Sherlock Holmes from 1916, directed by Arthur Berthelet, was the first screen adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous detective. The film starred William Gillette, who had also played the character on stage for over thirty years, as Sherlock Holmes. Marjorie Kay played Alice Faulkner, the leading lady, and Ernest Maupain played James Larrabee, one of the suspects in the case.
The film begins with Alice Faulkner being blackmailed by her stepfather, who mistakenly believes she has a compromising photograph of him. She enlists the help of Sherlock Holmes, who is initially uninterested in the case until he learns that the photograph is actually in the possession of famed criminal Jim Moriarty. Holmes and his friend Dr. John Watson set out to recover the photograph and bring Moriarty to justice.
One of the strengths of the film is Gillette's performance as Holmes. He portrays the detective as an eccentric but brilliant man who is meticulous in his approach to solving crimes. Gillette's stage experience is evident in the way he moves and speaks on screen; his physicality and vocal delivery are both very similar to what one might expect from a stage actor.
The film also features some impressive set pieces, particularly in the scenes involving Moriarty. One standout sequence takes place in Moriarty's lair, where the villain has a trapdoor that drops anyone who steps on it into a pit full of spikes. The set design for this location is impressive, with the walls covered in ornate carvings and tapestries, and the pit itself is convincing enough to be genuinely unsettling.
Despite the film's many strengths, there are a few noticeable weaknesses as well. The pacing is somewhat uneven, with some scenes dragging on for longer than necessary while other key moments are rushed through. The editing is also a bit rough around the edges, particularly in some of the action sequences where the cuts between shots are jarring.
Additionally, the film's treatment of female characters is somewhat lacking. Alice Faulkner is the only major female character in the film, and she is often portrayed as helpless and in need of rescue. While this is certainly representative of the time period in which the film was made, it can be jarring for modern audiences.
Despite these flaws, Sherlock Holmes from 1916 is still an enjoyable and entertaining film. William Gillette's performance is a standout, and the set design and action sequences are impressive. It's also fascinating to see the first on-screen portrayal of such an iconic character, and the film's place in cinema history should not be overlooked.
Sherlock Holmes is a 1916 mystery with a runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes.
It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.
