Hammer's first and only attempt (due to poor box office reaction) at a Sherlock Holmes story is a typical mystery, full of clues and unexplained events which make sense in the final reel. However, there is also, thanks to Hammer, a heady dose of Gothic atmosphere, plenty of spooky scenes (the howling in the distance makes a big impact) and a famous cast of Hammer veterans in Cushing, Lee and Morell. Dartmoor is a brilliant setting for a mystery film, and there are plenty of chills to be had from the desolate, lonely moorland where a supernatural hound lives. Actually, it just turns out to be a normal dog in the end, albeit one with a mask on. It's still pretty frightening, especially for someone who hates dogs.What the film may lack in special effects, it more than makes up for in the casting. Peter Cushing makes an excellent Holmes, snappy and waspish yet both sophisticated and kind. The only scene which looks out of place is where he is dwarfed by Lee's Henry Baskerville, it would have been better if the two actors were shot separately as this makes Cushing look small and ineffectual. Andre Morell also plays an excellent Watson, supportive and compassionate, yet brave too. Christopher Lee fits his role like a glove as he gets to be stern, impassioned, and authoritative, much like most of the roles in his career.The supporting cast is also great, with Miles Malleson lending in another finely-judged comic relief role. Francis De Wolff is a gruff doctor, John Le Mesurier fills out the lesser role of the Baskerville butler, and Marla Landi and Ewen Solon make venomous villains. Great sets, a wonderful score by James Bernard, and close attention to period detail help to make this mystery thriller one of Hammer's best in terms of authenticity and class.

Cracking, deliciously fun Hammer version of the classic Sherlock Holmes novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The great detective is played by Hammer star Peter Cushing, in a performance of style and wit. Holmes is hired by Mortimer (Francis De Wolff), the doctor for the aristocratic Baskerville family. Sir Charles Baskerville has just died, and Holmes must not only solve the crime, but make sure that Charles' nephew Sir Henry (Sir Christopher Lee) is protected from harm.Hammers' typically meticulous recreation of a long ago time and place helps to set a palpable mood. Director Terence Fisher is in fine form, as he guides this horror - mystery genre mix through its twists and turns. And these are solid and believable twists and turns. For people such as this viewer who aren't familiar with the novel, they'll be kept on their toes and not two steps ahead of the story at every point. We're always engrossed, and invested in the plight of the characters. We also marvel at Holmes' cleverness and deductive ability. There's just the right amount of tension, especially in a scene where a terrified Sir Henry discovers an eight legged surprise on his body. (Helping to sell the moment is the fact that Sir Christopher himself had a fear of spiders.) The atmosphere is incredible, especially in all scenes that take place on the Moors. James Bernard once again crafts a thunderous and eerie score. It's also nice to take in the vivid colour that Hammer introduced to the Gothic horror genre.Cushing and Lee are a dream team, as always. Cushing is a very good Holmes, and Andre Morell matches him as a very personable Dr. Watson. Lee is touching as his character falls in love with local girl Cecile. A marvelous supporting cast, too: Marla Landi, David Oxley, De Wolff, Miles Malleson (delivering delightful comedy relief as a priest who doubles as an insect & arachnid expert), Ewen Solon, John Le Mesurier, Helen Goss, and Sam Kydd.Well paced and diverting for 87 exciting minutes.Eight out of 10.

After successfully re-stimulating cinema audience's thirst for classic horror with re-tellings of the Dracula and Frankenstein legends, Hammer Films turned their attention to another piece of classic British literature, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. It seemed logical to adapt Doyle's arguably most popular story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, a tale translated to the screen countless times before and since 1959. This being Hammer however, the Gothic atmosphere and supernatural elements took centre stage, and with Terence Fisher in the director's chair and Peter Cushing donning the famous deerstalker, this is not only one of the finest Holmes adaptations but one of Hammer's most memorable works.Beginning centuries ago, the sadistic aristocrat Sir Hugo Baskerville (David Oxley) is enjoying a night of debauchery when a female prisoner escape and flees into the surrounding moors. Outraged, he pursues her with his pack of hounds, and eventually captures her and stabs her to death. Shortly after, Hugo is killed by an unseen entity that causes him to die with a look of terror on his face. Hundreds of years later, and Sir Charles Baskerville has been found dead under similar circumstances, leaving his only remaining heir Sir Henry (Christopher Lee) to take over Baskerville Hall. Now fearing that Sir Henry may become the next victim of the Baskerville curse, Dr. Richard Mortimer (Francis De Wolff) employs the talents of Sherlock Holmes and his trusted partner Dr. Watson (Andre Morell) to solve the mystery.The film has its problems, mainly with Holmes going missing for a large chunk of the running time and leaving Dr. Watson in charge of the investigation, but thankfully Morell proves to be suitably refined in the role and capable of carrying the movie for this period. The hound at the final reveal is also anti-climatic and rather silly, although this is understandable given that there are no true supernatural powers at work here. These quibbles are overshadowed by some sumptuous cinematography by Hammer stalwart Jack Asher, whose smoky moors really drum up a genuinely spooky atmosphere at times, especially during the surprisingly violent opening scene and the tense climax. This being Hammer, liberties are taken with the source material, but it's all for the sake of good old-fashioned entertainment. It's a shame Cushing and Hammer wouldn't adapt more Holmes stories than they did.

Well, so from the more than 20 adaptations of one of the very best 'Sherlock Holmes' adventures, the two that are probably considered as the classic ones are the 1939 version starring Basil Rathbone - and this 1959 version starring Peter Cushing. Now, of course we should always watch a movie unbiased and without comparing it to another version - but this version is, with or without comparison a pretty mediocre adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous novel; and the fact that it's the first 'Sherlock Holmes' movie in color doesn't make it better. Rather the opposite, in fact, because the well-known British Hammer horror movies weren't exactly famed for the quality of their special effects... (If you but take a look at those great AIP 19th century period horror pictures, with Roger Corman as director and renowned stars like Vincent Price and Peter Lorre, which were made at exactly the same time...) And what's worse, the protagonists are REALLY overdoing it and trying to surpass one another at being snobby Brits - both Peter Cushing as Holmes, and Christopher Lee as Baskerville (and they'd already starred together in another remake of a great 19th century novel adaptation which is surely inferior to the b&w version: "Dracula"...); the only sympathetic character is that of Dr. Watson, impersonated by Rene Morell (but even he couldn't reach the amiable type of Nigel Bruce from the 1939 version). The only thing that's REALLY well done here are the set decorations, through which the very synthetic 'fog' flows, and which are unfortunately much too well lighted to create a really frightening atmosphere; REAL fans of Sherlock Holmes may find this film fascinating, while to others it'll probably be a nice little mystery from 19th century England at best...