The Hound of the Baskervilles (TV serial)
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | |
|---|---|
| Written by |
Novel: Arthur Conan Doyle Screenplay: Alexander Baron |
| Directed by | Peter Duguid |
| Starring |
Tom Baker Terence Rigby |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Barry Letts |
| Editor(s) | Nigel Pardoe-Matthews |
| Release | |
| Original release | 3 October 1982 |
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1982) is a British television serial made by the BBC, produced by Barry Letts, directed by Peter Duguid and starring Tom Baker as Sherlock Holmes and Terence Rigby as Doctor Watson. The serial is based on Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. The music score was composed and conducted by Carl Davis.
Production
This production of Doyle The Hound of the Baskervilles was the second multi-part BBC adaptation,[1] following Peter Cushing's two-part episode for the 1968 television series. The 1982 serial was part of the BBC's Sunday Classics strand of period dramas and literary adaptations.
The serial was a reunion for star Tom Baker and producer Barry Letts who had worked together on Doctor Who.[2] The film aired as a four-part serial in 1982.[2] As the Fourth Doctor, Baker had appeared in a 1977 serial entitled The Talons of Weng-Chiang wherein the Doctor was dressed as Sherlock Holmes complete with deerstalker.[1][2]
Terence Rigby, who portrayed Watson in this production, later played Inspector Layton in the 1983 version of The Sign of Four featuring Ian Richardson as Sherlock Holmes.
The serial was shot in the BBC's Birmingham studios with exterior shots filmed on Dartmoor for film inserts.[1]
Cast
- Tom Baker as Sherlock Holmes
- Terence Rigby as Dr. John H. Watson
- Nicholas Woodeson as Sir Henry Baskerville
- Christopher Ravenscroft as Stapleton
- Kay Adshead as Beryl Stapleton
- Will Knightley as Dr. Mortimer
- Caroline John as Laura Lyons
- Hubert Rees as Inspector Lestrade
Reception
The opinions of viewers at the time was divided[3] and it has not fared better over time.[4][5] Baker himself came to consider his performance a failure.[1] The Daily Telegraph described the adaptation as a "traditional take on Holmes's most famous adventure" and while it selected Baker as 15th in a countdown of "the 20 greatest Sherlock Holmes", it said Baker "may have been better off staying in the TARDIS", arguing that he gave "an oddly flat performance".[6] The Independent has been more favourable, stating "it was inspired casting to put the tall, pop-eyed, mad-voiced Baker into the Holmesian cape and hat", describing him as "a predictably larger-than-life Holmes".[7]
DVD
The serial will be Release in Australia on 20/08/2014 by Madman Entertainment. Special features is a commentary by Tom Baker. Region 4. www.madman.com.au
References
- 1 2 3 4 Alan Barnes (2002). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. p. 69. ISBN 1-903111-04-8.
- 1 2 3 Peter Haining (1994). The Television Sherlock Holmes. Virgin Books. p. 83. ISBN 0-86369-793-3.
- ↑ Peter Haining (1994). The Television Sherlock Holmes. Virgin Books. p. 84. ISBN 0-86369-793-3.
- ↑ "A Study In Error: The Ten Worst Sherlock Holmes". shadowlocked.com. Retrieved 2011-12-28.
- ↑ Allen Eyles (1986). Sherlock Holmes: A Centenary Celebration. Harper & Row. p. 123. ISBN 0-06-015620-1.
- ↑ "15. Tom Baker - Sherlock: the 20 greatest Sherlock Holmes". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ↑ "Holmes Sweet Holmes: Literature's Greatest Sleuth". The Independent. Retrieved 11 April 2015.