''The Sign of Four'' is a 1923 British silent

mystery film A mystery film is a film that revolves around the solution of a problem or a crime. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur Detective, sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of an issue by means of clues, ...

directed by

Maurice Elvey Maurice Elvey (11 November 1887 – 28 August 1967) was one of the most prolific film directors in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year. He a ...

and starring Eille Norwood,

Isobel Elsom Isobel Elsom (born Isabelle Reed; 16 March 1893 – 12 January 1981) was an English film, theatre, and television actress. She was often cast as aristocrats or upper-class women. Early years Born in Chesterton, Cambridge, Elsom attend ...

and Fred Raynham.BFI Database entry
/ref> The film is based on the 1890 novel ''

The Sign of the Four ''The Sign of the Four'', also called ''The Sign of Four'', is an 1890 detective novel, and it is the second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes by British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring ...

'' by

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...

, 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 India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

some years before.

Production

Previous Watson performer

Hubert Willis Hubert Willis (1862 – 13 December 1933) was a British actor best known for his recurring role as Dr. Watson, Doctor Watson in a Sherlock Holmes (Stoll film series), series of silent Sherlock Holmes films co-starring with Eille Norwood. St ...

was replaced by Arthur M. Cullin in the role as director Maurice Elvey felt that Willis was too old to woo the much younger

as Mary Morstan. Norwood was unimpressed with Cullin in the role although Cullin brought previous experience having played Watson to H. A. Saintsbury's Holmes in ''

The Valley of Fear ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

''. The climactic chase on the

Thames The River Thames ( ), known alternatively in parts as the River Isis, is a river that flows through southern England including London. At , it is the longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, after th ...

was shot on location.

Cast

* Eille Norwood -

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

Mary Morstan This article describes minor characters from the ''Sherlock Holmes'' stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and from non-canonical derived works. The list excludes the titular character as well as Dr. Watson, Professor Moriarty, Inspector Lestrade, ...

* Fred Raynham - Prince Abdullah Khan * Arthur M. Cullin - Doctor John Watson * Norman Page - Jonathan Small *

Humberston Wright Humberston Wright (27 September 1876 – 1953), sometimes credited as Humberstone Wright or Humberston H. Wright, was a British film actor. Filmography * '' Trapped by the London Sharks'' (1916) * '' Thelma'' (1918) * '' The Secret Woman'' ...

- Doctor Sholto * Henry Wilson - Pygmy * Madame d'Esterre - Mrs Hudson * Arthur Bell - Inspector Athelney Jones

References

External links

* 1923 films British silent feature films 1923 crime films 1920s English-language 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 1920s British films Silent British mystery films Silent British thriller films English-language crime films English-language mystery films {{mystery-film-stub

Premise

Production

Cast

See also

References

External links