When an actor is so inextricably associated with the role of Sherlock Holmes, as Basil Rathbone most surely is, it comes as something of a surprise to see him take only second billing in this, his first outing as Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle's master detective. That Richard Greene, in the role of Sir Henry Baskerville, is considered the star is indicative that either Rathbone wasn't yet considered a bankable enough name or, perhaps more likely, 20th Century Fox were very much looking at this project as a one-off rather than the first in a potential series.'Hound' may well be the best known Sherlock Holmes story, but in having the Baker Street sleuth absent for a considerable chunk of the narrative it is perhaps not the character's best outing so in that sense perhaps it is only right that Rathbone takes second place. Make no mistake, however, it is he who steals the show.There are many other screen versions of this famous story, however it is very difficult to find a better one than this. From start to finish it maintains a steady pace, and absorbs the viewer with not only an intriguing mystery but also a pervading atmosphere of foreboding menace. There are so many great cast members in this piece, such as Nigel De Brullier, John Carradine, Eily Malyon and especially Lionel Atwill as Dr Mortimer, whose mere faces are compelling to watch when photographed and lit so effectively.It cannot be easy to recreate Dartmoor within the confines of a soundstage and yet the sets and model work are utterly convincing, not to mention gloriously atmospheric. Even when it comes to one of the most difficult aspects of the story to achieve on screen, the hound itself, this film succeeds and the beast comes across as wholly real and savage, unleashing what appears to be a truly devastating attack on its victim without any sign of a close-up showing a fake paw being dragged across an actor's face.In transferring the novel to screen, some minor tinkering has been made to the story in order to keep it tight and make it more suitable for this medium. Characters such as Dr Mortimer and Barryman (Barrymore in the novel) are given a greater air of menace. The character of Laura Lyons is removed altogether whilst others are added such as the neighbour Frankland, a morose man who speaks his mind. Certain scenes are new additions, such as a séance and a glimpse of the inquest into Sir Charles Baskerville's death. The dog is not covered with phosphorescence. The most crucial change, perhaps, is that Beryl Stapleton really is John Stapleton's sister in this version and that she is oblivious as to the plot against Sir Henry. All of which is very well, but it does then leave open the question of who sent the anonymous warning letter to him at the outset.Rathbone and Bruce nail their roles of Holmes and Watson immediately and already show a great chemistry in their scenes together. There has been much debate over the years about Nigel Bruce portraying Watson as a buffoon but there is little evidence of it here, other than lapses which are present in the original novel. On the whole Watson is brave, courteous and intelligent. A mention also for Mary Gordon, making her debut as Holmes' housekeeper Mrs Hudson, a role she would retain when the series switched to the Universal film studios.There are a few minor faults, such as not quite seeing the villain of the piece get his final comeuppance (it happens off screen) but overall this remains a wonderfully watchable film version of a famous Sherlock Holmes adventure and a masterful demonstration into achieving subtle menace on the screen at almost every turn.

Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Dr Watson (Nigel Bruce) investigate the myth of the supernatural hound of the Baskervilles. Sir Henry Baskerville (Richard Greene) returns home to take up residence in the family estate on the moors of western England. Unfortunately a beast is set upon killing Sir Henry. It's up to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watsons to deduce who or what is trying to commit this murder most foul, and to prevent it. This was the first time Rathbone and Watson had performed together as the detective duo, for me they are the go-to icons of the roles, and here they are brilliant. This isn't the typical bumbling portrayal of Dr Watson, this is something that the studios and Nigel Bruce evolved over time. Rathbone is as charming and engaging as ever, suave and solid as a lead. The film is only about 80 mins long and has a nicely enjoyable pace to it. There have been lots of versions of this Sir Athur Conan Doyle story, this for me is the best. The setting delivers an eerie atmosphere and is tastefully done, despite being shot in Hollywood. A great black and white film from the 1930's that never fails to fill a lazy Sunday afternoon with fun and nostalgia.

Everything went right with this version of the famous Sherlock Holmes story. The stars as well as the other performers fit their roles perfectly, the atmosphere was convincing, the story was well-paced, and there was humor, but not overdone. The mystery in the story was not too difficult to figure out, but there were still some unexpected twists.The story itself: the wealthy lord of a country estate dies, evidently of heart failure, some sort of wild man finds him but is scared off, and the man's nephew comes from Canada to claim the title and property. Trouble is, there is the story of how heirs to the estate have all died violently, so as a safety measure, Sherlock Holmes and Watson are brought in by an old friend of the family.The movie isn't perfect; the romance subplot seems rather contrived and there are characters who have nothing to do with the actual storyline. But overall the movie is both scary and entertaining.

This is my favourite of all the Sherlock Holmes tales and this is an excellent film version of it. It pairs the superb partnership of Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce, surely the best ever Holmes and Dr Watson. Here they investigate reports of a beast roaming the estate of a rich heir. The setting is suitably atmospheric with the fog shrouded set of the moors evoking a real sense of menace. The tale twists and turns with various suspects thrown into the mix. It's a relatively fast paced film and always entertaining with a number of expertly filmed scenes especially the one with the hound. If you only ever watch one Sherlock Holmes film then this is the one to watch.