Anyone else see the U.S. Turner Classics Movie channel's
broadcast today of the newly restored/located
1916 silent version of Sherlock Holmes? Really fascinating!
It just resurfaced apparently in October 2014 after being thought lost.
I hope they repeat it or make it available again! And hopefully
it starts showing up elsewhere, if it hasn't already.
Starring William Gillette, the guy who cowrote w/
Doyle (and starred in) the stage version in the late 1890's
Apparently this silent version of the popular play
was made years of touring, ended up being edited
as a serial - 9 parts? - very loosely intended as
a Mix of A Study in Scarlet, A Scandal in Bohemia and
The Final Problem. (sound familiar)?
You get to see iconic images like pipe, deerstalker,
and dressing gown. Not much of a romance,
but certainly cheesy hints of one. But really great to
see so much of what we expect of eht character is intact. Running time about 2 hours.
Here's the TCM link about the project:
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/1130842/Sherlock-Holmes-Movie-Clip-An-Exact-Reproduction.html
I do hope they rebroadcast it. Gillette starred in supposedly
1300+ stage performances before this film. Famously
during their collaboration on the stage play, Gillette
is said to have asked Doyle to give his permission for him to
let Holmes have a love interest. May I marry Holmes?" to which Doyle
responded: "You may marry him, or murder or do what you like with him."
Knowing that the royalties from the play would far
outstretch the money coming in from the stories at the time.
Doyle incorporated the 'Billy' character introduced in
this play into a few later stories.
And for we fans of our beloved BBC version, note the creaking
steps that Professor Moriarty climbs as Holmes waits for him in 221B.
Anyway, what a fun evening of TV!
