Sherlock Holmes (full silent1916)

📽️ Experience the earliest surviving feature-length adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's legendary detective — fully restored and preserved for modern audiences!

Step into the foggy, gaslit streets of Victorian London in this silent-era treasure, Sherlock Holmes (1916) — a film once thought lost, now rediscovered and revered by fans of classic cinema and mystery aficionados alike. Starring the legendary stage actor William Gillette in the role he helped immortalize, this film is the only surviving record of Gillette’s iconic portrayal of Holmes — a role he performed over 1,300 times on stage.

🎥 Originally released in 1916, this film is adapted from Gillette’s stage play — itself authorized by Conan Doyle — blending various stories like A Scandal in Bohemia, The Final Problem, and A Study in Scarlet. It's a silent feature running 1 hour and 19 minutes, restored by the Cinémathèque Française and a key artifact of early cinematic history.

📚 Plot Summary
The story follows Sherlock Holmes, the brilliant yet enigmatic detective, as he is drawn into a perilous web of blackmail, disguise, and international intrigue. When the Crown Prince of a European kingdom is targeted by a scandal involving a compromising photograph, Holmes is summoned to recover the evidence before it destroys a royal marriage.

As Holmes investigates, he uncovers a sinister criminal mastermind orchestrating the entire plot: Professor Moriarty. Their rivalry escalates as Holmes must use his deductive genius to outwit Moriarty’s traps, protect the innocent, and bring justice to light.

The film incorporates key elements from several Conan Doyle stories, including:

The blackmail scandal from A Scandal in Bohemia 📸

Holmes' apparent demise and resurrection from The Final Problem 🌊

Early elements from A Study in Scarlet

This adaptation emphasizes Holmes’ cunning intellect, disguises, and relentless pursuit of truth, supported by loyal companion Dr. Watson. All delivered through the mesmerizing silence and intertitles of early cinema.

🎭 Cast & Characters
🕵️ William Gillette – Sherlock Holmes
Gillette’s portrayal defined Holmes for generations. His deerstalker hat, curved pipe, and stoic demeanor became the archetype.

👓 Edward Fielding – Dr. John Watson
Faithful and reliable, Watson supports Holmes throughout the perilous investigation.

🧥 Ernest Maupain – Professor Moriarty
A dangerous and calculating villain, Moriarty is Holmes’ intellectual equal and mortal enemy.

👑 Marjorie Kay – Alice Faulkner
A young woman caught between the royal scandal and Moriarty’s evil plans.

👨‍⚖️ Burford Hampden – Larrabee
An associate of Moriarty, posing as Alice’s guardian with ulterior motives.