USA, UK, 1983
35mm film, colour, 4:3
mono, English
Reviewed at The EOFFTV Review
An American/British horror television film directed by Douglas Hickox.
Plot Summary
Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are called upon to investigate the mystery of the giant hound, apparently on the loose on Dartmoor, that supposedly stalks the Baskerville family. Along the way, they uncover a strange family plot that dates back several generations.
Credits
Crew
Director: Douglas Hickox
Sy Weintraub Productions, Mapleton Films
Executive Producer: Sy Weintraub
Producer: Otto Plaschkes
Associate Producers: Alan Rosefielde, Eric Rattrau
Script: Charles Edward Pogue
Novel: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
2nd Unit Director: Peter MacDonald
1st Assistant Director: Barry Langley
2nd Assistant Director: Michael Higgins
Continuity: Pamela Davies
Director of Photography: Ronnie Taylor
Camera Operator: Eddie Collins
Gaffer: Alan Martin
Focus Puller: Cedric James
Stills: John Jay, Albert Clarke
Editor: Malcolm Cooke
Assistant Editors: Rita Ackland-Snow, Peter Krook, Paul Tomlinson
Colour: Rank Film Laboratories
Music: Michael J. Lewis
Sound Recording: Tony Dawe
Dubbing Editors: Stanley Fiferman, Richard Hiscott
Dubbing Mixer: Ken Barker
Boom Operator: Patrick Heigham
Re-Recorded at: Pinewood Studios, London, England, UK
Costume Designer: Julie Harris
Wardrobe Master: John Hilling
Make Up Supervisor: Tom Smith
Make Up: John Webber
Assistant Make Up: John Webber
Hair Supervisor: Betty Sherriff
Special Effects Supervisor: Alan Whibley
Production Designer: Michael Stringer
Assistant Art Director: Fred Carter
Set Dresser: Terry Parr
Production Buyer: Shirley Spriggs
Property Master: Rex Hobbs
Chargehand Standby Props: Alan Bailey
Standby Props: Ron Higgins
Construction Manager: Ken Pattenden
Production Accountant: Ron Garrett
Assistant Accountant: Michael Yell
Publicity: Susan d’Arcy
Production Assistant: Norma Garment
Producer’s Secretary: Kelly Howard-Garde
Technical Consultant: Otto Penzler
Production Runner: Tony Cryer
Lenses and Panaflex Camera: Panavision
Locations: Knightshayes Court, Devon, England, UK (by kind permission of The National Trust); Shepperton Studio Centre, England, UK
Location Manager: Alan James
Unit Manager: Elizabeth Kerry
Casting Director: Sue Whatmough
Cast
Ian Richardson (Sherlock Holmes)
Donald Churchill (Dr John Watson)
Denholm Elliott (Dr Mortimer)
Glynis Barber (Beryl Stapleton)
Brian Blessed (Geoffrey Lyons)
Eleanor Bron (Mrs Barrymore)
Edward Judd (Barrymore)
Ronald Lacey (Inspector Lestrade)
Martin Shaw (Sir Henry Baskerville)
Connie Booth (Laura Lyons)
Eric Richard (cabbie)
Michael Burrell (shop owner)
Cindy O’Callaghan (maid)
Peter Rutherford (Selden)
Francesca Gonshaw (young girl in mire)
Nicholas Clay (Jack Stapleton/Sir Hugo Baskerville/bearded man)
David Langton [Sir Charles Baskerville – uncredited]
Alternative Titles
Der Hund von Baskerville – German title
Production Notes
Production
The second in what was planned as a series of six Sherlock Holmes adaptations, following the same year’s The Sign of Four. According to British trade journal Screen International, the third film, Hands of a Murderer, was likely to have been an original Holmes story 1Screen International no.377 (15-22 January 1983) p.11 but the proposed series was halted after just two films. Hands of a Murderer was eventually made but separate from the proposed series, with Edward Woodward as Holmes, Hohn Hillerman as Watson and Douglas Hickox retained as director. 2Sherlock Holmes on Screen by Alan Barnes pp. 256-259
Producer Otto Plaschkes told Colin Vaines of Screen International that he and Hickox were consciously trying not to make it in “the Hammer Style.” “One has to find one’s own approach,” Plaschkes said. “When you adapt an author’s work, you have to analyse what makes the book work, and then find a cinematic equivalent. But of course, everyone brings a different style to the story.” Hickox added that “In Hammer’s case, it was a Gothic style, but the production designer (Michael Stringer) and the producers and I all had the same concept for Baskerville Hall – it shouldn’t be a haunted Gothic house, but one which had a dual personality.” 3Screen International no.377 (15-22 January 1983) p.11
The moors were built in a soundstage at Shepperton Studios because the production couldn’t take chances with the British winter weather. “We’d have ended up lost in a bog, or weeks behind because of the weather,” Hickox told Screen International. 4Screen International no.377 (15-22 January 1983) p.11
References
Periodicals
- Flesh and Blood no.8 pp.19-20 – credits, review
- Screen International no.377 (15-22 January 1983) p.11 – illustrated article (Production UK: Hickox unleashes a dog of yore by Colin Vaines)
Books
- Horror and Science Fiction Films III by Donald C. Willis p.127 – credits
- Sherlock Holmes on Screen by Alan Barnes pp. 256-259
