The hound of the Baskervilles; Hamlet

              Sherlock Holmes is back-
to solve one murder, stop
another, and
put an end to
a family's
ancient curse.
HTHE /"
ound
B OF   THE   ^
askervilUs
Hamlet"
© 2000 Hallmark Entertainment Distribution, LLC
A Danish prince
seeks revenge
against his father's
killer in this 20th Century version of a
Shakespearean Classic.
This fall, the Odyssey Network will present
the world premiere of two made-for-
television movies—"The Hound of the
Baskervilles"and "Hamlet."  These classics
of great literature offer high-quality family
entertainment and are a fine supplement to English and
Social Studies curricula. Use the Guide for Educators
alongside this exceptional programming to promote critical thinking among students and to strengthen the essential connection between home and school.
"The Hound of the Baskervilles" has been adapted
for television by Joe Wiesenfeld from Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle's timeless novella. The production stars Matt
Frewer as the famed British detective Sherlock Holmes,
whose adventures were chronicled in Doyle's popular
series of mysteries. Doyle's character of Holmes was so
popular, in fact, that The Hound of the Baskervilles was
published in 1901 at the behest of Sherlock's many fans,
who complained mightily when the author killed him off
in a previous story titled "The Final Problem." In The
KIDSNET ©2000
Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes investigates the mysterious death of a British nobleman, whose nephew and
only survivor may be the next victim of a family curse—a
vicious ghostly hound.
Family dynamics and ghostly visions also plague
the characters in William Shakespeare's "Hamlet."
"Hamlet" stars and is directed by Campbell Scott, who
adapted the tragic story to a turn-of-the-century
American setting with co-director Eric Simonson. The
production also features acclaimed stage, film, and TV
actress Blair Brown in the role of Gertrude along with
Roscoe Lee Brown as Polonius.
The play was first performed in 1600 as Hamlet, the
Prince of Denmark. Generally regarded as the most
famous play ever written, the story explores the provocative themes of deceit and revenge. The complex nature of
Hamlet, who embarks on a tortured quest to avenge his
father's murder at the request of his father's ghost, has
been analyzed by scholars for centuries and invites in-
depth discussions at home and in school.