Which version is best? - The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) Discussion

[–] ghostfan 14 years ago

I know this post is really really old, but I have to add to it.

My favorite HOTB is the Granada version with Jeremy Brett.

However, if you can track it down, (I have a copy) the one that is the most faithful to the book, all the way through, is the one made for British TV with Tom Baker (that's right, Doctor Who) is Holmes.

The only real problem with that one is Sir Henry looks like he os only about 5 feet tall - not exactly the way I picture Sire Henry being...

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[–] Moscoso1967 14 years ago

I like the Rathbone version the most (I must admit I'm a huge fan of his Holmes movies).

Peter Cushing is very good too and I also like the Ian Richardson version.
The Peter Cook version would have had a great potential to become a great spoof (Cook definitely had the right looks, voice and expression for a Sherlock Holmes and Dudley Moore could have been a funny side kick) but unfortunately the movie is sometimes too far a away from the real story and some of the jokes to dull.

All the other versions I've seen so far were simply boring...
I haven't seen the Jeremy Brett version yet.

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[–] BuddyLove63 12 years ago

I'd say this Hammer version is the best version of HOTB. At least I find it the most enjoyable and atmospheric. And how about those tones and colours? Gorgeous.

I'd put the 1939 Rathbone version 2nd.

Don't get me wrong, I love Jeremy Brett as Holmes. He's the best there ever was and I have the entire Granada series on DVD in a box set. Brett is out on his own as the best Holmes ever. However I always felt the Granada version, thought still good, wasn't as great as it could have been. The Sign of Four is easily the best feature length Granada Holmes. I don't think their HOTB is as good and my goodness the female lead is plain ugly. She's no Marla Landi, that's for sure. I never figured out what Grenada were doing casting such a horrible looking woman, especially when they had cast such lovely ladies as Natasha Richardson, Barbara Wilshere and Celia Gregory in their other works.

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[–] diddymuck 12 years ago

without a doubt, the cushing version by hammer. now THAT'S sherlock holmes. Precise, demanding, distant, always in thought but at the same time ever in the minute, stern but occasionally whimsical, and one step away from total NUT!

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[–] diddymuck 12 years ago

Don't forget:
the 1980's version with Tom Baker as SH;

the Russian version, often called the best SH ever;

and the 1972 US Hound with Stewart Granger as SH, Bernard Fox (yep!) as Watson and William Shatner as Stapleton...on second thought, let's do forget this one. Worst ever.

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[–] profh-1 12 years ago

I've seen at least 8 versions.

Avoid Peter Cook at all costs. Read the IMDB reviews. You'll see why. IT'S NOT FUNNY.

I saw Stewart Granger & Bernard Fox when it was first-run, but not since. ABC hoped to do their own version of the 3-series rotating "Mystery Movie" cycle with 3 "period" series. The 2nd one was Nick Carter with Robert Conrad! Never saw the 3rd one.

I saw one of the recent ones (there've been several). But I can't remember which it was. I just know that certain elements seemed closer to the book than any other, but the characterization of the 2 leads was COMPLETELY wrong!

Jeremy Brett & Edward Hardwicke-- one of the best Holmes & Watson teams ever-- did one of the most "faithful" to the book ever. Sadly, it suffered from 2 major problems. 1)It was the first thing Brett did after his wife died, and he was horribly sick & depressed, and 2)it had the WORST directing in the entire Granada series. I found it ALMOST UNWATCHABLE. It's difficult to believe this was part of the same series as the first 26 episodes.

Which brings me to my favorites...

IAN RICHARDSON -- lavish, magnificent, big-budget all-star epic, a virtual remake of the Rathbone film, a stunning experience. As an adaptation, middle of the road, as it follows the book, but makes TONS of changes (I suppose one could compare it on that score to "ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE"). I love it every time I see it.

TOM BAKER -- the MOST faithful to the book, done on a shoestring budget (it looks much cheaper than 70's DOCTOR WHO). The first half, for what it is, is NEAR-PEFECTION, but the 2nd half is terribly "rushed". It was a 4-parter, but obviously should have been 5 or 6 parts.

BASIL RATHBONE -- the "classic" version. Follows the book to an extent, but makes a lot of changes to compress the story. Overall, I'd say this was the "best movie".

PETER CUSHING -- "Hammer Films" all the way. Ironically, while this veers furthest from the book, for a Hammer, it may be their most "faithful" adaptation ever. Of my 4 favorites, this DEFINITELY has the BEST Watson!! Tight, fast-paced, EXCITING. Hardly a line from the book is intact, it's been re-written to fit the style of the studio. Like their "DRACULA", it's one of the best versions ever made (providing you enjoy it on its own terms).

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[–] combosonfire 10 years ago

Just curious,

Many fans of the books think Robert DJr in the latest series of Sherlock Homes is bit unorthodox.

I have not watched a single version of Sherlock Homes apart from RDJr.

I got 2 questions...

Which versions are the best and which ones are better skipped?

And who seems to be the best Sherlock Homes?

:)

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[–] diddymuck 9 years ago

deciding is rather subjective; however, I would suggest the Jeremy Brett series for close adherence to Doyle's canon, while Basil Rathbone as the guy most everyone who came after tried to imitate. As well, Tom Baker's unique performance sticks religiously to the plot and has the joy-to-watch Mr. Baker as the prize at the bottom of the box! However, for Holmes as wildly eccentric near-lunatic see Peter Cushing's rendition.

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[–] jjk50 8 years ago

The worst thing about the Rathbone Holmes series was making Dr. Watson a bumbling fool as played by Nigel Bruce. Andre Morell in the Hammer version and others played him like the respected colleague to Holmes he was supposed to be.

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] davidjanuzbrown 7 years ago

I prefer the Hammer version ( even though it was the least accurate when compared to the novel ( especially when showing the female Stapleton as the baddie)). The way Watson was shown really works well ( actually shooting Stapleton). I also liked the twist of Cecile actually being worse then Stapleton himself ( she was going to let Watson drown in quicksand while Stapleton saved him). Plus she enjoyed the idea of Sir Henry dying as opposed to the economic motivation of her father. It was also great to see Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee as good guys for a change.

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