When you love the classic as i do and have watched most of the movie and tv versions you learn quickly that there are always changes, sometimes nessecary, sometimes not. In this case the character of Frankland is omitted entirely and instead a large subplot focuses on the painter Lyons (who is only mentioned in the novel) and his wive. This adds another suspect to the plot, as Frankland never made much of a suspect in any version i know.
The cast is just great, especially the fantastic late Ian Richardson, who plays his Holmes alsways with a mischievous smile and a twinkle in his eye. Similiar to Rathbone he also gets his second part to play and he does it verry convincingly. Donald Churchill, who havn´t played watson in the adaptation of The Sign of the Four (1983) is also verry well casted as Watson, even so he plays him with just a hint of that old Nigel-Bruce-pomposity. Also, Denholm Elliott is a perfect choice for Dr. Mortimer and Brian Blessed is just gorgeously over the top als brutal drunkard Lyons.
Director Douglas Hickox ("Theatre of Blood") delivers a strong athmosphere and manages to always bring some tensions and terror to the moments of horror. However he sometimes went a little over the top, particularly in the murder of the young woman in the legend at the beginning (adding gruesome hints of rape to the scene) and at the slighly melodramatic death of Stapleton at the end. While the London scenes are fairly convincing, it´s especially the rural english landscape of Dartmoor, the village and the great interiors of Baskerville Hall where this versions excels some of the others.
There a still some flaws, but for a fan like me it is just a lot of fun to watch.
The cast is just great, especially the fantastic late Ian Richardson, who plays his Holmes alsways with a mischievous smile and a twinkle in his eye. Similiar to Rathbone he also gets his second part to play and he does it verry convincingly. Donald Churchill, who havn´t played watson in the adaptation of The Sign of the Four (1983) is also verry well casted as Watson, even so he plays him with just a hint of that old Nigel-Bruce-pomposity. Also, Denholm Elliott is a perfect choice for Dr. Mortimer and Brian Blessed is just gorgeously over the top als brutal drunkard Lyons.
Director Douglas Hickox ("Theatre of Blood") delivers a strong athmosphere and manages to always bring some tensions and terror to the moments of horror. However he sometimes went a little over the top, particularly in the murder of the young woman in the legend at the beginning (adding gruesome hints of rape to the scene) and at the slighly melodramatic death of Stapleton at the end. While the London scenes are fairly convincing, it´s especially the rural english landscape of Dartmoor, the village and the great interiors of Baskerville Hall where this versions excels some of the others.
There a still some flaws, but for a fan like me it is just a lot of fun to watch.