The Sign of Four (1923 film)

The Sign of Four
Film poster
Directed byMaurice Elvey
Written byMaurice Elvey
Based onThe Sign of Four
by Arthur Conan Doyle
Produced byJeffrey Bernerd
StarringEille Norwood
Isobel Elsom
Arthur M. Cullin
Production
company
Distributed byStoll Pictures (UK)
UFA (Germany)
Release date
  • 1923 (1923)
Running time
7 reels;[1] 6750 feet[2]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

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

See also

References

  1. ^ Wlaschin, Ken (2009). Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 206. ISBN 978-0-7864-4350-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnes, Alan (2011). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Titan Books. pp. 235–236. ISBN 9780857687760.
  3. ^ BFI Database entry


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