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Sherlock Holmes and the Great Murder Mystery
Also known as {Sherlock Holmes in the Great Murder Mystery}
(1908) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Crescent Film Manufacturing Company production. / From the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Drama.
Synopsis: [The Moving Picture World, 28 November 1908, page ?] Our picture relates to a crime committed by a gorilla who escapes from his cage and through circumstantial evidence a young man whom we will call in our story Jim, is accused and is just about to be convicted when, through the aid of our hero, Sherlock Holmes, he is freed just in time. Our picture opens with a girl and her sweetheart, who are sitting in her room discussing plans for their marriage. The message is brought from Jim, compelling him to leave at once. Shipyard scene — The Gorilla escapes from his cage on a vessel, with his master, the Captain, in hot pursuit. The frightened animal climbs a porch of this girl’s house and into the window of her sitting room, and after a terrific struggle between her and the beast, he kills her before the Captain can prevent him. Captain immediately returns to the vessel with Gorilla and stays in hiding, fearing the consequences should anyone detect him. The butler discovers the crime, and tells the police about sweetheart’s visit, so police accuse Jim of the crime. Jim, unaware of what has happened, is arrested while boarding a train. Sherlock Holmes’ Study — Sherlock Holmes is reading a book when his old friend and college chum Watson arrives. He has read of the crime in the paper, showing same to Holmes. Holmes, after reading details, decides to lend his aid in unravelling the crime. Holmes at Work — Arrival at girl’s residence. Herein are shown methods employed by Holmes to secure evidence or clue to discover the culprit. In his study — Holmes returns to his study in deep thought, with his mind concentrating upon the crime. He is trying to unravel the mystery when he takes his old violin down from its peg and begins to play fantastic music which puts him in trance to solve the problem. Herein are shown remarkable visions of the different clues and theories of Holmes’ brain. The first vision is of Jim committing the awful crime, but vision fades away before crime is committed. Second vision is of a burglar; that also fades same as the first. Holmes, who has learned of the Gorilla being in port, lends his thought to this and the vision appears of Gorilla escaping from ship, climbing the porch of the house, and into the window and committing the crime that Jim is accused of. Holmes immediately jumps up with a start, and after numerous failures, discovers the ship, Gorilla and master, accusing same of the tragedy. Court Room — Poor Jim is convicted to be hanged, when our hero Holmes rushes in with sufficient evidence that frees Jim.
Survival status: The film is presumed lost.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Animals: Gorillas - Authors: Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) - Characters: Sherlock Holmes - Crime: Murder - Death: Murder - Law: Enforcement (Police: Detectives), Judicial (Courtrooms)
Listing updated: 23 June 2009.
References: Everson-Detective p. 6; Pohle-Holmes pp. 28-29.
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