Sherlock Holmes

Released Mar 7, 1922

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

List

78%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

35%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

Sherlock Holmes (John Barrymore) is a master at solving the most impenetrable mysteries, but he has his work cut out for him on his latest case. Prince Alexis (Reginald Denny) is accused of a theft that he insists he didn't commit. The evidence is stacked against him, but Holmes' trusted friend, Dr. Watson (Roland Young), vouches for the prince. As the famed detective investigates, he's brought face to face with his most devious adversary yet -- Professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz).

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Mabel McElliott

New York Daily News

No less a person than the ineffable Roland Young plays Watson! That in itself is worth the price of admission.

May 17, 2021

Full Review

NYT Staff

New York Times

There are several problems, but none of them is of compelling interest, and they are solved as much by the superior knowledge and power of the playwright as by anything Sherlock Holmes is seen to do.

Nov 8, 2019

Full Review

Fred Schader

Variety

It certainly is a picture that can be truthfully billed as an 'all-star production" without fear of a comeback.

Nov 8, 2019

Full Review

Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

John Barrymore appears as the great detective himself. He is remarkably good -- better, in fact, than he has ever been before on the screen.

Oct 7, 2021

Full Review

Adele Whitley Fletcher

Motion Picture Magazine

The production, possessing a very definite artistic quality, also is interspersed with sensational episodes which jog the senses.

Nov 14, 2020

Full Review

Harriette Underhill

New York Tribune

Sherlock Holmes is interesting as a picture chiefly because of the cast and the exteriors.

Nov 8, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

A great film in it's day, now it seems a bit uninspired. Sherlock meets and interacts with Moriarty - which gives his life a purpose, to defeat Moriarty and see justice served. Fans of Conan Doyle will appreciate seeing this early vision of the great detective.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Holmes barely uses his intuition to solve anything, and there's no real mystery; it's more of a melodrama -- and a dull letdown.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

As much as I like Sherlock Holmes I can say with one need audio sound to it to give it a better rating

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Sherlock Holmes (1922) This older, silent version of the Sherlock Holmes saga, based on a stage play, is a little on the dull side for modern tastes, but the selling point is the all-star cast. Names like Reginald Denny, John Barrymore, Roland Young, Hedda Hopper, and William Powell have become familiar Hollywood names. Even actress, Carol Dempster (who was D.W. Griffith's lover) is featured as the love interest in this film. The movie had been long thought lost for good, but was found and has been wonderfully restored thanks to the George Eastman Company and Hugh Hefner. A handsome young prince Alexis (Reginald Denny), studying at Cambridge is accused of stealing and risks being expelled. His college room mate, Watson (Roland Young) suggests that a friend of his, Sherlock Holmes (John Barrymore) might be of assistance. Holmes quickly discovers that Foreman Wells (William Powell) had a hand in the theft, although there are other sinister forces, hiding in the shadows, including Professor Moriarty (Gustav Von Seyffertitz) pulling the strings. Wells, takes Holmes to Moriarty's hide-out for a big meet-and-greet. Prince Alexis is engaged to beautiful Rose Faulkner (Peggy Bayfield), but when his brother is killed in an auto accident, he becomes the King apparent forcing him to call off the wedding with a commoner. Poor Rose commits suicide. Her Sister, Alice (Carol Dempster) had met Holmes earlier in the film and he can't seem to get the girl out of his head. Many years later, Prince Alexis is being blackmailed with Rose Faulkner's love letters. Alice wants him to pay for his callousness. Naturally, Moriarty has a hand in this as well. Holmes must intervene in this, if only to see Alice again. Foreman Wells is back and becomes the inside man, playing the butler (an interesting scene when you think of his "My Man Godfrey" movie that he does later).

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

bill t

Caught this on TCM the other night, wasn't really impressed. Barrymore was alright I suppose, but this was awfully paced and poorly edited and confusing, and made me drift off. Not the best Holmes out there by a landslide.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

barrymore is the fuel that makes this holmes go

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

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Albert Parker

Director

John Barrymore

Sherlock Holmes

Roland Young

Dr. Watson

Carol Dempster

Alice Faulkner

Gustave von Seyffertitz

Professor Moriarty

Louis Wolheim

Craigin

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Synopsis

Sherlock Holmes (John Barrymore) is a master at solving the most impenetrable mysteries, but he has his work cut out for him on his latest case. Prince Alexis (Reginald Denny) is accused of a theft that he insists he didn't commit. The evidence is stacked against him, but Holmes' trusted friend, Dr. Watson (Roland Young), vouches for the prince. As the famed detective investigates, he's brought face to face with his most devious adversary yet -- Professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz).

Director: Albert Parker
Screenwriter: Earle Brown, Marion Fairfax
Distributor: Kino International
Production Co: Goldwyn Pictures Corporation
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 7, 1922, Original
Release Date (DVD): Jul 7, 2009
Runtime: 1h 49m