Suffering from the same quandary as the silent Shakespeares this early film version of the famous sleuth involving blackmail and royal scandal would be swimming in title cards if it were possible to do any justice to the deductive supremacy of the world's most famous detective. As Holmes John Barrymore cuts a fine figure matching Sherlock's aquiline features and introspective looks of discern but without verbal dissection the film is merely a lengthy series of long stares, evil looks and perplexed squinting.
Director Albert Parker does anything but as the film hangs limply about void of action and suspense save for one jolting suicidal moment. The titanic confrontation and battle of wits between Holmes and Moriarity does not even attain low grade fever pitch though when all is said and done hints at a sequel.
Roland Young's Dr. Watson is reduced to watching Holmes think while Gustav Von Seyiffritz as Moriarity registers his menace with a fatigued Caligari boniness. William Powell as a snitch along with Carrol Dempster and Hedda Hopper show a little life in their performances but overall this Holmes is a crime.
Director Albert Parker does anything but as the film hangs limply about void of action and suspense save for one jolting suicidal moment. The titanic confrontation and battle of wits between Holmes and Moriarity does not even attain low grade fever pitch though when all is said and done hints at a sequel.
Roland Young's Dr. Watson is reduced to watching Holmes think while Gustav Von Seyiffritz as Moriarity registers his menace with a fatigued Caligari boniness. William Powell as a snitch along with Carrol Dempster and Hedda Hopper show a little life in their performances but overall this Holmes is a crime.