Overview: Elementary Cinema: The Early Films of Sherlock Holmes is a documentary on the early films of Sherlock Holmes, providing both history and context to the most famous literary detective of all time.

Venture into the early years behind one of the most well known characters in history. From the mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle came the iconic literary character of Sherlock Holmes.

From the pages, to the stage, and finally to the big screen, Sherlock Holmes has been reimagined time and time again.

Blu-ray Verdict: Taking a peak into this brilliantly curated new documentary on the great man Sherlock Holmes and we first dive into the 1918 short A Black Sherlock Holmes. At just 12 minutes long, it tells the story of a man who believes himself to be a great detective. His efforts to capture a villainous kidnapper lead him into many unexpected adventures, but he eventually saves the girl that she might marry her lover.

Copper Beeches (1912) is a 19 minute adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes story about a father trying to gain control of his daughter’s inheritance does not include Watson. The earliest surviving complete Sherlock Holmes film - apparently overseen by the author himself - is something of a rushed effort complete with some wondrously criminal (albeit silent) over-acting from Georges Treville as the detective; let alone the actor who plays a villainous father who goes to extraordinary lengths to prevent his daughter from seeing a man of whom he disapproves.

Another stand out here for me is the one minute (yes, you read that correctly) Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900) where Sherlock Holmes enters his drawing room to find it being burgled, but on confronting the villain is surprised when the latter disappears. Holmes initially attempts to ignore the event by lighting a cigar, but upon the thief’s reappearance, Holmes tries to reclaim the sack of stolen goods, drawing a pistol from his dressing gown pocket and firing it at the intruder, who disappears (again).

After Holmes recovers his property, the bag vanishes from his hand into that of the thief, who promptly disappears through a window. At this point the movie ends abruptly with Holmes looking baffled!

The last one I will highlight, as I do not wish to ruin them all for you, is The Case of the Blind Man’s Bluff, a Sherlock Holmes Television Episode from 1954. It showcases the only clue at the site of two grisly murders being a chicken’s foot. Baffled, Insp. Lestrade goes to Sherlock Holmes for assistance, of course.

With Ronald Howard playing the titular role, this is one of the more atmospheric and less frivolous installments from this series comes off very well, and with a full complement of brilliant deductions and bizarre clues. It’s a good episode to try for those who might look down on this particular version of Sherlock Holmes.

Bonus Features:
A Black Sherlock Holmes (Restored Version) (1918)
A Black Sherlock Holmes (uncut 2K scan) (1918)
Copper Beeches (1912) Short Film
Cousins of Sherlocko (1913)
Slick Sleuths (1926) | Mutt and Jeff Cartoon
Sure Luck Holmes (1928) | Felix the Cat Cartoon
Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900) | Short
The Case of the Blind Man’s Bluff (1954) | Sherlock Holmes Television Episode
Sherlock Holmes and the Blue Carbuncle audio recreation by Redfield Arts Audio
Inserted booklet with new essay, HOLMES BBR (BEFORE BASIL RATHBONE) by Richard Heft

Copper Beeches (1912) | Full Short Film - Georges Tréville

Official Purchase Link

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