Saturday, June 11, 2016

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES 1939 (MPI)

The all time classic mystery with Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes.

This is the first of 14 films in which Rathbone starred as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as his sidekick Dr. Watson.

Holmes and Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound from hell and discover a murder plot involving a terrible trained dog and it's crazed owner.

The film was released in 1939 by 20th Century Fox and Richard Green who plays Sir Henry Baskerville is first billed, Rathbone is second and Nigel Bruce is fourth, but that would soon change.

All of the performances in this film are top notch and it actually has the look and feel of a Universal film which is ironic as the series would soon move to that very studio.

The rest of the cast includes Lionel Atwill as Dr. Mortimer, Wendy Barrie as Beryl Staplton, John Carradine as Barryman and of course Mary Gordon as Mrs. Hudson.

This has always been my absolute favorite Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story and this movie adaptation is excellent indeed. The print from MPI is a visual delight and the version on the disc of course contains the famous last line that was very controversial at the time. "Watson, get the needle!"

This is a highly recommended film that I never get tired of watching.

No comments:

Post a Comment