Sherlock Holmes
Brief Synopsis
The legendary sleuth locks wits with Professor Moriarty to save a girl kidnapped by blackmailers.
Cast & Crew
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Arthur Berthelet
Director
William Gillette
Sherlock Holmes
Marjorie Kay
Alice Faulkner
Ernest Maupain
Professor Moriarty
Edward Fielding
Doctor Watson
Stewart Robbins
Benjamin Forman
Film Details
Genre
Short
Adaptation
Release Date
May
15,
1916
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Essanay Film Mfg Co.
Distribution Company
V-L-S-E, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette (New York, 6 Nov 1899) and characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 56m
Sound
Silent
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.33 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Synopsis
One of the noble families of England hires detective Sherlock Holmes to recover potentially embarrassing papers held by Alice Faulkner, whose sister was mistreated badly by one of the family members, and who has since vowed revenge. Holmes gets the papers, but then, having fallen in love with Alice, gives them back, and asserts that he will wait until she herself gives them to him. Then, with Alice in earshot, Holmes tells the head of the family that he has failed. The man berates Holmes, but Alice, having fallen in love with the detective, rushes in to present the papers to the nobleman, after which she and Holmes begin their romance in earnest.
Director
Arthur Berthelet
Director
Cast
William Gillette
Sherlock Holmes
Marjorie Kay
Alice Faulkner
Ernest Maupain
Professor Moriarty
Edward Fielding
Doctor Watson
Stewart Robbins
Benjamin Forman
Hugh Thompson
Sir Edward Leighton
Ludwig Kreiss
Baron von Stalburg
Mario Majeroni
James Larrabee
William Postance
Sidney Prince
Chester Beery
Craigin
Frank Hamilton
Tim Leary
Fred Malatesta
"Lightfoot" McTague
Grace Reals
Madge Larrabee
Miss Ball
Therese
Burford Hampden
Billy
Marion Skinner
A suffragette
Videos
Movie Clip
Hosted Intro
Film Details
Genre
Short
Adaptation
Release Date
May
15,
1916
Premiere Information
not available
Production Company
Essanay Film Mfg Co.
Distribution Company
V-L-S-E, Inc.
Country
United States
Screenplay Information
Based on the play Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette (New York, 6 Nov 1899) and characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 56m
Sound
Silent
Color
Black and White
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
1.33 : 1
Film Length
7 reels
Articles
Sherlock Holmes (1916)
In this silent film, the legendary sleuth locks wits with Professor Moriarty to save a girl kidnapped by blackmailers.
Sherlock Holmes (1916)
In this silent film, the legendary sleuth locks wits with Professor Moriarty to save a girl kidnapped by blackmailers.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
William Gillette was famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on the stage. The film marked Gillette's screen debut. Gillette's stage director, William Postance, assisted director Arthur Berthelet in the filming. Players in Gillette's company who acted in this film include Mario Majeroni, Marjorie Kay and Edward Fielding. Gillette's play, which was based on the short stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, was filmed again in 1922 by Goldwyn Productions, with John Barrymore in the title role and Albert Parker directing (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1921-30; F2.4987). Fox based a 1932 film on Gillette's play, with Clive Brook starring and William K. Howard directing. Another Fox film, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, made in 1939 by Albert Werken, was also based on the play, and was the second in the long running Sherlock Holmes series which starred Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1931-40). Many other films and television programs have been based on the stories and characters created by Doyle, but not specifically based on Gilette's play.
