Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
by Brian Mills
List Price:
Our Price: $8.36
You Save: $6.62 (44%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.44 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Edward Hardwicke, Fiona Gillies, Jeremy Brett, Raymond Adamson, William IlkleyDirector: Brian Mills
Brand: MPI
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 105 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-01-28
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Mpi Home Video
DVD Reviews of Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
DVD Review: Haunted Holmes.
Summary: 5 Stars
In his foreword to Bantam's "Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Novels and Stories," Loren Estleman called the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson literature's warmest, most symbiotic and most timeless ever: rightfully so. Not surprisingly, film history is littered with adaptations of Conan Doyle's tales and Holmes pastiches (stories using the protagonists but otherwise based on independent screenplays); and I don't think any of Conan Doyle's four original novels has been adapted more frequently than "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Yet - and I'm saying this with particular apologies to the fans of the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce canon - none of the prior versions of any Holmes story can hold a candle to the ITV/Granada TV series produced over the decade spanning the years 1984 through 1994, starring Jeremy Brett as Holmes and first David Burke, then in near-seamless transition Edward Hardwicke as a refreshingly sturdy, pragmatic and unbumbling Dr. Watson; and this certainly includes any and all adaptations of "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
Thus, this version of Conan Doyle's spookiest tale stands out positively not only when compared to some of the other movie adaptations starring Jeremy Brett, which tend to over-emphasize a gothic atmosphere not present in the stories *those* movies are based on (particularly so, "The Last Vampyre" and "The Eligible Bachelor"), but also when compared to earlier versions of "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Indeed, stripped of those other productions' antics and occasionally not much better than B-movie-level special effects, the Jeremy Brett/Edward Hardwicke adaptation relies primarily on the superb acting skills of its stars and supporting cast and tells the story of the Baskerville family's apparent curse in a relatively straightforward manner, which truly manages to terrify where earlier versions were merely unintentionally funny. Largely true to Conan Doyle's original, this is also the only one of the movie-length adaptations that sees Dr. Watson performing an investigation of his own. (He embarks on similar, albeit generally less elaborate missions, in some of the series's shorter episodes, such as "The Solitary Cyclist.")
The tale's storyline itself is well known: Sir Charles Baskerville has been found dead, apparently killed by a mysterious, larger-than-life dog living in the moors surrounding his estate and occasionally heard howling at night; allegedly a hound from hell haunting the family since the days of their evil ancestor Sir Hugo Baskerville. When Sir Henry (Kristoffer Tabori), latest heir to the Baskerville title and fortune, arrives from the U.S., Holmes is hired to investigate the mystery surrounding the beast. And "[y]es, the setting is a worthy one. If the devil did desire to have a hand in the affairs of men ...," Holmes soon comments on the setting of the Baskerville estate. But asked by Dr. Watson whether he is inclined to place any belief into the supernatural explanation of the phenomenon, he proceeds to point out that the devil's agents may well be of flesh and blood, and that the only questions to be resolved in the matter are whether any crime has been committed at all, and if so, what that crime is and how it was committed. As (nearly) always, Holmes is of course proven right in the end.
Jeremy Brett was the only actor who ever managed to perfectly portray Sherlock Holmes's imperiousness, bitingly ironic sense of humor and apparently indestructible self-control without at the same time neglecting his genuine friendship towards Dr. Watson and the weaknesses hidden below a surface seemingly dominated by his overarching intellectual powers. And that dichotomy is clearly in evidence in this movie, where Brett, himself already afflicted by the illness which would eventually kill him, reaches new, intense and particularly great depths in Holmes's soul. If you want to see the best of Holmes, therefore get this production, the equally well-done Jeremy Brett adaptation of "The Sign of the Four" and the collections of the series's shorter episodes (particularly the first two cycles - "Adventures" and "Return" - are a "must"), enjoy and ... have a good hunt, because - come on Watson: the game's afoot!
Also recommended:
The Complete Sherlock Holmes: All 4 Novels and 56 Short Stories
Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Granada Television Series (12 DVD)
Sherlock Holmes: A Baker Street Dozen
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street
Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett As Sherlock Holmes
Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
Murder Rooms - The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
The Life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Conan Doyle, Detective: The True Crimes Investigated by the Creator of Sherlock Holmes
Arthur and George
Description of Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
SHERLOCK HOLMES:HOUND OF THE BASKERVI - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Boxed Set Collection)MPI Home Video; Release date: 2002-05-28; DVD
Best price: $31.19
Price in other shops:
Sherlock Holmes - The Eligible BachelorMPI Home Video; Release date: 2003-02-25; DVD
Best price: $3.21
Price in other shops:
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes CollectionMPI; Release date: 2004-09-28; DVD
Best price: $22.79
Price in other shops:
Sherlock Holmes - The Last VampyreMPI; Release date: 2003-01-28; DVD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
Sherlock Holmes - The Master BlackmailerMPI; Release date: 2003-03-25; DVD
Best price: $8.04
Price in other shops:
Sherlock Holmes - The Sign of FourBRETT,JEREMY; Release date: 2003-02-25; DVD
Best price: $8.38
Price in other shops:
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes Season 1Release date: 2012-02-07; Amazon Instant Video; TV Series Season Video on Demand
Best price: $5.99
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Season 1Release date: 2012-02-16; Amazon Instant Video; TV Series Season Video on Demand
Best price: $5.99
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Season 1Release date: 2012-02-17; Amazon Instant Video; TV Series Season Video on Demand
Best price: $9.49
The Return of Sherlock Holmes Season 1Release date: 2012-02-17; Amazon Instant Video; TV Series Season Video on Demand
Best price: $5.99