Sherlock Holmes (1931 film series)

Sherlock Holmes is a film series running from 1931 to 1937. Arthur Wontner portrayed Sherlock Holmes in five films.

Having been told he resembled Doyle's creation for years, Wontner was finally cast in the role for The Sleeping Cardinal in 1931. Wontner was noticed after portraying Sexton Blake at the Prince Edward Theater in 1930.

Wonter was fifty-six when he began portraying Holmes and was forced to wear a toupée in the first three films to hide his bald spot. Holmes in the novels had retired at age fifty and as such, Wontner was technically too old for the part.

The Sleeping Cardinal was loosely based on "The Adventure of the Empty House" with the noticeable change that in the film version, Ronald Adair is a card cheat. Wontner was joined by Ian Fleming as Doctor Watson and Philip Hewland as Inspector Lestrade.

The Sleeping Cardinal was well received so producer Julies Hagen rushed a second film into production. The Missing Rembrandt reunited director Leslie S. Hiscott with Wontner, Fleming, and Hewland and was released in 1932. Norman McKinnel joined the cast as Professor Moriarty. Loosely based on "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton", the film altered the story converting a blackmailer to an art dealer.The Missing Rembrandt is now considered a lost film.

With the second film another success, The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case was produced and released later the same year. For this film, Fleming was replaced by younger actor Ian Hunter to better facilitate the storyline of Watson's wooing of Mary Morstan.

...
Wikipedia