Originally released in 1916.
"The film was produced in Chicago by the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and released in the United States as a seven-reel feature on May 15, 1916. In January 1920, a four-chapter serialized version of the film with French titles and color tinting was distributed in weekly chapters in France by Comptoir L. Sutto Films. The only ... material that is known to survive is a 35mm nitrate dupe negative of the French serial preserved in the collection of the Cinémathèque française. This unique material forms the basis of this restoration"--Opening credits.
"Newly restored by the San Francisco Silent Film Festival and La Cinematheque francaise."
Based on the play Sherlock Holmes, by William Gillette.
Bonus materials: "From the lost to found: restoring William Gillettes's Sherlock Holmes" -- presented by film restorer Robert Byrne at the 2015 San Francisco Silent Film Festival ; Sherlock Holmes Baffled (1900): Courtesy of the Library of Congress and presented in HD, this is the earliest known film to feature Sherlock Holmes ; A canine Sherlock (1912): from the EYE Filmmuseum, the film stars Spot the dog as the titular character ; Piu forte che Sherlock Holmes (1913): also from the EYE Filmmuseum, this entertaining Italian trick-film owes as much to Melies as it does Doyle ; New bonus film scores by Cliff Retallick ; HD transfers from the Fox Movietone Collection: interview with Arthur Conan Doyle and outtakes from a 1930 newsreel with William Gillette showing off his amateur railroad (University of South Carolina) ; A typescript of William Gillette's play, Sherlock Holmes, on which the film is based (DVD only) ; Beautiful and rarley-seen promotional photographs from the original 1899 Broadway production ; Rare lobby cards and flyer from the first run of 1916 Sherlock Holmes film ; A booklet featuring essays from experts Celine Ruivo, Russell Merritt, S.E. Dahlinger, Robert Byrne, Neil Brand, and Greg Wilsbacher.
Directed by Arthur Berthelet ; assistant director, William Postance ; scenario, H.S. Sheldon.
William Gillette (Sherlock Holmes), Alice Faulkner (Marjorie Kay), Ernest Maupain (Professor Moriarty), Edward Fielding (Doctor Watson).
Silent audio ; Intertitles in English and French.
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