The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002)

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate after an heir claims his estate is plagued by a ghostly dog.

Director:

David Attwood

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (by) (as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), Allan Cubitt (screenplay)

Stars:

Richard Roxburgh, Ian Hart, Richard E. Grant

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Roxburgh	...	Sherlock Holmes
Ian Hart	...	Dr. John Watson
Richard E. Grant	...	Jack Stapleton
Matt Day	...	Sir Henry Baskerville
John Nettles	...	Dr. James Mortimer
Geraldine James	...	Mrs. Mortimer
Neve McIntosh	...	Beryl Stapleton
Ron Cook	...	Barrymore
Liza Tarbuck	...	Mrs. Barrymore
Paul Kynman	...	Selden the Convict
Danny Webb	...	Inspector Lestrade
Richard Hawley	...	Clayton
Jim Norton	...	Coroner
David McNeill	...	Hotel Porter
Caspar Zafer	...	Warder 1

Storyline

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate after an heir claims his estate is plagued by a ghostly dog.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | christmas party | sherlock holmes character | dr. john watson character | five word title | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Mystery | Horror

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Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

A sátán kutyája

Filming Locations:

Cumbria, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Isle of Man Film, Tiger Aspect Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo Dolby Digital (DVD version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Holmes' use of cocaine while on a case is non-canonical - in Doyle's stories, Holmes used cocaine only he was bored due to inactivity.

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Goofs

When Stapleton points out a rare orchid he's found on the moor, we see a huge pink orchid of the kind sold in supermarkets as a table decoration. The orchids of Dartmoor are small wildflowers.

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Quotes

Sir Henry Baskerville: What do you call that thing where the landowner has the right to bed the local women?
Dr. John Watson: Droit de signeur. Sadly for you, the feudal system was abolished in Devonshire some time ago.

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Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #32.9 (2004)

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Soundtracks

I Saw Three Ships
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Fast paced and enjoyable despite a few misgivings

When Lord Baskerville is killed by a mysterious hound, the local doctor covers it up as a heart attack and lies about the wounds. However he goes to Baker Street detective Sherlock Holmes with the truth and asks for his help. Holmes dispatches Watson to protect Baskerville's relative, newly arrived from America while he attempts to uncover more.

Christmas TV schedules are full of one-off dramas usually with stars who have done well in America but have returned to keep their face about or actors who don't often do television series. This version of a classic story was one such example. As is often the case with such things, it is a good production and moves the story along at a good pace. The hound itself is best seen in shadows and quick edits as it isn't that scary but the film still manages to have a sense of urgency to it.

Roxburgh's Holmes is suitably cheerful and feels outside of the murders, like he is enjoying the mystery of the whole thing. Hart tries hard with Watson and avoids the usual trap of playing him like a fool of sorts beside Holmes. Here he is central to the story and is onscreen a lot, but Hart makes him quite sour and colourless and he emerges as quite a pale character. Support was billed as `all-star' and I suppose it is in a way. All present themselves well and people like Grant, Tarbuck (!), Nettles and Cook are interesting additions.

Overall this is a fast paced and enjoyable version of the classic tale and is easy to enjoy. Hart dominates the middle section of the film which drags it down a little due to his lifeless Watson but generally the film is well worth a watch no matter how many times you've seen it told.