Because we wanted to stay focused on the discussion of HOUN while on Zoom, we didn't have any news, announcements, or giveaways. But Bill and Tom did have some great papers they wanted to share with everyone and you can read them on our blog: (Bill's paper) (Tom's paper)
Our story starts with a client leaving his walking stick behind and Watson attempting to model Holmes's methods and deduce information about the client. He's somewhat successful but not totally, warranting one of the greatest back-handed compliments of the Canon: "It may be that you are not yourself luminous, but you are a conductor of light. Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."
Dr. Mortimer soon arrives at 221B and announces to Holmes that he covets his skull for phrenology.
Rob cited Brad Keefauver's theory about Mortimer bringing his dog to London but not his wife. Elaine guessed that it was because she was too busy. Bill pointed out that Holmes could not have seen the dog on the street as he claimed.
We then went into the history of the curse of the Baskervilles and we discussed Heather's theory that Baskerville Hall was tied to the cult of Gozer from Ghostbusters. Stacey taught us about the Dartmoor legends related to the area and the mist surrounding it. Tom and Stacey have both been to Dartmoor and talked about how beautiful it seemed on sunny days, but terrifying when the fog rolled in.
Hugo's friends chase after Sir Hugo, who is being chased by a great hound. His captor had died of fright, just like many people in the Canon do. The dog "turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them."
Bill said that time with Sir Hugo was like a bad Victorian Spring Break experience.
Randy cited the flashback scene in the Rathbone Hound movie as his favorite version of this part of the story. Cathy asked what everyone's favorite filmed version of HOUN was. Kevin cited Jeremy Brett.
Randy and Joe chose Rathbone.
And Elaine said she liked the Hammer version.
Stacey, Christopher, Tom, and Joe talked about Sir Richard Cavell being the basis for Sir Hugo Baskerville.
Christopher talked about the history of the dog used in the Hammer version and how they tried to make a friendly dog look like a terrifying beast.
Dr. Mortimer tells Holmes about Charles Baskerville's death three years ago and the chapter ends with the famous line, "Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!" Rob wondered how the original Strand readers dealt with having to wait a whole month for the next chapter after that cliffhanger.
Henry Baskerville arrives and has a few boots missing here and there. Baskerville and Dr. Mortimer are followed by a man claiming to be Sherlock Holmes, which Elaine found to be a nice touch. Kevin pointed out that Holmes laughed at this and Randy thought that Holmes was impressed with his adversary. Rob pointed out that if Holmes had caught the cab in chapter 4, the story would have ended right there!
Christopher thought that Watson's description of the Moor is one of the most evocative writing in the whole book and Rob said he has seen it said plenty of times that the moor is it's own character in the story.
Elaine really enjoyed the convict subplot that included lights on the moor, stolen clothing, and family secrets.
Randy and Tom talked about Dartmoor prison's relation to Baskerville Hall and it's future.
Bill found it interesting that Holmes told Watson that he couldn't investigate the walking stick, but he sent him out to help with Henry Baskerville's investigation. Kevin countered that Watson was sent to report the facts, but not investigate. Tom agreed that what Watson lacked in investigative skills he made up for in bravery. Rob argued that the Watson from the Canon has never really been captured in a film or TV adaptation.
As Watson chronicles his time with Baskerville, Sir Henry is becoming more and more interested in his neighbor, Beryl Stapleton. Bill wondered if anyone else found Beryl Stapleton to be the most interesting character in the entire story.
Rob asked if anyone else found it odd that Stapleton would ask Baskerville to wait three months before courting his sister. Stacy and Kevin discussed all of the red flags that this request should have raised.
Watson has identified a man on the moor, and has tracked down Laura Lyons. He is putting pieces together, just very, very slowly. Stacey said that if Watson had been interested in Beryl Stapleton, he probably would have worked much quicker. Tom said that Watson had a narrow focus because he knew Holmes was waiting on his reports. Kevin wondered if this story fell during a time when Watson was married, but Randy and Michael checked Baring-Gould's chronology to say that this story took place in 1888, so he would not have been married.
While Baskerville is sneaking time with Beryl, Watson decides to hunt down the man on the tor, tracking him to a stone hut, leading to another great cliffhanger, ""It is a lovely evening, my dear Watson. I really think that you will be more comfortable outside than in."
Of course, it's Holmes outside. Rob found it interesting that Holmes said he wouldn't have been able to recognize Watson's footprint "amid all the footprints of the world" and had to use his cigar ash to identify that it was him.
Holmes gives Watson a ton of information saying that Stapleton is actually married to Beryl, he used to be a schoolmaster in Northern England, had a relationship with Laura Lyons but she does not know the truth about him, Stapleton was the man following Baskerville back in London, and that Beryl sent a warning to Baskerville telling him not to come to Dartmoor.
Bill and Joe debated which version was worse, the Peter Cook or Tom Baker version. We all agreed that there couldn't be a winner, only losers in that conversation.
Back at Baskerville Hall, Holmes covers up part of Hugo Baskerville's portrait and Watson could quickly see the resemblance to Stapleton. Rob wondered if Dr. Mortimer was so into atavism, why couldn't he see the resemblance? Randy said he was only interested in skulls and nothing else.
Holmes and Watson pretend to leave for London and tell Baskerville to go to dinner with Stapleton. This led to a discussion on whether Holmes was negligent in putting Baskerville at undue risk. Stacey pointed out that they were all lucky that Stapleton didn't change his method and decide to poison Baskerville at dinner.
After dinner, Baskerville leaves to walk home for the climactic scene with the hound:
A hound it was, and enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smoldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flames. Never in the delirious dream of a disordered brain could anything more savage, more appalling, more hellish be conceived than that dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall of fog.
Tom pointed out that the hound couldn't have actually have had phosphorus on it because phosphorus burns at room temperature. Michael offered that the hound was so angry because it was a hot dog.
After the Holmes kills the hound, Stapleton has escaped only to be swallowed up by the moor, and Beryl has been found tied up.
Cathy wondered who was with Baskerville when Holmes, Watson, and Lestrade tracked down Stapleton's hiding spot.
Rob questioned why Holmes would make Watson wait a month to hear him hear all of the final details. Why didn't they talk about it on the train ride back to London?
Elaine quoted Doyle's description of Beryl's hot-blooded temperament, which led to a discussion of anyone with Spanish descent in these stories.
As we wrapped up, Randy quoted the last line from Rathbone's version: "Watson, the needle!"
Tom reinforced everyone's opinion that this story is very, very well written. Normally, our group finds ourselves kicking around different theories to address plot holes in the short stories, but you can tell that Doyle spent way more than his typical one sitting for this tale.
Next month's meeting will be The Adventure of the Empty House via Zoom again. RSVP at our Facebook event page or via email to get the link. Come at once if convenient!
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