Product: Hound of the Baskervilles [VHS] (1983)
Rating: 3.0
Sluggish and dated
Put simply, this film has not aged very well. It seems trapped in the early 1980s when it was made (weird-fonted, yellow-lettered graphics and all). In particular, the character of Beryl Stapleton is a platinum blonde who looks like she just stepped off the set of "Dallas." The story has been twisted in various ways that deviate from the book, among them the fact that Inspector Lestrade has been roped into the proceedings. (Note that the actor who portrays Lestrade here later played the eccentric Thaddeus Sholto in Granada television's version of "The Sign of Four" starring Jeremy Brett. Note also that the actor who portrays Mr. Stapleton here would go on to play Dr. Trevelyan in Granada's Holmes episode "The Resident Patient." In both cases, these fine actors were better cast, and gave better performances, in the magnificent Brett films, which quickly superseded these Ian Richardson versions. Here, Stapleton simply seems like a silly nutcase with a poncho draped over him.) Ian Richardson? He is fine as Holmes, he has the right look, and does a pretty good job. (Although, for my taste, he often seems a bit too chipper and about to start laughing.) I agree with another reviewer that the rape scene in the Hound legend potrayed is perhaps gratuitous. Be it noted that of the two Holmes films Richardson made at this time, I do prefer this "Hound" to the Richardson version of "The Sign of Four." Overall, this film was competently made but again, the Jeremy Brett films, which came soon after and still hold up well today, are much better.