Terror By Night

Hey Folks I am back! Yeah you missed me. Oh, don't be bashful. First off, thank you so many of you for the birthday wishes yesterday. It was very uplifting and kind of put a spring in my step. So today we do NOT have the following: Women in Prison, Rape Revenge, Monsters devouring everything in sight. Nope, today we are going a bit old school and look in the far past of the 1946. Back to a time of revival for England's Greatest Detective of Victorian Era brought to the then modern 20^th century. This is Terror By Night.

Hapless and helpless or Femme Fatale?

With a matter of great importance, Holmes (Basil Rathbone of The Adventures of Robin Hood, Romeo and Juliet, The Pursuit to Algiers, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, Tales of Terror and Queen of Blood) has been contracted by Roland Carstairs (Geoffrey Steele of Love Letters, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Terror by Night, Marigold, My Fair Lady, Doctor Dolittle and Funny Girl) to guard the safe passage of a substantial diamond, The Star of Rhodesia belonging to Carstairs' mother the Lady Margret. The idea of having the famous Holmes and Watson as a deterrent to stealing it would present a bit of security.

Or so one would think. This one constantly thinks. Perhaps too damn much. Moving on, our diamond has to be transported via train from London to Edinburgh. With a stroke of genius, Holmes swaps the diamond for a convincing fake to better insure the true diamond's safety. With real diamond in hand, Holmes pays close attention to all aboard the train, every minute detail will not escape this keen mind.

A quick side note. Really loathed Nigel Bruce's portrayal of Watson. They make him this babbling ninny that couldn't see through Holmes' disguises EVEN THOUGH he has known the man for ages. Coupled with the fact his is a licensed physician, would require a fair amount of mental and physical memory, now add he has managed many a forensic staple and well this butter head routine is demeaning to the character. Watson may not be Holmes equal in the same levels of thinking but by no means, a moron.

I say, porter. Watson is locked the water closet again.

Back to the film, set aboard this speeding train, you can get an almost claustrophobic vibe as the journey continues as a murder is well on its way. Seriously, if you knew Holmes you would just stay away. You are either wrongfully accused, the murderer or the victim. All in all, a crappy day awaits you. With the murder of Roland and the fake diamond missing, Holmes with the aid of Inspector Lestrade (Dennis Hoey of The Pearl of Death, National Velvet, Kitty, Tarzan and the Leopard Woman, Terror by Night, She-Wolf of London, Annan and the King of Siam and The Crimson Key) and Watson they must investigate and question every potential suspect of their fellow passengers before the train makes it to Scotland to hide among the moors. Or something to that effect. Oh right, Lestrade won't be able to arrest them if they are out of his jurisdiction. With several red herrings in the works, it will be difficult to dicpher who is lying, for what reason and why is almost everyone on this train so damn touchy.

But who could ultimately be the murderer/jewel thief? Who is to blame? Will Watson stop blithering?

This Universal Pictures duo has starred over 13 Sherlock films, did 220 radio show episodes for NBC and through Mutual Broadcasting System, these shows were broadcast during the front lines overseas during World War II through the Armed Forces Radio Service.

Rathbone felt the while the character gave him fame and recognition, he was tired of portraying Holmes as often as he did and was afraid of being typecast as his childhood hero.

Understandable. I loved Spidey, Batman and Dr. Who but I wouldn't want to have figure in the ridiculous physical and mental shape of any of these heroes. My mimicry is decent but I cannot image the workout regiment to pull some of that off.

Aside from the murder, the pudding was excellent.

The Hound of the Baskervilles Week: The Hound of the Baskervilles 1988

Welcome back boys and girls to Day 4 of The Hound of the Baskervilles.  I apologize for the delay of this review but family matters and a bum tooth caused a bit of a roadblock.   This time around we will focus on the late brilliant Jeremy Brett (My Fair Lady, The Merry Widow, A Picture of Katherine Mansfield, A Legacy, Seagull Island and The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes) brings his ellegance to this exemplary detective character.   So gather around the kiddies around the fireplace, wrap them in a wool blanket and be prepare to be astounded.  This is The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Silver will settle the score with that werewolf.

