Sherlock Holmes is arguably the most recognisable name in detective history; whether you are a hardcore Arthur Conan Doyle fan or prefer the recent Hollywood Holmes, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., it’s impossible to deny detective Holmes and his loyal companion Dr. Watson have had a massively positive impact on the worlds of literature, TV and film, bringing joy to thousands of people.
Considering the impact Holmes has had it comes as no surprise to think there have been around 200 films made about the character, long before the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr. had a crack at the role. One such film starring William Gillette was thought to have been lost years ago, however a nitrate dupe negative of the film has been miraculously found in the vault of a Paris based film archive.
One of the first and foremost actors to play Sherlock Holmes, William Gillette cemented the deerstalker hat and pipe into sherlock history, as well as taking the character around the world on stage.
The archive in question, Cinémathèque Française are teaming up with San Francisco Silent Film Festival in order to restore the film, aptly named Sherlock Holmes for viewings early next year.
Originally published October 6, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
