The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939 film)

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Sidney Lanfield, based on the 1902 novel of the same name by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It stars Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Doctor Watson, marking the first screen pairing of these two actors in these iconic roles.

The film tells the story of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigating the legend of a supernatural hound that haunts the Baskerville family. Sir Henry Baskerville, the last of the family line, arrives in England and is immediately threatened. Holmes and Watson travel to Dartmoor to protect Sir Henry and uncover the truth behind the terrifying legend. The plot involves suspicious servants, escaped convicts, and red herrings, all leading to the eventual confrontation with the "hound."

While not entirely faithful to the novel, the film is considered a classic and is praised for its atmosphere, performances, and suspense. It helped establish Rathbone and Bruce as the definitive Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson for a generation. The film's relatively short running time, just over 80 minutes, contributes to its brisk pacing. While the 1939 adaptation is well-regarded, many other adaptations of the novel exist, each offering their own interpretation of Doyle's classic tale.