Amostpleasinglyatmosphericrenditionofthetale,noirishlyphotographedandmoodilyset,thisistheversionwhichprobablywouldhavedelightedConanDoylethemost.ThereisoneimportantplotchangewhichenablesthebeautifulAliceBrandttoenjoybothalargerroleandamoreintriguingpartintheproceedings.ThischangealsobuildsupthepartsofDrMortimerandLordCharles,yetatthesametimeprovidesaniceintroductiontotheis-he-sinisteroris-he-a-good-guyBarrymore,deftlyplayedherebyFritzRasp.
Despitethestingofitswell-developedstory,thespellbindinglyatmosphericdirectionandtheengrossingperformancesdeliveredbytheentirecast,manyfansmayfindthisversionsomewhatdisappointing.Foratleastthreereasons:Asinthenovel,thepartplayedinthenarrativebySherlockHolmes,thoughvital,isminimal.Andinthisversion,notonlyhasnoattemptbeenmadetoenlargehisrole,ifanythingbothwriteranddirectordotheirbesttominimizeit.Holmesdoesnotevenmakehisentranceforhalf-an-hour,andwhenhedoesfinallyappear,hehashisbacktothecamera.ItisFritzOdemar,asDrWatson,whoreceivesthemorefavorablecameraangles.Andthereisapurposeinthis.ItisWatson,notHolmes,whofiguresasthemainprotagonistofTheHoundoftheBaskervilles.Forthebulkofthenarrative,Holmesdisappears.ItisWatsonandLordHenry(PeterVoss)whotakeuptherunning.Themovieisalmostover,beforeHolmesclosesinonthevillain.Andevenso,thisisnottheobsessed,self-importantHolmesweareaccustomedtoseetakingcharge.Anotherproblemisthatthetitlehounditselfdoesnotfigureagreatdealintheaction,adowngradingwhichwillundoubtedlyrateasanothermajordisappointmentforfans.Andfinally,itcouldbearguedthatthescriptgivestoomuchattentiontoConanDoyle'sredherring,theescapedconvict,andnotenoughtotherealvillain.
Thissaid,itmustsurelybeadmittedbyall,thatOdemar'sinterpretationofWatson—intelligent,charming,level-headed,courageousandresourceful—ismuchclosertoConanDoyle'sconceptionthaneitherthebungling,inveteratelystupidNigelBruceortheself-effacingIanFleming.
Oneotherplayerdeservesspecialmention:ErichPonto(DrWinkelinTheThirdMan)whoseemsexactlyrightforStapleton.Adifficultpart,superblyplayed.
-JohnHowardReid,imdb
