The Hound of the Baskervilles Film Review

Released: 1959

Director: Terence Fisher

Producer: Anthony Hinds

Running time: 1 hr 27 mins

Genre: Mystery, Horror

Distributed by: United Artists

The Film

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson are asked to investigate the murder of Sir Charles Baskerville by Dr Richard Mortimer. Mortimer believes that Charles was killed by a terrifying hound. The legend is that this hound also killed Charles' ancestor, Sir Hugo Baskerville centuries before. The film is set in Baskerville Hall. Holmes and Watson have the job of solving this curious case, and try to figure out why and how Charles Baskerville was killed. Sir Henry is the owner of Baskerville Hall, and Dr Mortimer is worried that he will be in danger of this curse that has befallen the Baskerville family for centuries. Sir Henry doesn't actually believe that the hound is real, but that a psychopath is roaming loose around the Moors. He thinks this because he was told that a convict has recently escaped from Dartmoor Prison. Sir Henry has recently returned from South Africa to take control of the estate, and Holmes warns him of dangers out on the Moors.

With this intriguing case going on and Holmes and Watson trying to figure out what has been going on, the film takes us on a dark journey in and around Baskerville Hall and we witness what has been going on. This film unravels the mystery of the hound and what really happened. It also explores what really happen to Sir Hugo and Sir Charles and the real reason behind the curse that has afflicted this aristocrat family for so many years.

Written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and coming from Hammer Film Productions, this film does not disappoint. Sherlock Holmes with his famous hat and pipe with his sidekick Dr Watson delivers a fantastic and enjoyable film. Peter Cushing who plays Holmes plays a strong character in the film, and does a wonderful job at playing the famous detective.

This film has a slightly dark and gothic feel to it. The storyline, however, is really good and the acting is strong. Christopher Lee plays Sir Henry. I've always really liked him as an actor, and he does not disappoint in this film. He plays an excellent part of the British aristocrat and works well the Peter Cushing and Andre Morell. Christopher Lee has played Sherlock Holmes in subsequent films. I've not seen these though, so can't compare his performance in those films. But I think he plays Holmes well in this film.

Towards the end of the film we get to see the hound. I did find this a little disappointing to be honest as it lacked the fear factor you'd expect in a film like this. Although the ending was a little bit less dramatic than I anticipated, I still found the film on a whole enjoyable and watchable. The storyline is good and the actors played a strong part and came across well on screen.