The Hound of the Baskervilles

Recently, we've seen the DVD release of many TV adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the iconic detective's creator—Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—allowing aficionados the opportunity to compare different actors who've portrayed the famous Baker Street sleuth. Made for British television in 1983, this version of one of Doyle's most famous tales stars Ian Richardson, who later went on to play Dr. Joseph Bell (Doyle's mentor in deduction and the acknowledged model for Holmes) in the BBC Murder Rooms miniseries. Here, Richardson doesn't give Holmes the edge brought by Basil Rathbone in the 1939 adaptation, or even Jeremy Brett in the 1988 TV movie. Richardson's portrayal of Holmes is both kinder and gentler, but still skillful overall, particularly in the scenes where Holmes dons the disguise of a gypsy fortune-teller—a change of face and costume the actor plays to the hilt. Unfortunately, Donald Churchill's dense Watson isn't in the same league, although in compensation, the supporting cast includes such stalwarts as Denholm Elliott and Brian Blessed, with Martin Shaw a personable (and convincingly American) Sir Henry Baskerville. Although the quarter-century-plus old visuals are occasionally murky, the exterior shots filmed in the Devonshire countryside are certainly atmospheric. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)