Stapleton: The moor is full of spoilers.
Dr. John Watson: But what was it?
Stapleton: The peasants say it is the Hound of the Baskervilles calling for its prey.



Based on the TV series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes this TV movie is did take liberties of the source material in order to stem it down, our film opens with Sir Charles Baskerville on the grounds of Baskerville Hall.  Dr. Mortimer (Alastair Duncan of Taggart, Split Second, Tracey Takes On..., Providence and The Batman) takes up a meeting with Sherlock and Watson (Edward Hardwicke of The Scarlet Letter, Richard III, Elizabeth and Love Actually) to express his great concern for the nephew of his best friend Sir Charles.  Young Henry has been residing in Canada for his scholastic was given an anonymous note left at his London hotel room warning him away from the moors of Devonshire.

Do explain this BFG weaponry. Sounds most fascinating.

Mortimer is convinced of a legendary torment of a demonic hound roaming Devonshire moors sought the blood of Hugo Baskerville's descendants to quench its hunger.  Taking in this story with a degree of concern, Watson is dispatched with Mortimer to greet Sir Henry and Holmes would endeavor to find the truth behind the monster and the legend if any to be found at all.

I had just a few comments to make about the TV movie now.
Aside from a few temporal goofs such as Watson's revolver was a Webley Mk VI .455 while resembling a 19th century revolver it was not manufactured for the British Army until 1915.  30 years prior to when the story was created.   Seldon was a victim of a botched lobotomy, a  procedure that had not came to pass until the 1950s.   This TV Movie stayed true to the Victorian Era and held that with language, clothing and location.
Quite impressive portrayal of the classic story even if I do not hold it in high regards.

Mud bath of DOOOOOOM!!!

The Hound of the Baskervilles Week: The Hound of the Baskervilles 1978

Hello there and welcome to Day 3 of The Hound of the Baskervilles Week.  I am changing things up a bit.  Rather than reviewing the 1972 TV Movie I felt we need a bit of a lark, some goof if you will and that is why we are moving on ahead to 1978’s rendition of said title.  This is meant as a spoof of the classic Doyle tale and is done with precision and exquisite time of the late Peter Cook and the late Dudley Moore.   This ladies and gentlemen is The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Yikes, right in the little soldier!

Sherlock Holmes: Do you think I’m gonna waste my time spoiling the streets of London for some old boot?  This is a job for an imbecile.

Doctor Watson: Quite right, Holmes, let me deal with this.

 With an in-depth view into Holmes’ personal life, issues with his constantly perplexed mother and his welsh Watson we can surmise this is clearly a parody of the Doyle tale and quite the detraction from the dramatic mystery that it is. Holmes has just returned from finding a lost holy relic for three French nuns that are adamant about getting to the church on time for the thousand of blind cripples to enjoy…how you may ask? Why, faith, of course.   No sooner has Holmes (Peter Cook of Alice in Wonderland, The Bed Sitting Room, Find the Lady, The Two of Us and The Black Adder) tended to the nuns Dr. Mortimer (Terry-Thomas of I’m All Right Jack, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies, The Abominable Dr. Phibes and The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones) pays Holmes and rather excitable Welsh Doctor Watson (Dudley Moore of Bedazzled, 10,  Foul Play, Arthur and Six Weeks) of his concern for Sir Henry Baskerville and the fiercesome beast that curses Baskerville Hall and all its estate.

 

Star in a film titled Supergirl?  Sounds daft.

Tired and shagged out from the previous cases, Holmes hands the reins to this case to Watson.   Arriving at the station, Sir Henry (Kenneth Williams of Carry on Sergeant, Carry on Nurse, Carry on Teacher and Carry on at Your Convenience), Watson, Mortimer and Perkins their driver are halted by a bobby informing them of an escaped lunatic that is hiding out in the moors and they are to be wary at all times…this is just after they rammed him in the balls with a Model A.   He’s only married for a month, the poor fellow. 

