The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

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.

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Writers:

Ernest Pascal (screenplay), Arthur Conan Doyle (novel) (as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Stars:

Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Richard Greene

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Greene	...	Sir Henry Baskerville
Basil Rathbone	...	Sherlock Holmes
Wendy Barrie	...	Beryl Stapleton
Nigel Bruce	...	Dr. Watson
Lionel Atwill	...	James Mortimer M.D.
John Carradine	...	Barryman
Barlowe Borland	...	Frankland
Beryl Mercer	...	Mrs. Jennifer Mortimer
Morton Lowry	...	John Stapleton
Ralph Forbes	...	Sir Hugo Baskerville
E.E. Clive	...	Cabby
Eily Malyon	...	Mrs. Barryman
Lionel Pape	...	Coroner
Nigel De Brulier	...	Convict (as Nigel de Brulier)
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Hudson

Storyline

On his uncle's death Sir Henry Baskerville returns from abroad and opens up the ancestral hall on the desolate moors of Devonshire. Holmes uncovers a plot to have Sir Henry murdered by a terrible trained hound.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes character | dr. john watson character | psychotronic film | death | doctor | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the original novel, and in all later film versions, the butler is named Barrymore. In this version, the butler was renamed Barryman since the famous Barrymore family - Lionel Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore and John Barrymore - were still acting in films at the time.

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Goofs

The position of Dr. Watson's left hand as he his writing his first, second and fourth letters back to Sherlock Holmes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Barryman: Hello, there! Hello, there! Is something wrong!

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Connections

Spoofed in Aggretsuko: Exposed (2018)

User Reviews

The ultimate pairing

I recently re-watched this and am still amazed at how exciting, entertaining and fast-paced this movie is. Leonard Maltin's guide prefers the follow Adventures of Sherlock Holmes because of Rathbone's absence for much of the Hound's middle section. I, however, find that it only adds to the overall suspense of the picture.

Many people have downplayed the Rathbone/Bruce pairing primarily because of Bruce's bumbling and mumbling. In this first outing that is down to a minimum. His Watson, while maybe not the ladies man in Doyle's stories, is still a competent medical man, athletic if stocky and the perfect counterpoint to Rathbone's Holmes.

I did enjoy the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes episodes, but still prefer Rathbone and Bruce because of the remarkable chemistry between the two. I can see these people and believe they actually shared rooms together and liked each other enough to keep that arrangement for many years.

Supporting characters in Hound are noteworthy as well. Lionel Atwill is awesome as the mysterious Dr. Mortimer, and John Carradine is perfection as always.

Highly recommend watching this on a rainy evening. Make it a double feature with Son of Frankenstein for a Rathbone festival.