Amostpleasinglyatmosphericrenditionofthetale,noirishlyphotographedandmoodilyset,thisistheversionwhichprobablywouldhavedelightedConanDoylethemostThereisoneimportantplotchangewhichenablesthebeautifulAliceBrandttoenjoybothalargerroleandamoreintriguingpartintheproceedingsThischangealsobuildsupthepartsofDrMortimerandLordCharles,yetatthesametimeprovidesaniceintroductiontotheishesinisterorisheagoodguyBarrymore,deftlyplayedherebyFritzRasp
Despitethestingofitswelldevelopedstory,thespellbindinglyatmosphericdirectionandtheengrossingperformancesdeliveredbytheentirecast,manyfansmayfindthisversionsomewhatdisappointingForatleastthreereasons:Asinthenovel,thepartplayedinthenarrativebySherlockHolmes,thoughvital,isminimalAndinthisversion,notonlyhasnoattemptbeenmadetoenlargehisrole,ifanythingbothwriteranddirectordotheirbesttominimizeitHolmesdoesnotevenmakehisentranceforhalfanhour,andwhenhedoesfinallyappear,hehashisbacktothecameraItisFritzOdemar,asDrWatson,whoreceivesthemorefavorablecameraanglesAndthereisapurposeinthisItisWatson,notHolmes,whofiguresasthemainprotagonistofTheHoundoftheBaskervillesForthebulkofthenarrative,HolmesdisappearsItisWatsonandLordHenryPeterVosswhotakeuptherunningThemovieisalmostover,beforeHolmesclosesinonthevillainAndevenso,thisisnottheobsessed,selfimportantHolmesweareaccustomedtoseetakingchargeAnotherproblemisthatthetitlehounditselfdoesnotfigureagreatdealintheaction,adowngradingwhichwillundoubtedlyrateasanothermajordisappointmentforfansAndfinally,itcouldbearguedthatthescriptgivestoomuchattentiontoConanDoyle'sredherring,theescapedconvict,andnotenoughtotherealvillain
Thissaid,itmustsurelybeadmittedbyall,thatOdemar'sinterpretationofWatson—intelligent,charming,levelheaded,courageousandresourceful—ismuchclosertoConanDoyle'sconceptionthaneitherthebungling,inveteratelystupidNigelBruceortheselfeffacingIanFleming
Oneotherplayerdeservesspecialmention:ErichPontoDrWinkelinTheThirdManwhoseemsexactlyrightforStapletonAdifficultpart,superblyplayed
JohnHowardReid,imdb
