The Hound Of The Baskervilles Movie Vs Play

Sherlock is the most filmed fictional character ever. The Hound of the Baskervilles novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an amazing book at the time because it came out when detectives starting using more scientific methods in their investigations. This book fully engages in this battle, between science and fiction. The Hound of the Baskervilles play is a spoof made off of the book. These two are quite different, though. Can the fast-paced, comical play be more intriguing than the serious and intricate novel? This essay will compare and contrast the similarities and differences between these two pieces and decide which one is superior and more intriguing for the audience. At the time the Hound of the Baskervilles was written, Europe

First, the manner established by the book is quite ominous because the whole purpose of the book is to be a mystery. Part of creating a quality mystery is building up suspense. This is because you are trying to inject fear into the reader's mind. In a mystery, the fear is what keeps the reader reading, it is the only thing which stops the reader from quitting the book on the spot because they know that once the mystery is solved, the source of the fear is eliminated so they feel good after reading the resolution. On the other hand, the sole incentive of this play is to provide comic relief for the audience. Part of providing comical relief, is establishing a mood where the audience feels comfortable; fear isn't something you want. The tone and diction of the book sound as if they are coming from an old and wise person who is telling a horror story to his younglings. Meanwhile, the play sounds as if it is coming from a middle-aged prankster. According to Mal Vincent, a long time movie critic, the play is so fast-paced and it establishes such a light mood, that the actors can get away with certain things due to “Stage Magic” (split-second timing of the performers), as he stated here, “There is also a steam-room scene in which Holmes, mercifully, keeps on his business suit beneath a towel”(pilotonline.com). To sum this up, the cause for the different moods are the

First, in the book, the boy called Cartwright is a very useful helper to Holmes who often does the tasks that involve running around and transporting materials and knowledge to him. The play, however, eliminates him from the story. More importantly, though, the play also excludes Laura Lyons and Mr. Frankland. Laura Lyons is an essential part of the plot line because she introduces the connection between Stapleton and Sir Charles. She also told them about Stapleton's suspicious actions. She is a major part of solving the mystery for the reader, this made her a necessary part of the plot in the book. The Play, however, doesn’t need her because the play isn't about solving the mystery, it is about making the reader laugh. Mr. Frankland is needed in the book because he is used to help Watson find Holmes in the hills, but in the play, he doesn’t add any comical relief so they just took him out. Meanwhile, the addition of some scenes, like the steam room is apparent in the book. Here, instead of meeting Sir Henry at their living quarters, they meet him at a steam room and it is from here where they see the man with the beard in the taxi stalking Sir Henry. The addition of the steam room contributes to the comical feel of the play because it is a much funnier way to introduce the