THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES(1929)Carlyle Blackwell & Alexander Murski | Horror | B&W | Free Movie

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he Hound of the Baskervilles (German: Der Hund von Baskerville) is a 1929 German silent mystery film directed by Richard Oswald and is an adaptation of the 1902 Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. The film stars Carlyle Blackwell as Sherlock Holmes and George Seroff as Dr. Watson, with Betty Bird, Alexander Murski, and Livio Pavanelli in supporting roles. It tells the story of Holmes (Blackwell) investigating the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, believed to be caused by a supernatural hound haunting the Baskerville family. This was the last Sherlock Holmes adaptation of the silent film era.

The Hound of the Baskervilles featured an unusually international cast, including American actor Carlyle Blackwell, German actor Fritz Rasp, British actress Alma Taylor, Russian actor Alexander Murski, and Italian actor Livio Pavanelli.

The Hound of the Baskervilles premiered on 8 August 1929 to generally positive reviews, with praise for Blackwell's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, although some criticized its uneven pacing. Despite being a silent film released during the transition to sound cinema, it performed moderately well at the box-office.

In 2009, a tape of the film, along with other lost films from the silent cinema era, was discovered in the basement of a church in Sosnowiec, Poland. A decade later, in 2019, Flicker Alley released a digitally restored version of the film on DVD and Blu-ray, along with the 1914 version of the story.

Synopsis

The film begins with the mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville, found on the moors near his ancestral home with a look of terror on his face and large paw prints nearby, leading many to believe the legendary Baskerville curse—the ghostly hound—has struck again. Sir Charles's heir, Sir Henry Baskerville, returns from Canada, and Dr. James Mortimer enlists Sherlock Holmes to investigate, fearing that Sir Henry may be the next victim.

Holmes sends Dr. Watson to accompany Sir Henry to Baskerville Hall while he investigates from London. At the estate, Watson uncovers strange behavior from the servants, Mr. and Mrs. Barrymore, and meets the suspicious local naturalist, Stapleton, and his sister Beryl, who warns Sir Henry of danger. Meanwhile, eerie howls and strange occurrences add to the belief that the curse is real.

Holmes secretly investigates and reveals that the "hound" is actually a trained dog used by Stapleton, who is a distant relative of the Baskervilles. Stapleton's goal is to kill Sir Henry and inherit the Baskerville estate. In the film's climax, Holmes, Watson, and Sir Henry confront the hound on the moors, where they kill the dog and pursue Stapleton, who is ultimately trapped and drowned in a dangerous bog.

The curse is exposed as a lie, and Sir Henry is saved. Holmes and Watson return to London, having solved the mystery.

Cast & Crew

Carlyle Blackwell as Sherlock Holmes
Alexander Murski as Lord Charles Baskerville
Livio Pavanelli as Sir Henry Baskerville
George Seroff as Dr. Watson
Betty Bird as Beryl
Fritz Rasp as Stapleton
Valy Arnheim as Barrymore
Alma Taylor as Mrs. Barrymore
Carla Bartheel as Laura Lyons
Jaro Fürth as Dr. Mortimer
Robert Garrison as Falkland

Directed by: Richard Oswald
Written by: Georg C. Klaren, Herbert Juttke
Based on: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902 novel) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Produced by: Fred Lyssa, F. W. Kraemer
Starring: Carlyle Blackwell, Alexander Murski, Livio Pavanelli, Fritz Rasp
Cinematography: Frederik Fuglsang
Production Company: Erda-Film
Distributed by: Süd-Film
Release Date: August 28, 1929
Running Time: 87 minutes
Country: Germany
Languages: Silent (German intertitles)