The Hound of the Baskervilles

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a 1939 American feature film based on the novel of the same name by Arthur Conan Doyle. This is the first of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films to feature Rathbone and Bruce as Holmes and Watson, respectively.

It is also the earliest known Sherlock Holmes film set in the Victorian period of the original stories. In all the previous films, including a series of British films from the 1930s with Arthur Wontner as Holmes, the setting corresponded to the year of release of the films.

Holmes and Watson are visited by Dr. James Mortimer, who is about to meet Henry Baskerville, the last of the Baskervilles. Mortimer tells the legend of a demonic dog that kills members of the Baskervilles, and the events of the recent death of Sir Charles Baskerville, Henry's uncle. Although he was found dead in his garden with no signs of physical damage, his face was contorted with horror, and near the body Mortimer found traces of a dog.

Holmes sends Watson with Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall. There they attend a seance conducted by Mrs. Mortimer. In a trance, she asks the spirit of Sir Charles what happened that night in the swamp. The only response that those present at the session hear is a lone dog howling in the night.

Holmes himself also goes to the vicinity of Baskerville Hall and anonymously conducts an investigation, disguised as a peddler. When Holmes almost solves the mystery, he reveals himself to Watson. The two of them return to Baskerville Hall. Holmes suggests that the real culprit is Stapleton, a long-time relative of the Baskervilles through a long-forgotten line, who expects to receive their vast fortune after eliminating all other members of the bloodline.

Stapleton keeps a huge, vicious dog locked up, trained to attack members of the Baskerville family by tracking them by scent. However, Holmes and Watson manage to save Sir Henry, who is attacked by a dog, and kill the dog. After that, Stapleton lures Holmes into a trap and locks him in an underground kennel, while Watson is sent to the swamp in search of the detective. Holmes gets out of the kennel, returns to the house, and destroys the poison that Stapleton is trying to get the wounded Baskerville to drink.

Stapleton escapes, but Holmes says ominously, " He won't get far. I've got the police posted along the roads, and the only clear way is through the swamps."

The film tells the legend of a huge black dog that chases representatives of the Baskervilles and brings them a sudden death.

The dog shown in the film has nothing to do with the legend, does not have mystical powers and is an ordinary dog that has been specially trained to attack people. Unlike the original work, this dog was not even painted with phosphorescent paint to give it a sinister appearance.