William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes - Part 1

William Gillette played Sherlock Holmes for more than 35 years at the beginning of the twentienth century to great acclaim, but no video of his performance remains. This is the sole remaining audio clip of Gillette playing Holmes matched up to photographs from his production. Part 1 of 2.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Sherlock
• Holmes
• 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.

[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.

[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.

[Scottrchrdsn]

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

[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.

[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)

[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.

[frewer2003]

quel beau rasoir

[brainofomarion]

Thank you so much for sharing!