The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

The Hound of the Baskervilles Film Details

Overview: Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate.

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Review: This is the best version that still can be called a classic filmed in 1939 by Sidney Landfield with all-star-cast such as Basil Rathbone , Nigel Bruce , John Carradine and Richard Greene ; in which Holmes and Watson are called to save Sir Baskerville from a curse that has plagued his family for centuries . The first of fourteen films based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional consulting detective Sherlock Holmes starring Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson .Correct rendition of the most famous mystery novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle with an awesome Basil Rathbone as Sherlock and fairly faithful to the source material . Basil Rathbone as Holmes plays in a clever , broody and impetuous manner .Nigel Bruce plays as Watson with humor, goofy and joy , he’s the perfect counterpoint to Holmes. 1889 , in all England there is no district more dismal than that vast expense of primitive wasteland , the moor of Dartmoor in Devonshire . Holmes (Basil Rathbone)and Watson(Nigel Bruce) are contracted by Doctor Mortimer (Lionel Atwill , later played Professor Moriarty) for the investigation of killing Sr. Baskerville who is now inherited by his niece Sir Henry . Mortimer asks Sherlock Holmes to help protect Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), who has returned to England to take his place at the family seat following the death of his uncle, Sir Charles Baskerville. As Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural , devilish hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate . Sir Charles died of cardiac exhaustion and Dr. Mortimer believes he was frightened to death . There appears to be a curse on the family dating back nearly 200 years to when Sir Hugo Baskerville was supposedly killed on the moor by a huge hound. Holmes dismisses the supernatural elements of the case but there are a sufficient number of odd events to pique his interest. As Holmes investigates the mystery of a supernatural hound threatening the life of a Dartmoor baronet. Holmes soon realizes that someone is making sure the legend becomes real . Watson goes to the mansion ,there are the servants(John Carradine) and he meets Stapleton and his sister (Wendy Barrie). Meanwhile an inmate has escaped and on the haunted moor sound the barking of a savage , vicious beast. This is an excellent and thrilling film with dark elements in classic style based on the splendid novel by Arthur Conan Doyle . It’s a genuine ripping yarn with much suspense and moody intrigue . It’s distinguished by its cast with Basil’s Sherlock and Nigel’s Watson ably playing off each other . The film gets mystery , tension , thrills , detective action and packs an exciting deal of outstanding surprises with great lots of fun despite to be a known story . Basil Rathbone’s magnificent interpretation , he plays as Holmes as an intelligent, obstinate , broody, pipesmoking sleuth . Basil takes on the character emphasizing the role’s cynical humor as well as his sometimes insufferable intelligence . His acting is the best and similarly to Jeremy Brett for TV or Nicol Williamson (Seven-per-cent-solution) or Christopher Plummer (Murder by decree) . Rathbone ably backs him up as Sherlock in this version closely follows the Conan Doyle story . While not entirely passive, Watson’s original role was mostly as an observer of Holmes and the chronicler of his cases. With this film a new tradition began where Watson enjoyed equal billing with Holmes , in Nigel Bruce’s hands the character became a comedic foil and a bit of a bumbler . After being out of circulation for many years, partly because of the 1959 Hammer remake in Technicolor starring Peter Cushing, this film was restored and re-released to theaters in 1975 with great fanfare, to the point of having the national evening news do a story on it. The movie has a creepy atmosphere specially when is developed on the moors where lives the fearful giant beast ; besides the 221 Baker Street’s house is well designed . Dark and murky cinematography full of shades and lights by Peverel Marley . Thrilling and intriguing musical score by Mockridge and David Buttolph . This atmospheric motion picture was well directed by Sidney Landfield . Other versions about this story are the following : ¨Hammer House of Horror¨ rendition (1959) by the great Terence Fisher with Peter Cushing , Andre Morell and Christopher Lee ; 1977 spoof adaptation by Paul Morrissey with Dudley Moore , Peter Cooke and Denholm Elliott ; 1983 recounting by Douglas Hickox with Ian Richardson , Donald Churchill and Martin Shaw ; 2000 unpteeth rendition by Rodney Gibbons with Matt Frewer , Kenneth Welsh and Jason London , English adaptation (1983) by Douglas Hickox with Ian Richardson as Holmes and Donald Churchill as Watson and TV rendition with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke directed by Peter Hammond and BBC take on with Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock .

Country: United States

Language: English

Duration: 80 min

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Also known as: The Hound of the Baskervilles,To stoiheio ton Baskerville,El mastín de los Baskerville,A Lenda do Cão Fantasma,Баскервилското куче,Собака Баскервилей,Der Hund von Baskerville,De hond van de Baskervilles,Le chien des Baskerville,A baskervillei kutya,Hunden fra Baskerville,Il mastino dei Baskerville,シャーロック・ホームズ　バスカヴィル家の犬,Baskervilles hund,O Cão dos Baskervilles,El perro de los Baskerville,El sabueso de los Baskerville,Baskervillen koira,Baskervilski Pas,Pas Baskervilski,Pies Baskerville’ów