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Sherlock, Jr.

Play trailer Poster for Sherlock, Jr. Released Apr 21, 1924 48m Comedy Drama Action Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 43 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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Sherlock, Jr.

Sherlock, Jr.

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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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Critics Reviews

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Kenneth Taylor Los Angeles Times 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. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Roy Ellarcotte Detroit Free Press [Sherlock, Jr.] is about the best thing this "straight face" comedian has done. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times 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. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Buster Keaton’s 1924 Sherlock Jr., perhaps the ultimate proof of his ingeniousness... Apr 17, 2024 Full Review Herman Shumlin Billboard It is packed with laughable incidents, ridiculous tricks that will cause roars of real belly-laughs, and will send them home just a bit ashamed at having laughed so much, just as it did this reviewer. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Like all Keaton comedies Sherlock, Jr., is constructed with amazing ingenuity. Feb 23, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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A M Revolutionary, Keaton was one of the great geniuses of his century Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/12/24 Full Review Jarrod R 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 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/09/24 Full Review Jonathan G 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. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/03/23 Full Review Lars N Besides all the stunts, that for a century-old movie still manage to give me the jitters, this thing is so lovely, inventive and fun. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/07/23 Full Review Christian K Simple and effective. Magnificent stunt work. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Buster Keaton is at it again in Sherlock, Jr. The film is about a film projectionist who yearns to be a detective. Buster Keaton once again puts on a wonderful performance as he was able to utilize his iconic physicality and dry humor to create a hilarious surreal cinematic film. The film's visuals were nothing short of fantastic. Even the stunts that Keaton pulled off were wonderful. The film's writing was also pretty top notch as the film about someone who wants to be a detective has an ironic twist. Overall, Sherlock, Jr. is an impressive and humorous film with surrealism and impressive stunts that make me very fond of Buster Keaton and his work. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Sherlock, Jr.

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Movie Info

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
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