The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles
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List Price: $19.98
Features
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC
In Theaters : 08 December, 1988
Video Release : 25 March, 2003 |
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The Return of Sherlock Holmes - The Hound of the Baskervilles Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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A Hound of a Production! (Never Mind the Negative Reviewers)
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First off: though my general comments will be focused on this, Granada's "Hound of the Baskervilles" starring Jeremy Brett, much of what I say might well go for most British programming I have viewed (comedies and dramas.)
I find the dismissals of this production as inferior- lacking in suspense,drama, entertainment value, quality writing, and even quality acting- to be stupefying, and indicative of the lack of taste and quality within most American entertainment, and the lack of brain power and decent attention span amongst those who watch it. It really is appalling that people, presumably ADULTS, cannot get over the slightly sedate pacing; this is not a high-suspense, gory thriller,neither is it an Alfred Hitchcock film! Considering that we're talking about an approximately two-hour TV film, I think the suspense is done well enough, after all the main point of the thing isn't load on as much excess suspense ( and possibly violence) as possible, there is a good and naturally suspenseful story to be told here, and for my money director Brian Mills does it well enough. The writing ( dialog, and general atmosphere and nuance, the latter being particularly lost on modern US entertainment)is first rate, as always with this series ( I also love that the original opening sequence of Holmes and Watson sharing deductions over Dr. Mortimer's walking stick is in place here.) As for those claiming the acting is poor, and/or inferior to a previous, or subsequent version they have seen: not only is Jeremy Brett here (the only screen Holmes worth your time), but you have Edward Hardwicke's Watson, Neil Duncan highly stable as Dr. Mortimer, a wonderfully "American" Kristopher Tabori (American in a British sort of way of course), as Sir Henry Baskerville, and of course Ronald Pickup as Barrymore, the Baskerville estate butler who, along with his wife (played by Rosemary McHale), has something to hide. Now, I hate to hear, or see, ANYONE denounce Ronald Pickup as an actor. I have seen him in BBC's "Chronicles of Narnia" series, an episode of Inspector Morse, and this (plus more), and he is very much a favored British actor of mine. Here, he makes Barrymore a noble, good-hearted, highly likable character, which, for me, balances out well with McHale's emotional portrayal of Mrs. Barrymore. Also to look for is James Faulkner's turn as the murderous Stapleton. All in all great, highly entertaining film.
In sum, the thespian talent, writing, lighting, drama, suspense (however subtle it might be),character development, and excitement where necessary are all first rate. All of these elements, as you might imagine, come together to make a viewing of the film a first-rate film, even lacking as it is in in-your-face style suspense (which by the way I don't mind; I think there is suitable suspense anyway.) Of course, delightful as the packaging of the film is, the DVD can't be said to be much, though it is of a standard quality level (picture and sound are fine), and the bonus that is there (some sketches from original publication of the novel) is good. So, all in all, highly entertaining, well-made, worth-your-time-and money (if you have an taste at all) film, nice, if minimal DVD, what's not to like about this anyway? 5/5; those purchasers and film and television lovers with any taste whatsoever would do well to ignore the negative reviews, and pick up this show. After all, with and open mind, anything can happen... |
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