Time has been kind to this Hammer version of the wonderful Holmes novel, particularly Peter Cushing’s performance as Holmes. Many things were taken for granted at the time also help the piece vault the years – in particular the sumptuous sets, colour and production design. It’s still a Hammer film, hence a long prologue with evil Hugo Baskerville being dastardly. Christopher Lee wouldn’t be that ideal as Watson (though you can imagine him as Holmes too) but fortunately there was the meaty part of Baskerville for him to play. Andre Morrell is pretty decent as Watson – far closer to the Doyle creation than what Nigel Bruce did to it.
Hammer have jazzed up the novel a bit – they throw in a tarantula, a cave-in, turn one of the women into a femme fetale – but the changes are in the spirit of Doyle (except perhaps the final death in a swamp which is a bit throw-away). Exciting finale. John le Mesurier plays a butler and Miles Malleson (who is allowed to ramble on a bit too long) is a priest.
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