Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a prolific writer most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction, and the adventures of Professor Challenger. Conan Doyle wrote also other works include science fiction stories, historical novels, plays and romances, poetry, and non-fiction.
He wrote four novels and fifty-six short-stories featuring Sherlock Holmes, something remarkable. But even more remarkable is the number of Holmes’ adaptations to the big screen. Since 1900 numerous films and versions have been made: screenplays based on Sherlock Holmes’ novels, adaptations, screenplays based only in the characters. Almost everything you can imagined was done. If they didn’t is just a question of time.
The first Sherlock Holmes version I saw to the cinema was Young Sherlock Holmes, a very nice film is the image that get of it, and the flying candies and muffins. It was one of my favourite films until I discover Citizen Kane and change my mind about what is a good film.
Among the hundreds of cinematographic versions, many of them are in public domain, including those with Basil Rathbone (if you are one of those curious people take a look at this List of people who have played Sherlock Holmes). In public domain and on-line to download and watch. And one more time a made a list with many links to download, watch, to IMDb, Wikipedia‘s articles, to the books’ articles and links to download the them. I hope you enjoy.
- A Study in Scarlet directed by Edwin L. Marin (1933): download here or here; video. Based on the book A Study in Scarlet: read the book here or here, or try the audio version.
- Dressed to Kill (Prelude to Murder) directed by Roy William Neill (1946): article; download here, here or here; video.
- Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (Sherlock Holmes Fights Back) directed by Roy William Neill (1943): download here or here; video. Based on the short story “The Adventure of the Dancing Men“: read it here or here.
- Silver Blaze (Murder at the Baskervilles) directed by Thomas Bentley (1937): download here or here; video. Adapted from the short story “Silver Blaze“: read it here or here.
- Terror by Night directed by Roy William Neill (1946): article; download here or here; video. Based on the short story The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax: read the it here or here, or try the audio version.
- The Hound of the Baskervilles directed by Terence Fisher (1959): article; download the trailer; watch the trailer. Adaptated from the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles: read the book here or here, or try the audio version.
- The Sign of Four directed by Graham Cutts (1932): download here or here; video. Adapted from the novel The Sign of the Four: read the book here or here, or try the audio version.
- The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes directed by Leslie S. Hiscott (1935): download here; video. Adapted from the novel The Valley of Fear; read the book here.
- The Woman in Green (Sherlock Holmes and the Woman in Green) directed by Roy William Neill (1945): download here; video.
Plus:
The Lost World directed by Harry O. Hoyt (1925): article; download here or here; video. Based on the novel The Lost World: read the book here or here, or try the audio version.
Related posts: Dressed to kill (1946), The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Birthday and Cult Television.
