Lost Sherlock Holmes Silent Film Found

I am late to the party with reporting/commenting on this news, but a William Gillette silent film has been found that might be of interest to Sherlock Holmes fans. Gillette was late 19th and early 20th century actor who is best known today for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage. He made famous the image of Holmes we now know today with the use of a large curvy pipe (a Meerschaum) and the deerstalker (first seen in a Strand magazine illustration by Sidney Paget). Over a period of 30 years, Gillette played Sherlock on stage in over 1,300 performances of his hit play. He also voiced Holmes twice on the radio. Amazingly he only played the Great Detective once on film, a 1916 silent based on his stage story.

Looking Back: Grand Hotel

I go back and do a video review for the MGM classic Grand Hotel starring an ensemble of Golden Age actors, like Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Lionel Barrymore, and Wallace Berry. The film follows five people who are staying at the famous Grand Hotel in Berlin, where their lives intertwine and drama ensues. It was one of the first ensemble pieces of its kind, and it helped pave the way for future movies of the same type. Learn what I think about it in the video below.