Hound of the Baskervilles on a smaller scale with Matt Frewer's Sherlock Holmes merely an afterthought this time around. Jason London is miscast as Sir Henry Baskerville(..perhaps cast at that time when he was rather a hot commodity in Hollywood), heir to his ancestor Sir Hugo's fortune, manor, and estate(..not to mention, the moor and practically an entire village nearby known as Grimpen, definitely dependent upon him), his life threatened by a notorious "hell hound" roaming the moor..from a legend passed down for generations as a specter haunting the family line due to Hugo's infamous behavior towards a tenant's missus. Anyway, a member of the Grimpen country, Dr. Mortimer(Gordon Masten),is worried for Sir Henry's safety, seeking Sherlock Holmes's help in identifying the culprit behind a possible murder of the recently deceased Sir Charles Baskerville, who perished from a coronary, some believe because of his belief in the dreaded hound scouring the moor. Holmes, interested after reading a letter sent as a warning to Sir Henry, sends Watson on to the manor as a sort of protector as he must attend to duties in London. This little television movie follows Watson's sleuthing as he uncovers little things that contribute to something possible sinister in store for Sir Henry. Also, we see how the Barrymores(Arthur Holden and Leni Parker)are sending food and clothing to her escaped convict brother, wrongfully accused for a murder he didn't commit, sentenced to the gallows, who is living in a little area on the moor someplace.
Frewer, when the film is set in London at the start, seems to be having a ball as Holmes, but once the plot shifts to Baskerville manor, he vanishes from screen altogether, popping up at the very end with Kenneth Welsh's delightfully spry and aware Watson given the bulk of the detective duties. London actually has more to do than Frewer, and does what he can with a rather bland role, but he's no Christopher Lee, and doesn't even attempt to play his character as anything other than an American in brand new environs. He simply seems out of place. I reckon Frewer won't be on anyone's favorites list as Holmes, and he isn't in this film long enough to cause any detrimental harm. The filmmakers get as much mileage as possible out of the production value and setting, perhaps to make up for the many shortcomings in the script and rather uninteresting characters(characterizations).
I don't believe this will figure prominently alongside the countless other versions of the Arthur Conan Doyle story-to-screen adaptations. The decision on how to portray the hound is rather laughable, I'm afraid(..particularly his red eyes). I must say, though, that it was intriguing to see Watson carrying the film, instead of Holmes. Other screen versions go out of the way to make sure both have a sizable amount to do in the film, because Sherlock Holmes fans want to see him! Perhaps, it was a good idea not to have Frewer no longer than he appears. I love Frewer in other over-the-top roles where he has free reign to go as far off the deep end as he so desires, but as Holmes, you can only carry eccentricity to a certain point, and his flippancy in regards to the possible danger awaiting Henry is rather contemptible(..unlike Holmes in other versions, Frewer's version waits until the very end to show up as the hound is gnawing away at Sir Henry's arm, on the verge of tearing it off). And, unlike the warm relationship of other Holmes/Watson teams, there's quite a disagreeable nature to the Welsh/Frewer version, and they're not together on screen enough(..and, preferably so)for us to ever cling to them as a likable duo. Robin Wilcock and Emma Campbell barely leave an impression, registering little as "brother and sister" Stapletons, neighbors who live on the moor, who extend a seemingly hospitable hand of friendship to Sir Henry(..although, Beryl warns him of possible harm if he doesn't leave while brother scoffs at such nonsense as a devil hound, a naturalist himself with an enthusiastic view of the moor). The English countryside is a very good asset, utilized effectively, though. This movie felt like more of an introduction to a television series than a stand-alone adaptation.
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