Sherlock, Jr.

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Sherlock, Jr.

1924

48m

Comedy

Drama

Action

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

45 Reviews

95%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station -- only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theater, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.

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Critics Consensus

Sherlock, Jr. showcases enough of Buster Keaton's brilliance to make it well worth a watch, even if the laughs don't flow quite as freely as they do with some of his other features.

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Kenneth Taylor

Los Angeles Times

02/23/2024

As the small town motion-picture projectionist who is studying to be a detective on the side, Keaton is seen to great advantage. The picture seems to be funnier than Our Hospitality, measuring well up to the standard of Three Ages.

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Roy Ellarcotte

Detroit Free Press

02/23/2024

[Sherlock, Jr.] is about the best thing this "straight face" comedian has done.

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Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

02/23/2024

There is an extremely good comedy which will give you plenty of amusement, so long as you permit Mr. Keaton to glide into his work with his usual deliberation.

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Jun 14

3/4

...Keaton offers up a series of jaw-dropping stunts that prove effective (to say the least) at sustaining one’s interest for the duration of the movie’s 45 minutes...

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Dec 28

4/4

Fans of The General will disagree, but this absolutely dazzling comedy is perhaps the best of all Keaton features.

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

04/26/2025

No other silent film turns logic on its head with such grace and comic hilarity.

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Jian B

@RT75272519 Jul 29

Truly one of the best representation of timeless humour.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 3

48 minutes is too short, God **** it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Alexsander B

@Aelxs 05/22/2025

Simply incredible and revolutionary, a film full of playful and poetic adventures, it's a must-see for any self-respecting film buff.

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A M

@Amazer 05/12/2024

Revolutionary, Keaton was one of the great geniuses of his century

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Jarrod R

@RT27243469 04/09/2024

A century old this year and it HOLDS UP! (Like a fine wine being smashed through a window) This is easily one of my favorite silent movies and had me laughing throughout. Also had many moments when I thought, "how did they do THAT?!" Outstanding physical comedy as always from the legendary Buster Keaton

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Jonathan G

@RT68175649 12/03/2023

Actually one of the best and most important films to date. Everything aged great, the score is the bomb, the comedy is hilarious, and this is just everything you want from a great classic. Absolutely love it.

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Buster Keaton

Director

Buster Keaton

Sherlock, Jr.

Kathryn McGuire

The Girl

Ward Crane

The Sheik

Joe Keaton

The Girl's Father

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Synopsis

A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station -- only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theater, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.

Director: Buster Keaton
Producer: Joseph M. Schenck, Buster Keaton
Screenwriter: Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Image Entertainment Inc., Kino Video
Production Co: Buster Keaton Productions Inc. [us]
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Action, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 21, 1924, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 9, 2019
Runtime: 48m