The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

Why so much hype?

the audience applauded

The acting in this movie is really good.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Everything went right with this version of the famous Sherlock Holmes story. The stars as well as the other performers fit their roles perfectly, the atmosphere was convincing, the story was well-paced, and there was humor, but not overdone. The mystery in the story was not too difficult to figure out, but there were still some unexpected twists.The story itself: the wealthy lord of a country estate dies, evidently of heart failure, some sort of wild man finds him but is scared off, and the man's nephew comes from Canada to claim the title and property. Trouble is, there is the story of how heirs to the estate have all died violently, so as a safety measure, Sherlock Holmes and Watson are brought in by an old friend of the family.The movie isn't perfect; the romance subplot seems rather contrived and there are characters who have nothing to do with the actual storyline. But overall the movie is both scary and entertaining.

This is my favourite of all the Sherlock Holmes tales and this is an excellent film version of it. It pairs the superb partnership of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, surely the best ever Holmes and Dr Watson. Here they investigate reports of a beast roaming the estate of a rich heir. The setting is suitably atmospheric with the fog shrouded set of the moors evoking a real sense of menace. The tale twists and turns with various suspects thrown into the mix. It's a relatively fast paced film and always entertaining with a number of expertly filmed scenes especially the one with the hound. If you only ever watch one Sherlock Holmes film then this is the one to watch.

Arthur Conan Doyle's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (20th Century-Fox, 1939), directed by Sidney Lanfield, is not the first "Sherlock Holmes" mystery to reach the screen but the one that introduced Basil Rathone as the popular fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. While there's been many screen adaptations taken from the Doyle character dating back to the silent era, ranging from stage actor William Gillette in 1916 to John Barrymore in 1922, the best known for many being that of Rathbone himself with Nigel Bruce as his assistant, Doctor John H. Watson. For his Holmes introduction, Rathbone, in a role he was born to play, doesn't get feature billing here. Ironically, top-billing goes to the up-and-coming young Fox contract player by the name of Richard Greene.Opening title: "1889 - In all England there is no district more dismal than that vast expanse of primitive wasteland, the moors of Dartmoor in Devonshire." As the camera tacks through the moors before stopping on the secluded Baskerville estate, a man, later identified as Sir Charles Baskerville (Ian MacLaren), chased by a vicious hound, collapses. This is witnessed by a mysterious man (Nigel De Brulier) who looks over the fainted man. Seeing that he's dead, the man runs away into the night. Later at the inquest, Baskerville's best friend, Doctor James Mortimer (Lionel Atwill), rules his death from a heart attack. Knowing that Baskerville was actually murdered, Mortimer hires pipe smoking, master detective, Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) of 221-B Baker Street, for assistance. Before taking the case, Holmes listens as Mortimer reads through a detailed document (told via flashback) about how all male members of the Baskerville family (starting with Sir Hugo Baskerville (Ralph Forbes)) have died violent deaths. After Mortimer finishes his story, he claims that Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene), the latest heir to the family estate, about to arrive from Canada, will become the next victim. Shortly after Sir Henry's arrival, Holmes and his assistant, Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), help prevent the first attempt on the young man's life while returning to the Northumberland Hotel. While remaining in London, Holmes enlists Watson to accompany Sir Henry and remain with him at Baskerville Hall and document every detail through daily letters mailed over to him. During Watson's stay, he encounters the mysterious servants, the Barrymans (John Carradine and Eily Malyon), who hold secrets of their own; Jenifer Mortimer (Beryl Mercer), who holds a séance; and the Stapletons, Beryl (Wendy Barrie) and her brother, John (Morton Lowry). Upon Holmes' long-awaited arrival, it is evident that the only way to prevent Sir Henry from facing death is to place his life in jeopardy.With a fine assortment of British-type performers, many of whom being associated with Universal Pictures, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES, with all its dark, atmospheric scenery with howling dog sounds echoing at the distance, the film leaves the impression of a Universal horror film. There's even some moments where an avid viewer would be expecting the sudden growling appearance of the Wolf Man at any moment. Instead, there's a mysterious bearded man roaming around the foggy moors where Bela Lugosi's Ygor portrayal from SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) immediately comes to mind. While there's some underscoring, the lack of it during the creepy moor sequences adds to the suspense. Considering the concept of the story, having Rathbone's name placed second under Richard Greene is understandable considering Greene being the central titled character and Holmes absent for close to a half hour. During Holmes's long absence (reason later explained), Watson fills in the void, taking enough control to have this become more of a Doctor Watson story than Sherlock Holmes. While portions of the plot are relatively slow, the film as a whole is never dull. Though reportedly faithful to the novel, THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES benefits greatly by its casting of Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson and fine character types as E.E. Clive (Cabbie No. 2704); Barlowe Borland (Frankland), and the ever reliable Mary Gordon appearing briefly as Mrs. Hudson, Holmes' landlady, a role she would enact in future film installments throughout the forties. Due to the 1959 color remake starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, the Rathbone version to THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES was taken out of the television markets, making this the least known and forgotten of the Rathbone-Bruce "Sherlock Holmes" collaborations. This and its immediate 20th-Fox sequel, THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (1939), though never became part the "Sherlock Holmes Theater" package on broadcast TV during the sixties and seventies, it did continue to circulate but on other channel networks. Over the years it's been only the up-to-date twelve entries produced by Universal (1942-46) that the public got to know so well. Finally, in December of 1976, New York City television's own WCBS, Channel 2, brought back the Rathbone-Bruce edition of HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES for the first time since 1959, but regrettably, on the late show rather than prime time weekend. Within a few short years, however, it not only became part of the "Sherlock Holmes" TV package, but available home video, DVD, and broadcast occasionally on some cable TV networks, notably Turner Classic Movies (TCM premiere: December 25, 2009).As much as THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES itself was theatrically made and remade numerous times, with several made-for-television editions included, this 1939 edition is by no means a disappointment and highly recommended viewing. "Watson, the needle!" (***1/2)

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 .