刀锋走险
莱利原本是伊利诺伊州的一个快活青年,和女友伊莎贝尔已经谈婚论嫁,身边还有从小一起长大的好友苏菲、鲍勃和格雷。苏菲和鲍勃也准备结婚,而格雷却爱着伊莎贝尔。   战争到来,莱利和其他小伙子一样也参了军,虽然只是到野战医院开车,但目睹了战争的惨烈后,莱利的思想发生了变化。返回家乡后,他一再推迟了和伊莎贝尔的婚事,而理由竟是要花时间思考人生的意义。在伊莎贝尔舅舅埃利奥特的安排下,莱利被安排到巴黎去散心。6个月之后,伊莎贝尔到巴黎寻找自己的未婚夫,却发现莱利住在一个糟糕的地方,虽然心情不错,但她知道他不再可能回到美国做股票经纪人,过富足的生活了。早已习惯了富裕生活的伊莎贝尔摘下了莱利给她的订婚戒指,返回美国后嫁给了一直追求她的格雷。   莱利在巴黎靠干出卖体力的工作为生,他阅读大量的书籍,并因偶然的激励,决定前往印度寻找生命的真理。在印度和尼泊尔的路途中,他的精神得到了进一步的提升。返回巴黎后,他先后遇到了因美国经济萧条而到巴黎避难的伊莎贝尔和格雷夫妇,以及因车祸痛失丈夫和儿子、以卖笑为生的苏菲。   苏菲和莱利的亲近导致了伊莎贝尔的嫉妒,她刺激苏菲再次回想起丈夫和儿子,酗酒之后,苏菲被人用剃刀割断了喉咙……   舅舅埃利奥特生命垂危,莱利用一个善意的谎言让他幸福地睡去。离开舅舅的大房子,他决定返回美国老家。
巴斯克维尔猎犬
A most pleasingly atmospheric rendition of the tale, noirishly photographed and moodily set, this is the version which probably would have delighted Conan Doyle the most. There is one important plot change which enables the beautiful Alice Brandt to enjoy both a larger role and a more intriguing part in the proceedings. This change also builds up the parts of Dr Mortimer and Lord Charles, yet at the same time provides a nice introduction to the is-he-sinister or is-he-a-good-guy Barrymore, deftly played here by Fritz Rasp.   Despite the sting of its well-developed story, the spellbindingly atmospheric direction and the engrossing performances delivered by the entire cast, many fans may find this version somewhat disappointing. For at least three reasons: As in the novel, the part played in the narrative by Sherlock Holmes, though vital, is minimal. And in this version, not only has no attempt been made to enlarge his role, if anything both writer and director do their best to minimize it. Holmes does not even make his entrance for half-an-hour, and when he does finally appear, he has his back to the camera. It is Fritz Odemar, as Dr Watson, who receives the more favorable camera angles. And there is a purpose in this. It is Watson, not Holmes, who figures as the main protagonist of The Hound of the Baskervilles. For the bulk of the narrative, Holmes disappears. It is Watson and Lord Henry (Peter Voss) who take up the running. The movie is almost over, before Holmes closes in on the villain. And even so, this is not the obsessed, self-important Holmes we are accustomed to see taking charge. Another problem is that the title hound itself does not figure a great deal in the action, a downgrading which will undoubtedly rate as another major disappointment for fans. And finally, it could be argued that the script gives too much attention to Conan Doyle's red herring, the escaped convict, and not enough to the real villain.   This said, it must surely be admitted by all, that Odemar's interpretation of Watson—intelligent, charming, level-headed, courageous and resourceful—is much closer to Conan Doyle's conception than either the bungling, inveterately stupid Nigel Bruce or the self-effacing Ian Fleming.   One other player deserves special mention: Erich Ponto (Dr Winkel in The Third Man) who seems exactly right for Stapleton. A difficult part, superbly played.   - JohnHowardReid, imd
*
*