MovieChat Forums > The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) Discussion > Some questions about the plot...

Some questions about the plot...

posted 15 years ago by smoovasbutter
10 replies | jump to latest

1. What happened to Dr. Mortimer? Was he in on it too? I don't remember the film showing what happened to him but didn't he help Stapleton try to kill Holmes in the mine? Afterall, it takes two to let go of the buggy since they were both holding it.

2. Why was stapleton's daughter acting so bizarre at the beginning? Running away when people said hi to her and than telling Sir to get away from her and then kiss him?

3. Why was Bishop Franklin initially reluctant to admit to Holmes that he had lost the spider?

4. I also find it funny how Stapleton initially saved Watson's life from the quicksand, yet he turns out to be a murderer.

I haven't read the book yet so please forgive my ignorance.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] whitelion43 15 years ago

firdt the second post, remember the story about sir Hugo,who he lusted after a maidor Maiden and after she escaped from the house how Sir Hugo had sic his vicious hunting dogs on her? then after killing her at the old abby heard and saw the Hound from Hell that was what she was yelling about along with hate the Baskervilles in general and how she was decended from the Baskervilles.

as fro the Original, first the priest, he was ashamed of being the top spider expert and losing a deadly spider. experts are suppose to0 know how to saftly keep thier spiders from getting away. next Dr Mortimer,he is what is called a "red herring' or false lead, I am sure that Stapleton did something to distrtact Dr Mortimer while he released the mine car. as for the daughter, she hated sir Henry's guts,as her father knew, thats why she was ordered to stay in the buggy, and since she hated him,she didn't want to be anywhere near him. and yes I thought it was Ironic he saved Dr watson's life,but then he had no reason to kill him either. I thought that was a bit of good writing. As for the book, you will see they changed a few things from the movie. I hope you enjoy the book as well.

Oh GOOD!,my dog found the chainsaw

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Koosh_King01 15 years ago

Likely Hugo slept around a lot and fathered many children he was unaware of/didn't care about.

We know Cecile's mother was Spanish but her father, Jack, is English. It would appear the Stapletons on Jack's side trace their connection to the Baskerville family line to a local Stapleton girl Hugo got pregnant sometime prior to his death and likely abused.

Jack would be that girl's descendant and Cecile, being his daughter, would be too.

As far as why they hate the Baskervilles, it's plain that because they knowingly trace themselves to someone Hugo Baskerville probably raped and abused they harbor an intense hatred for that side of the family and believe all of Hugo's non-Stapleton descendants are tainted.

Clearly they believe that children should pay for their parents' sins and all that (which I don't agree with; it's abhorrent to expect someone to answer for something that happened before they were born).

[–] whitelion43 15 years ago

and remember once Sir Henry Baskervill died by the dog, The Stapletons would inheirent the Baskerville fortune

Oh GOOD!,my dog found the chainsaw

[–] sat-elite 8 years ago

first the priest, he was ashamed of being the top spider expert and losing a deadly spider. experts are suppose to know how to safely keep thier spiders from getting away.

In the film, why did Holmes (or the others ) not know that a tarantula bite is non-fatal to humans ?

[–] smoovasbutter 15 years ago

Thanks guys for explaining. It all makes sense now. Although I'm still not sure why the daughter ran away from Watson near the beginning.

[–] lorddeseiz 15 years ago

1. He wasnt in on it. If he was he wouldve been there when the others where at the abbey to kill the last Baskerville. They probably left the mine and released the buggy cus they got "scared". Ie, Stapleton would have been the first, knowing that Mortimer believed in the legend, only to fuel his fear so he would leave too, knowing that Holmes would be left behind in the mine, who was getting to close.
But I agree, that part is rather shaky, shouldve been explained why they left the cart.

2. If I was a murderer Id be suspicious of detectives myself. Trying to get rid of them asap, running into the swamp in an attempt to get Watson to drown. The kiss was just her game to trap Sir Henry and make it easier to lure him to the abbey.

3. Would you be so eager to admit you lost a dangerous creature while you have the reputation of being an expert on those creatures ?

4. He probably didnt think Watson would pose any threat. And besides, why kill an outsider when all your after is the legacy of the Baskervilles. He wasnt as hotheaded as his daughter. Its a good thing to keep your enemies closer then your friends. And saving Watson would bring him very close waving off suspicion, sure had me fooled first time heh.

Havent read book either, these just my opions.

__________________________________________
Any last words ?
Shut the *beep* up

[–] phyrkrakr 15 years ago

Mortimer was innocent, that whole thing was just a red herring. The mine incident wasn't in the novel, the whole thing with Mortimer holding onto the cart was just a plot hole they forgot to tie up. There was probably a scene on the cutting room floor where Mortimer explains how Stapleton tricked him into letting go, but it was cut to keep the suspicion on the good doctor.

As far as the girl, that bit differs from the novel, as well. IIRC, she's an unwilling participant in the plot against the Baskervilles, and tries to warn away Sir Henry in the book a few times. In the movie, it looks like she's just leading him on so she can help arrange the killing. In the movie, leading Watson into the mire is probably just a way of showing how dangerous the swamp actually is.

The tarantula thing was also extra in the movie. Yes, Sir Henry had a boot stolen, but it was a new boot that didn't have his scent. Later on, Stapleton has to steal another article of clothing, I believe.

Overall, the film does best when it sticks to the plot of the novel. I'd definitely recommend reading the novel for the extra details, like Watson's solo investigation and a few more Holmes eccentricities. It's available free at Project Gutenberg, since it's now in the public domain.

[–] diddymuck 10 years ago

1. Hard to tell...seemed to have a guilty look when questioned but he also brought holmes in on the case in the first place.

2. She was being both childish and coquettish in effort to get Henry sexually interested in her so she could lure him into a dangerous situation.

3. Detective Holmes looks for crooks...he's visiting the vicar who has secretly lost a spider. Vicar apparently feared Holmes was going to implicate him in some injury the lost spider may have committed.

4. To feign proper behavior in front of others.