William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes - Part 1

[legatofancier]

Undoubtably, Arthur Wontner most closely resembled Sidney Paget's drawings of Sherlock Holmes in THE STRAND MAGAZINE. When COLLIERS MAGAZINE began to publish "The Return Sherlock Holmes", the illustrator Frederic Dorr Steele modeled his drawings on William Gillette.

[Glammazon]

No words to say for James Bragington, who portrayed Sherlock Holmes in the very first full length Sherlock Holmes movie, A STUDY IN SCARLET?

[jholstei]

Well, as far as I know the 1914 Bargington film is lost (if you know differently, please tell me), and may or may not have been a full length film as very little information about it survives. I think the 1913 Sign of Four, which was two reels in length, might qualify as the first full length Holmes film. Gillette did make a Holmes film in 1916 (lost as well) but it was his stage performance that I made this video to honor.

[beth563]

Such a shame that this audio clip at the end of his Holmes career is the only relic we have of his performances. I would have LOVED to see him live.

[superlyger]

Arthur Wontner seems to have resembled the character, physically, better than any other film actor- if not stage actor. However his characterization was a bit too light hearted for the usually gloomy character.

[cha5]

Although agewise I always find it interesting that most of the actors who've portrayed Holmes are too old for the part if you go by strict Sherlockian studies of his age.

Began sharing lodgings with Watson at age 26

(1881)

Retired at age 48

(1903)

[Scottrchrdsn]

@superlyger How do we know how well Arthur Wontner resembled the character when we do not know what the character looked out??

[superlyger]

@Scottrchrdsn I am going on the premise that Wontner most resembled the original

Strand magazine illustraions of Holmes in his 'later ' years..? My exact point of reference being the painted color illustrations in the original Valley of Fear publishing in Strand. You may agree the likeness is remarkable.

[frewer2003]

quel beau rasoir

[brainofomarion]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[AlannTH]

Superb Post. this coupled with the release of the Basil Rathbone Dr Watson war time radio shows posted on here is wonderfull.

[jenddo]

Very nicely done! I also am a distant cousin of William Gillette and grew up about a mile from the castle. So this was doubly great to see such a tribute!

[harmsangelgirl]

What a wonderful video. Being a distant cousin to William Gillette, this was a delight to come across. I grew up a few minutes away from Gillette's Castle in East Haddam, CT.

[Oliviabthebus]

ENJOYED THEM VERY MUCH.

IS THERE SOUND on any of the clips?

If so, so, how do I get the audio?

[Hubabakanda]

And who played the paper boy on one of his tours? Yes, none other than a young Charles Chaplin.

[mercurylegion]

I loved the william gillette presentation but my computer seems to garble a bit. Do you sell DVD copies? Also, where did you get that wonderful voice recording? Please contact me!

[Halloran1]

Nice!

[middlesex43]

The Gillette castle on the Connecticut River has been refurbished recently and can be visited in Haddam Ct by the public.

[PenangLawyer]

A lovely tribute to the first great Sherlock. I love the dissolve from poster illustration to photograph!