A Hammer Horror Classic That Reunites Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee
When you hear the name Hammer Horror, images of a fanged Christopher Lee spring to mind, or the tormented portrayal of Dr. Frankenstein by Peter Cushing. This British institution crafted takes on the Gothic monster movie genre that gave greater focus to the human element. Kino Lorber continues their work to bring gems of cinema to home video with the 1959 release The Hound of the Baskervilles, an effort that is not just acclaimed as one of the best features to come from Hammer, but one of the best Sherlock Holmes adaptations ever made.
Synopsis:
Peter Cushing (The Skull) is a splendid Sherlock Holmes and Andre Morell (TV’s Quatermass and the Pit) is the perfect Dr. Watson in this terror-filled mystery classic co-starring horror legend Christopher Lee (House of the Long Shadows). With its compelling acting and spooky cinematography, this top-notch murder-mystery will keep you guessing and gasping until the final frame. A fiendish evil lurks beneath the mist-shrouded cliffs of England’s fabled moors. In the form of 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 encountered — the incomparable Sherlock Holmes. Hammer legend Terence Fisher (The Man Who Could Cheat Death) directed this masterpiece in suspense and horror, which was called “The Best Sherlock Holmes Film Ever Made!” by Time Out Film Guide.
The claim “The Best Sherlock Holmes Film Ever Made!” isn’t hyperbole. The Hound of the Baskervilles is a rich, stylish venture. It captures the intrigue of Conan Doyle’s original work, perfectly translating tone, deftly introducing the protagonist as well as the background to this infamous mystery in a well crafted opening sequence.
The most successful elements of the film is surely the cast. Riding high off his stellar work on The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) and Horror of Dracula (1958), Peter Cushing gives a defining performance as the sleuth. His attention to detail is truly impressive, slyly incorporating tics that hint at the morphine addiction, a subtle undertone to the eccentricity, logic, and brilliance brimming out of this figure. André Morell’s Watson is a perfect counterpoint, while Christopher Lee takes a break from playing the monster, instead portraying the victim in Sir Henry Baskerville. The performances are timeless, as are the vivid Gothic visuals on display, showcased by sterling direction from Terence Fisher. It’s one of the defining Sherlock Holmes stories and is given the treatment it deserves.
The Package
Despite this release being on DVD, the image quality is pretty solid. Colors pop, detail is good, sound quality is exceptional. No major artifacts are evident, nor does it look overly processed. There are instances of haziness in scenes where tweed is present. This may sound like an odd thing, but the texture/pattern of the fabric highlights it, and with the era and themes, there’s quite a bit of tweed in here.
DVD releases often lack special features, so it’s a pleasant surprise to see some included here. There is a handful of movie trailers including one for The Skull, another Hammer feature starring Cushing. This trailer features a narration by director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Innerspace), who introduced the film as one of his personal favorites and talks a little about why. There is also a featurette that is largely an interview with Christopher Lee, intercut with images and footage from this and other films he was involved with via Hammer. The actor reflects on Sherlock Holmes as a character, as well as Arthur Conan Doyle’s inspirations and approach to writing the him. He also talks about the work of director Terence Fisher and costar Peter Cushing, the latter in more detail, noting the differences between their approaches to acting. Running just shy of 13 minutes, it’s a delightful addition.
The Hound of the Baskervilles serves as a landmark, both in terms of a studio at the height of their success and how to successfully adapt a Sherlock Holmes tale. A rich and wonderfully executed film that draws on some of the best talent Britain had to offer at the time. While the lack of a Blu-ray is disappointing, this is a fine addition to anyone’s collection.
The Hound of the Baskervilles is available via Kino-Lorber from June 13th 2017.
