The Sign of Four (1923 film)
| The Sign of Four | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Maurice Elvey |
| Written by | Maurice Elvey |
| Based on | The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle |
| Produced by | Jeffrey Bernerd |
| Starring | Eille Norwood Isobel Elsom Arthur M. Cullin |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Stoll Pictures (UK) UFA (Germany) |
Release date | 1923 |
Running time | 7 reels;[1] 6750 feet[2] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Sign of Four is a 1923 British silent mystery film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Eille Norwood, Isobel Elsom and Fred Raynham.[3] The film is based on the 1890 novel The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle, and was one of a series of Sherlock Holmes films starring Norwood.
Premise[]
Holmes and Watson are called in to investigate a strange murder in South London which appears to have its roots in events in India some years before.
Production[]
Previous Watson performer Hubert Willis was replaced by Arthur M. Cullin in the role as director Maurice Elvey felt that Willis was too old to woo the much younger Isobel Elsom as Mary Morstan.[2] Norwood was unimpressed with Cullin in the role[2] although Cullin brought previous experience having played Watson to H. A. Saintsbury's Holmes in The Valley of Fear.[2]
The climactic chase on the Thames was shot on location.[2]
Cast[]
- Eille Norwood - Sherlock Holmes
- Isobel Elsom - Mary Morstan
- Fred Raynham - Prince Abdullah Khan
- Arthur M. Cullin - Doctor John Watson
- Norman Page - Jonathan Small
- Humberston Wright - Doctor Sholto
- Henry Wilson - Pygmy
- Madame d'Esterre - Mrs Hudson
- Arthur Bell - Inspector Athelney Jones
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Wlaschin, Ken (2009). Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7864-4350-5.
- ^ a b c d e Barnes, Alan (2011). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Titan Books. pp. 235–236. ISBN 9780857687760.
- ^ BFI Database entry
External links[]
- The Sign of Four at IMDb
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- English-language films
- 1923 films
- British films
- British silent feature films
- 1923 crime films
- Films directed by Maurice Elvey
- Sherlock Holmes films based on works by Arthur Conan Doyle
- British black-and-white films
- British crime films
- 1923 mystery films
- British mystery films
- 1920s British film stubs
- Mystery film stubs