STATE

Evening Star, Issue 23422, 13 November 1939, Page 11

STATE

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s 1 The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ now screening at the State, is one of literature’s most shocking, spine-chilling mystery stories and the greatest of all of Sherlock Holmes’s astounding adventures. Tall, spare, hawk-like Basil llathbone, in-the perfect-fitting role of the great detective, is eo-featured with Richard Greene and Wendy Barrie in this Twentieth Century-Fox production. In this groat story the master of a thousand mysteries pits his cunning against the giant unearthly beast that roams the fog-shrouded English moor with blazing eyes and bared fangs, terrorising the countryside, striking horror into the hearts of two young lovers, and leaving a trail so terrifying that only Sherlock Holmes dare follow. Nigel Bruce plays the famous Dr Watson, the great detective’s constant companion, and also an amazed observer. Also included in the cast are Lionel Atwill, John, Carradine, Barlowe Borland, Beryl Mercer, Morton Lowry, and Ralph Forbes. To thousands of people all over the world Sherlock llolmes is no creature of Sir Arthur’s imagination, but a real, active detective who, for all they know, is still solving the insolvable on “the tight little isle.” Doyle ascribed this popular delusion to Holmes’s numerous stage impersonations—one actor, the famous William Gillette, appeared as Sherlock over a period of 30 years in more than 1,200 performances. Preview critics have accorded ‘ The Hound of the Baskervilles,’ which Production Chief Darryl F. Zanuck selected Sidney Lanfiold to direct, their enthusiastic acclaim. Ernest Pascal wrote the screen play. Gene Markey was associate producer.