The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)

The fractious relationship between director Paul Morrissey (known for his work on Andy Warhol's FLESH, TRASH and HEAT) and his two stars--Brit comedians Peter Cook (from the 1967 version of BEDAZZLED) and Dudley Moore (ARTHUR)--threatened to usurp this satirical poke at the SHERLOCK HOLMES books. But fortunately the end results more than justify the somewhat shaky atmosphere on set, with the laughs coming thick and fast throughout. Cook plays Holmes, who sends his faithful partner Watson (Moore) to take on a case involving a demonic dog. The fruitless search for the errant canine leads to some merriment at Watson's expense, while Holmes is busy visiting his mother, and interviewing candidates to run errands for him (he settles on a one-legged man). Pairing elements of PYTHON-esque humor with the gross-out tendencies of director Morrissey, this is a fascinating clash of comedic styles that produces some rib-tickling scenes, and is lovingly infused with the dark humor of co-writers Cook and Moore.