervilles and in my classroom library at school at the same time the film was shown was a copy of The Hound Of The Baskervilles and after seeing the film i read the Book (the first Conan Doyle Holmes story i ever read), the Rathbone version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles is my favourite version of the story and Basil Rathbone is my favourite Movie Holmes.



My second favourite version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles is the 1959 Hammer film version starring Peter Cushing and Andre Morell as Holmes and Watson (a great Holmes and Watson partnership).



I also like the 2 part BBC TV version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles from the 1968 Sherlock Holmes TV series starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock as Holmes and Watson, Peter Cushing is definitely in my top five of favourite Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Stock is definitely one of my favourite Dr Watsons.



I also like the 1983 TV Movie version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles starring Ian Richardson and Donald Churchill as Holmes and Watson, Ian Richardson was a great Actor and he was perfect for the role of Holmes.



I am a big fan of The Sherlock Holmes Granada series starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes (my favourite TV Sherlock) but thought their version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles was disappointing.



I have got all of the 5 versions of The Hound Of The Baskervilles i have mentioned so far on DVD.



I have also got 3 other versions of The Hound Of The Baskervilles on DVD - the 4 part BBC TV serial from 1982 starring Tom Baker as Holmes, the 1983 animated version Sherlock Holmes And The Baskerville Curse and the BBC TV version from 2002 starring Richard Roxburgh as Holmes.



A scene from my favourite version of The Hound Of The Baskervilles from 1939 featuring Mrs Jenifer Mortimer (Beryl Mercer), Beryl Stapleton (Wendy Barrie), Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone), Dr Watson (Nigel Bruce), Dr James Mortimer (Lionel Atwill), Mrs Barryman (Eily Malyon) and Barryman (John Carradine)

[jaycad]

my favourite HOTB,as with all holmes productions,is by far the jeremy brett version,my second favourite is the 1958 hammer version with peter cushing,christopher lee and andre morell. i wasn't all that keen on richard roxburghs portrayal of holmes (too arrogant and smarmy) or ian harts watson (too feisty but much better in 'the case of the silk stocking') in the most recent BBC adaptation but the production was pretty good in all other aspects! i quite like the 1983 version starring ian richardson (who is excellent as holmes and every character he played)!

[will.15]

The Cushing Hammer, even though they messed with the story.

[flynn]

The Basil Rathbone version.followed by the Peter Cushing.Hammer version.

[batman]

My favourite is the Rathbone version. Rathbone and Bruce had yet to descend into the smugness and bufoonery that marred their appearances in the Universal series and both give excellent performances. The production is very atmospheric and Richard Greene is the perfect Sir Henry.



I also found the Brett version disappointing. It was too slow and was hampered by a low budget. Brett had started to become more mannered by that stage of the series and although he is still #1 Holmes in terms of his overall performances, this one was not one of his better outings.



The Roxburgh version is generally pretty good and, although he is rather miscast, I don't mind his performance. The Isle of Man locations are well used and the whole thing moves at a fair old pace.



Hammer's version is second only to Rathbone's. It is a splendid piece of Gothic hokum and Cushing is excellent. It also contains what I feel is the definitive portrayal of Watson by Andre Morell.



Cushing's TV version is OK, but is again hampered by a restricted budget and also by some uninspired direction.



Richardson's version is fun but is too cheesy to be fully effective and also features a truly awful performance by Donald Churchil as Watson.



The less said about the Stewart Granger version the better.



The Matt Frewer version is better than it's reputation and also has a fine Watson in Kenneth Welsh. Frewer does ham it up mercilessly but as he is off screen for most of the film it doesn't spoil what is a rather well produced version.



The Tom Baker version is a bit slow and plodding and also has an awful Watson in Terence Rigby. However, Baker is surprisingly good and I found it quite entertaining.



I also enjoyed the Russian version with Vasili Livanov and the 1937 German version, even though the version I have has no subtitles.



The Russian version is particularly good and offers up a very different amosphere from the usual gloomy interiors and foggy moors. Lots of snow and mud but some harsh lighting makes for a very unique interpretation.

[Sleepin_Dragon]

hhmmm, mine would have to be Jeremy Brett's, ahead of Basil Rathbone's, i don't think it was one of the best for either actor, but personally i see Jeremy Brett as the quintessential Holmes, as for Rathbone I prefer The Scarlet Claw which is much better and creepier.

As for my favoured version im not hugely struck on Neil Duncan in it.



I love the newest version, but the dog looks like Scooby Doo, Richard E Grant is excellent in it.

