Ian Richardson was contracted to make a series of Sherlock Holmes films for American television. They only got around to making two before the series was cancelled. The Hound of the Baskervilles was the first of them.
Richardson's performance displays that he did do plenty of research for the role and gave some thought to his performance. At least that was not wasted as in later years he would go on to play Dr Joseph Bell for a BBC series, the man who inspired Conan Doyle to the character of Sherlock Holmes.
Sadly this is a largely bland and uninspired version of the famous story. There is a lot of studio bound scenes and it looks like it. The costumes and the sets look wonderful.
Watson is a bit of a stuffy duffer arguing with Lestrade. There is no mutual respect between these characters which was sad.
Richardson is wonderful when he is in disguise, the best bit about it. I thought Martin Shaw's accent was very good but his voice did not sound like Martin Shaw at all. Only to find out he had been dubbed by another actor. Brian Blessed does not surprise anyone with another shouty performance.
The hound was actually ok, it clearly was animated when you first see it. The whole production brought nothing new to the table. Solid but dull.
Richardson's performance displays that he did do plenty of research for the role and gave some thought to his performance. At least that was not wasted as in later years he would go on to play Dr Joseph Bell for a BBC series, the man who inspired Conan Doyle to the character of Sherlock Holmes.
Sadly this is a largely bland and uninspired version of the famous story. There is a lot of studio bound scenes and it looks like it. The costumes and the sets look wonderful.
Watson is a bit of a stuffy duffer arguing with Lestrade. There is no mutual respect between these characters which was sad.
Richardson is wonderful when he is in disguise, the best bit about it. I thought Martin Shaw's accent was very good but his voice did not sound like Martin Shaw at all. Only to find out he had been dubbed by another actor. Brian Blessed does not surprise anyone with another shouty performance.
The hound was actually ok, it clearly was animated when you first see it. The whole production brought nothing new to the table. Solid but dull.