Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases: Arthur Conan Doyle’s mysteries come to life at Alexandra Palace

Numerous actors have portrayed Sherlock Holmes on the big screen over the course of the past century, but nobody comes close to Eille Norwood, who starred as Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary sleuth in 45 shorts and two features for Stoll Pictures between 1921 and 1923. The entire Stoll Collection of Sherlock Holmes films is currently being restored by the BFI, and the first fruits of that invaluable effort were screened at this year’s London Film Festival Archive Gala, which took place in the suitably Victorian surroundings of Alexandra Palace. 

The event premiered three of the restored two-reelers, with each short being accompanied by a ensemble from the Royal Academy of Music playing newly commissioned scores. A Scandal in Bohemia (1921) was scored by Joseph Havlat and The Golden Pince-Nez (1922) had music from Neil Brand, and both compositions perfectly complemented the playful tone of these mysteries. Joanna MacGregor – who conducted all three performances while simultaneously playing the piano – came up with a more sombre and suspenseful soundtrack for The Final Problem (1923), which is apt for a film in which Holmes appears unusually rattled, having apparently met his match in underworld kingpin Moriarty. 

What’s striking about these films is how well they distil the essence of Conan Doyle’s stories into twenty-odd minutes of screen time, efficiently setting up the mystery, deduction and solution, and inserting flashbacks to reveal key details. Directed by the reliable hands of Maurice Elvey and George Ridgewell, these are witty and involving productions that move at a snappy pace towards satisfying endings. Even when you know what’s coming in The Final Problem, the story’s literal cliffhanger is dramatically staged, and it drew a pleasing gasp from some audience members. 

But the real draw in these films is Norwood, who is an authoritative presence and a largely understated performer, although he has a good deal of fun with the many disguises Holmes adopts. There’s a marvellous moment when Watson (Hubert Willis) is fretting about Holmes missing the train, only for the moustachioed passenger next to him to remark, “My dear Watson, why don’t you say good morning?” 

Arthur Conan Doyle himself was hugely impressed by Norwood’s work. “He has that rare quality, which can only be described as glamour, which compels you to watch an actor eagerly even when he is doing nothing,” the author said. “He has the brooding eye which excites expectation and he has also a quite unrivalled power of disguise.” Everyone has their own favourite Holmes portrayal, of course, but the long overdue restoration of this complete film series will give modern audiences the opportunity to discover the man who set the standard for all screen Sherlocks to come. 

► Read more about the Silent Sherlock restoration here.