The Hound of the Baskervilles 1959

Mortimer recounts the Baskerville legend

Dr. Mortimer recounts the legend of the Hell hound that killed Sir Hugo Baskerville after he murdered a servant's daughter. He asks Holmes to investigate the death of Sir Charles Baskerville on the Dartmoor moor. Mortimer fears for Sir Henry Baskerville’s safety as he arrives from South Africa.

Holmes and Watson plan to aid Sir Henry

Holmes and Watson decide to aid Sir Henry Baskerville and arrange to meet him. Sir Henry arrives from South Africa and complains that one of his boots is missing, hinting at trouble ahead. Mortimer mentions the estate's value and the danger to Sir Henry, while Holmes notes a disturbing tarantula threat.

Holmes dispatches Watson to Dartmoor

Holmes dispatches Watson to Dartmoor with Mortimer and Sir Henry to investigate Baskerville Hall. He warns Sir Henry not to wander onto the moor after dark. The group departs toward Baskerville Hall.

Selden escapes and the moor grows perilous

They learn that Selden has escaped from Dartmoor Prison and is hiding on the moor, heightening the danger around Sir Henry. The fugitive’s presence suggests more threats could emerge at any moment. The atmosphere on the moor becomes tense and uncertain.

Arrival at Baskerville Hall and missing portrait

The trio arrives at Baskerville Hall and is shown around by the Barrymores. One of two portraits of Sir Hugo is missing, a clue that will later tie to the mystery. The missing portrait hints at secrets behind Hugo’s appearance and inheritance.

Meeting with Bishop Frankland

Sir Henry and Watson meet Bishop Frankland, an entomologist who offers cryptic insights. They discuss the tarantula threat and the possible sources of danger connected to the case. The encounter adds another layer to the web of clues around Baskerville Hall.

Watson trapped in the Grimpen Mire

That night, Watson is trapped in a patch of Grimpen Mire and must be rescued. He is saved by a farmer named Stapleton and his daughter Cecile, a girl who bewitches Sir Henry. The incident deepens the intrigue surrounding Stapleton’s family.

A night on the moor: light, shadow, and hound

On the moor, Watson and Sir Henry investigate a mysterious light and glimpse a strange man fleeing. A distant hound howls, triggering in Sir Henry a mild heart attack. The eerie events heighten the sense that danger is closing in.

Holmes reveals himself on the hill

Watson spots a man on a distant hill, who turns out to be Holmes observing from a hidden position. Holmes has concealed his arrival to investigate more freely. The team realizes they have a sharp, hidden ally working among them.

Selden killed and the dagger revealed

Selden, wearing Sir Henry’s clothes, is slaughtered by the unseen hound and his body is found mutilated alongside Sir Hugo’s curved dagger. The Barrymores confess to having helped Selden by supplying food and clothes. The web of deception begins to unravel.

Holmes suspects the portrait and Frankland

Holmes determines that the missing portrait hid Sir Hugo’s identity and revealed a webbed right hand connected to Stapleton. He also suspects that Bishop Frankland may have been involved by stealing the tarantula. The web of motives becomes clearer as the investigation progresses.

Portrait and Stapleton’s webbed hand

Further questioning points to Stapleton as the mastermind, with the missing portrait and a reputed webbed right hand signaling his deception. The dagger’s absence strengthens the case against Stapleton. The stage is set for a final confrontation on the moor.

Cecile and Stapleton reveal inheritance plan

Cecile and Stapleton reveal they are descendants of Sir Hugo and intend to claim the inheritance after Sir Henry dies. They lure Sir Henry toward the moor ruins, exposing the deadly trap they’ve laid. Their scheme explains why the hound was deployed and how the conspiracy operated.

The hound attack and showdown

The hound appears and attacks Sir Henry, but Holmes shoots it, revealing it to be a masked ordinary dog. Stapleton lunges at Watson and is wounded by a shot; the hound fatally mauls Stapleton. Cecile slips into the Grimpen Mire and sinks as the heroes prevent further tragedy.