The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) Reviewed

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, THE (1959)
Peter Cushing is the sly, slippery and impossibly intuitive sleuth in the second adaptation of what is arguably Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most popular Sherlock Holmes mystery. The Baskerville curse is set to fall upon Christopher Lee, in a rare wimpy (though well-played) role as Sir Henry Baskerville, last of Baskervilles. There may or may not be a hellhound killing folks on the moors at night. Is it related to the curse? If not, who is the murderer? Will Lee survive to rectify the family’s reputation? Holmes is on the case with a surprisingly dignified Dr. Watson (Andre Morell). This swift-moving mystery has some nice set pieces and Cushing makes a smart Holmes. HotB was produced by Hammer studios and features a few dabs of that signature orange/red stage blood.
** ½

~ by Number5ive on February 19, 2010.