I caught The Hound of the Baskerville's on TV last night. It's one of my favourite Victorian gothic tales and a stroke of genius by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
It's mix of science, moorland, tors, murk and the supernatural is simply fantastic and I watch at least one version every Christmas.
Last night's was the modernish Roxburgh Hart one from 2002 and second only to the Cushing Hammer horror version in my mind.
Having said that there are 20 odd versions of the Hound's tale on film and TV, most of which have eluded me, including the early Basil Rathbone film, which I've never seen either. That's something I need to sort out this new year.
For me, the Watson character, that Ian Hart plays in the 2002 flick, holds real allure. He's an unattached man of action - unlike me! - and will turn his hand to anything. He also wears fabulous Tweedy trousers and jackets, eats posh nosh constantly and carries all sorts of gear a bit like Batman! Telescope, binoculars and even a revolver, which is always unusual, seeing a British man with a gun! Yes, I can see myself being Watson in another life!
How about you? Holmes, Watson, Mortimer or Stapleton?
Checking the Radio Times I see that the Christopher Plummer Sherlock vehicle, Murder by Decree, is on tonight here in Blighty. 9pm Legend Xtra, sadly a channel, Freeview 69, which I cannot get, despite re-tuning the telly. Doh!
I'll see if it's on Prime.
Do you like Sherlock Holmes films readers?
I'm a fan of the Jeremy Brett TV series. I even watched them filming a bit of it in Chester a long time ago!
ReplyDeleteNot seen that Kevin. I'll have to give it a whirl.
DeleteBig fan of Sherlock, but mostly of the books. Seen a few of the screen adaptations but nothing that stuck with me.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I went on a bit of a binge of Sherlock Holmes TV series and movies a few months ago. She has always been a huge fan of the books (and some of Arthur Conan Doyle's other works.)
ReplyDeleteAfter watching many of the different versions, we decided on a favorite: The 1954 TV series "Sherlock Holmes" with Ronald Howard (son of the more famous actor Leslie Howard) as Holmes and H. Marion Crawford.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes_(1954_TV_series)
Why was this our favorite?
Well, unlike many of the other versions, Watson was more of a working partner, rather than the simple "What's that, Holmes?" type of idiotic partner. Also, he was more of the muscle, occasionally showing Holmes how to fight and so forth.
Holmes was portrayed as a bit of the absent minded expert, while Watson was the common sense partner, who pointed out the things that Holmes would miss.
But, mostly, I think we liked it because it showed the honest, warm friendship between the two. In many other versions, the pair seem rather cold and distant. Business partners only. Here they were genuine friends who would enjoy each other's company, and smile about it. It made Holmes a much more relatable character.
In summary: Excellent acting, Excellent Characterization. The episodes tended to end with the audience in a smile of admiration, rather than the usual, "Gee, how did they solve that one?"
The series is available on Youtube.
https://youtu.be/_aSH1-DM4zo?si=IL-mNs-_Uf_XK7hx
(Sorry, not sure if that's available in all countries)
I'm sorry the film and sound quality are not the best. But, the series IS 71 years old!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it as we did.
PS. Since you're a Hammer Horror fan, Ronald Howard had a role in "The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb"
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curse_of_the_Mummy%27s_Tomb
H Marion-Crawford was in a lot of films as well. You may be more familiar with him.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Marion-Crawford