The Hound of the Baskervilles

There’s a reason you’ve never heard of this Hammer flick with Cushing & Lee

Around the turn of the century, Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing) and Doctor Watson (André Morell) try to protect the heir of the Baskerville estate (Christopher Lee) in southwest England after the former owner was found dead, rumored to be victim of a curse going back to the time of the English Civil War in the mid-1600s.

"The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1959) is Hammer’s take on Arthur Conan Doyle’s oft-filmed tale. While there are some minor changes to the story, it doesn’t “wildly” deviate as some have criticized. It features the lush colors and Victorian ambiance that Hammer is known for, plus you can’t go wrong with Cushing and Lee. Meanwhile Marla Landi is sharp & spirited in the feminine department while winsome Judi Moyens is notable in a brief opening role.

If you like Hammer and the principles, it’s enjoyable to some degree, but there’s good reason it’s so obscure in the Hammer canon. It’s just not that compelling; the well-done opening is the best part.

The movie runs 1 hour, 27 minutes, and was shot at Bray Studios, which is just west of London, and two spots south of there in Surrey: Chobham Common and Frensham Ponds.

GRADE: C