Rent The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

3.9 of 5 from 73 ratings
1h 20min
Rent The Hound of the Baskervilles Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Sir Charles Baskerville has been found dead in mysterious circumstances, the locals ascribe his demise to the ancient family curse - a paranormal hellhound, said to roam the moors searching for its prey. With the trusty aid of Doctor Watson (Nigel Bruce), Holmes sets out to uncover the truth and solve the mystery of the terrifying hound - before another Baskerville falls victim to the family curse.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
Darryl F. Zanuck, Gene Markey
Writers:
Ernest Pascal, Arthur Conan Doyle
Studio:
Orbit Media
Genres:
Classics, Drama, Thrillers
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like To Be or Not to Be, Action & Adventure, Films to Watch If You Like..., Top 10 Dangerous Dog Films, Top 10 Films About Letters, Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1939, Top Film and TV Detectives: Guide to Screen Sleuth, Top Films
BBFC:
Release Date:
10/05/2004
Run Time:
80 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
None
DVD Regions:
Region 0 (All)
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.37:1
Colour:
B & W
BBFC:
Release Date:
30/05/2016
Run Time:
80 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • Interview with Sir Christopher Frayling, Writer and Presenter of Nightmare: The Birth of Horror Interview with Basil Rathbone Biographer Michael Druxman

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Reviews (1) of The Hound of the Baskervilles

Gothic Crime (spoiler) - The Hound of the Baskervilles review by Steve

Spoiler Alert
23/05/2025

Returning to the start of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce’s 14 picture stretch as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, it’s a pleasure to notice just how opulent is this version of the famous gothic detective story. The costumes, period Victorian setting and the atmosphere of mysterious, perilous Dartmoor are all just right. Plus all the fog.

Also, it’s a joy to encounter Bruce playing Watson as fairly competent; still the comedy relief, but not a complete idiot. Thirdly, it’s unusual how much of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel makes it onto the screen. This is a reasonably faithful account of the great detective’s most famous case. And we even get the infamous last line: ‘Watson! The needle!’

It should be restated how ideal is the casting of Rathbone as Holmes. Of course, the weakness of the story is that he disappears in the early chapters, but that’s hardly a factor in this 75 minute retelling. The support cast is variable with Richard Greene a bluff, plucky hero and Lionel Atwill splendidly inscrutable as the local medic. But Morton Lowry makes an inoffensive villain.

This sort of gothic mystery was ideal for the (so-called) horror ban of the late ‘30s when foreign markets rejected Hollywood fright films. The hound is a sort-of mythic monster anyway, and well realised here. It was a box office hit and inspired a sequel and the long low budget Universal series. And it’s the best version of the classic tale on the big screen.

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