[jaycad]

methinks bats has seen every single adaptation of HOTB!!

i disagree about the brett version-IMO it's the most faithfull to the novel,bretts performance is fine and the low budget isn't obvious to me at all apart from the glowing hound which,to be fair,is always done badly-usually as bad as the 'thing' in 'night of the demon'! tom baker's performance is good but doesn't convince me that he is holmes due to his keegan barnett,the worst thing about the ian richardson version is the artistic license-the majority of watsons are bad! this will probably infuriate holmesian minds but i cannot warm to basil rathbone/nigel bruce holmes films at all! the era confusion distracts my attention every time!

[batman]

name='jaycad']methinks bats has seen every single adaptation of HOTB!!

I do like me Sherlock.

[Mr Sloane]

My favourite filmed version is the Basil Rathbone but I do actually prefer Clive Merrison Michael Williams radio version..



I quite like the Hammer but it would have been interesting to see it with Lee as Holmes and Cushing as Watson.

[jaycad]

name='Mr Sloane']My favourite filmed version is the Basil Rathbone but I do actually prefer Clive Merrison Michael Williams radio version..



I quite like the Hammer but it would have been interesting to see it with Lee as Holmes and Cushing as Watson.

i'd be interested to know your thoughts on that one? i thought cushing was great as holmes if a little frail looking-i think lee would make an over-imposing holmes personally!

[will.15]

name='jaycad']methinks bats has seen every single adaptation of HOTB!!

i cannot warm to basil rathbone/nigel bruce holmes films at all! the era confusion distracts my attention every time!

What are you referring to? The Rathbone Hound is set in the correct period (as is the follow-up, The Adventures...) The modernized Holmes didn't start until the series moved to Universal. The first two were Twentieth Century Fox productions.

[Windthrop]

name='will.15']The Cushing Hammer, even though they messed with the story.

Agree - it is the most atmospheric of the lot



Followed by the Rathbone/Bruce

[Sleepin_Dragon]

I dont get the appeal of Cushing, he looked too meak and frail. Maybe as i grew up being transfixed by Brett, maybe that's why he is the best for me. I watched one of the Cushing's last week the acting is appauling looked like a am dram production, Brett's were just right, superbly acted and not overproduced.

[Gerald Lovell]

I must have over a dozen versions of this, and for me the best is the 1939 Rathbone/Bruce production. Rathbone is fresh to the role and puts in a superb performance. Bruce's portrayal of Watson is more restrained than it was to become and he is not yet boobis Britannicus. The story has been messed around with, but that is common to nearly all the versions. The only downside for me is the clomping around on the soundstage moor.

Next up is the Hammer version. Peter Cushing's mannered performance is interesting and Andre Morell is one of the best ever Watsons.

I quite like the Ian Richardson version, though Donald Churchill was a disappointing Watson.

In theory, the best version should have been the Jeremy Brett one, but even Brett later said they "blew it". It just seemed flat and lacklustre to me, and it's a shame they didn't do it earlier in his run.

Among the pretty poor versions for me are those with Stewart Granger, Tom Baker, Matt Frewer and Richard Roxburgh. Richard E. Grant should've played Holmes in that one!

[dukdriver]

Sad as I am, I just love Pete & Dud's 1977 version (well someone had to) I dig it out and watch it at least once a year. Joan Greenwood as Stapleton's mad sister is just priceless.

[jaycad]

name='will.15']What are you referring to? The Rathbone Hound is set in the correct period (as is the follow-up, The Adventures...) The modernized Holmes didn't start until the series moved to Universal. The first two were Twentieth Century Fox productions.

what i was referring to was the fact that the first few rathbone holmes that i watched had scenes with obviously modern day (at the time) clothing and telephones etc which put me off taking him seriously as holmes prior to watching HOTB-just as tom bakers lack of effort with his appearance detracted from his performance!

[didi-5]

Much as I really rate the Brett series as a whole, his Hound was a disappointment. The ones I have enjoyed are the Hammer Cushing and the one with Ian Richardson. Haven't seen the Tom Baker one and the Roxburgh and Cushing two-parter drag a bit for me.

[Sleepin_Dragon]

I have the Tom Baker one here, have not watched it yet, is it any good??

The Roxburgh version is very slick, very enjoyable, but the dog is awful, very dark version.

I think it was one of JB's weakest stories, should have been the best but wasnt

[batman]

The Tom Baker version is a bit slow and plodding and also has an awful Watson in Terence Rigby. However, Baker is surprisingly good and I found it quite entertaining.

[jaycad]

name='Sleepin_Dragon']I have the Tom Baker one here, have not watched it yet, is it any good??

The Roxburgh version is very slick, very enjoyable, but the dog is awful, very dark version.

I think it was one of JB's weakest stories, should have been the best but wasnt

the tom baker one is good-i don't get the disappointment with the brett version?? i watched it when it was aired and then again after brett had died,i watched it before reading the book and after reading he book and at least 20 times since and still there's nothing wrong with it IMO-in fact much to the contrary!