Moving right along Mortimer and Watson are mistreated by the Barrymores feed only cheese and water and then cast into a dingy, grimy small bedroom with ankle deep water.  As Watson keeps Holmes abreast to the situation, Holmes must endure his cranky eldery mother (Moore in drag) rambling nonsensical left and right.

I just had a few observations of the movie at this time. With such an amazing cast as Denholm Elliot of  Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Prunella Scales of Fawlty Towers and After Henry this low brow humor consists primarily of jokes, puns and a running gag of dogs peeing.  The amusing part to this film is it truly does not steer away from its original source material.  It would be more accurately viewed as this is The Hound of the Baskervilles in the mind’s eye view of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore and frankly that is almost as terrifying to be in Robin Williams’ mind.

It is fun, warped and filled with abject wrongness for all to enjoy.

Was that you or do we have a dead yak in the front hall?

The Hound of the Baskervilles Week: The Hound of the Baskervilles 1959

Hello again to Day 2 of The Hound of the Baskervilles Week and what could be cooler than a Sherlock Holmes story given life to the screen? How about a Hammer Films Production of it??   That’s right kiddies I just finished enjoying the hell out of this oh so impressive cast, location and period piece so this should be a slippery slope for Rathbone’s inception.  The year is 1959, filmed in the UK as it should be and our intrepid twosome about to receive a visitor in the night urging their assistance in a family endeavor.  This is The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Sharp dressed Sith.

Sherlock Holmes: I must insist upon one thing. Under no circumstances are you to go out onto the spoilers at night.

However would you find a man that could fit the physical and mental aptitudes that make up a wiry man with a hawkish nose and a cunning intellect that few could rival?   Well with Basil Rathbone setting a pretty high bar how about Peter Cushing?   Yes, I thought that would grab your attention.

Holmes (Peter Cushing of Horror of Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein, Doctor Who and the Daleks, The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, Shock Waves and Star Wars) and Watson (Andre Morell of The Bridge on the River Kwai, Ben-Hur, The Message and The Great Train Robbery) have tucked in for the night when Mrs. Hudson informs the gents a Doctor Mortimer would like a word with them on a matter of most urgency.  Holmes relaxed in his smoking dressing gown (robe for the Yanks) greets Mortimer (Francis De Wolff of A Christmas Carol, Ivanhoe, Moby Dick and From Russia with Love) exclaims that his best friend’s nephew is the target of a family curse where he to set foot in his inherited estate.  Holmes takes this concern in with leisure but ever a sound mind as Mortimer tells the story of his dearest departed friend Sir Charles Baskerville dying under the guise of a heart attack. Claiming a curse was placed on the house of Baskerville due to the actions of Charles’ ancestor Sir Hugo that a large horrendous beast from the pits of Hell is known to roam the lands of Baskerville in search of Hugo’s descendants for only their blood will slake its thirst.

Daleks are a tricky adversary, you know. 

Sir Henry (Sir Christopher Lee of Horror of Dracula, The City of the Dead, Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, The Man with the Golden Gun and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) meets with the gentlemen only after an attempt on his life with a deadly tarantula and Holmes is certain this was foul play.  Telling Watson to go ahead with Sir Henry, Holmes proceeds to the region hours behind them to better snoop about.

I have many reasons to have enjoyed this movie.  One, this is my favorite Holmes story.  Two, this Hammer film spared no expense from the elegant costuming, sets and location to the amazing score of music that captures the scenes from moment to moment. Three, Peter Cushing is Holmes and embodies all the requirements for such a iconic character with style and grace.   Lastly, Hammer Film legendary director Terrance Fisher (Horror of Dracula, The Mummy, The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, Island of Terror and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed) is helming this project with the same gravitas that was seen in his earliest movies.   This is also the first adaptation of this story seen in color. An 

imaginative twist on the theme will keep Hammer fans and new onlookers riveted.  

Sir Henry, why do you gaze at my neck so?