The New York herald., 1922-05-08
John Barrymore in
Screen adaptation
Of f'SherIOck Holmes
Little of the DelineatiOn of the
Eccentric Side of the Fa-
nous Character.
Barrymore in "Sher-
lock Holmes" adapted from William
Gillette's stage play founded on Sir
Conan DoyIe's stories and directed by
Albert Parker.

LOCK hOimer, dudpIeu trOHl W nilhn
Gillette's stage play founded on Sir
Conan Doyle's stories and directed by
Albert Parker.
John barrymore standing with a
background of the Houses of Parlia-
ment, with a touch of fog to make it
look more homelike. Isn't that thrilling
enough In itself? Add to that the fact
that Barrymore Is wearing the shooting
cap, the Norfolk jacket and the alb
stracted look of the famous detective.
plus the thought that Lloyd George
might have been drinking tea on the
Parliament terrace at the moment the
scene was taken. What more could a
mere mortal wish for excitement?
II is Sherlock Holmes minus the hypo-
dermic syringe. In fact. there is very
little real characterization called for
and the star has a very pleasant time
with little to do in the way of imper-
sonation except look Byronic. While
there have been English interpretations
on the screen of the noted exponent of
deduetion. Barrymore is the first Ameri
can to essay the part. and he makes him
easily the foremost detective of all time,
so far as handsome appearance goes. In
this respect Scotland Yard is once more
left far behind.
There is an unavoidable element OF
the static about this photoplay. for the
science OF pure deduction is about as
easy to demonstrate on the screen as
Einstein's theory. Holmes's greatest
feat of analysis in the picture occurs
when he concludes that his friend Wat
son has resumed the practice of medi-
cine. that his wife is away and that he
has shifted his dresser from one side OF
no IN r.
velous bit OF ratiocination, even ii it
means nothing In the story. II Is quite
miraculous what the famous sleuth can
discover through a misplaced button
or So
In the fnel scenes the pace of tha
lengthy picture. after having been some
what. tepid at the start. develops with
rush that leaves the spectator and the
screen characters almost speechless.
The adapter hardly has time 90 work in
subtitle while figures scurry about.
The adapter has shown more courage
than Conan Doyle possessed. for he mar
ries his hero off in the end
There is none of the delineation of the
eccentric side of the character except
that Barrymore certainly looks biz
cxtravagant when he runs. Perhaps for
this reason the weird parsonage of the
arch fend. Moridrty, stands out more
than Holmes-and also because sinister
evil Is always more positive than good
on the screen. SO far as portrayal OF
character goes Gustave Seyffertitz gets
honorable mention as this modern Id0o,
q villain for villainy's sake. and makes
him the Mr. Hyde counterpart to Barry
nIores Dr.. JekyH. Roland Young makes
his silence felt even on the screen as
Dr.. Watson, though he hardly fits ones
mage of that beef ana beerv blunder-
buss. Miss Carol Dempster makes Miss
Faulkner very, very sweet Alice. Regi-
nald Denny. Louis Woheim. Albert
Bruning. Lumsden Hare. Hedda Hopper,
Percival Knight. David Terrence. Robert
Fischer and John Willard arc some OF
the stars in n cast that is top heavy
with talent. Miss Peggy Bayfield, looks
so charming. even with the Alps to dis
tract ones attention. that one wishes she
had been killed off more lesureiy.