} Crítica Retrô: Sherlock Holmes (1922)

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Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Sherlock Holmes (1922)

Sherlock Holmes é um dos personagens literários mais famosos do mundo. Criado por Arthur Conan Doyle em 1887, Holmes foi protagonista de 60 obras do autor e, até o presente momento, de mais de 300 filmes. Começando em 1900, Sherlock se tornou o personagem mais prolífico nas telas, segundo o livro Guinness, e já foi interpretado por mais de 70 atores. O grande John Barrymore interpretou Sherlock Holmes apenas uma vez, em 1922, mas que interpretação!

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most well known literary characters in the world. Holmes was created by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887 and was the lead in 60 works by Doyle and, until today, more than 300 movies. Starting in 1900, Sherlock became the most portrayed character on screen, according to the Guinness Book, and was played by more than 70 actors. The great John Barrymore played Sherlock Holmes only once, in 1922, but, oh my, what a performance he gave!
Temos no filme um elenco primoroso, liderado por John Barrymore. Uma filmagem aérea de Londres. Um professor Moriarty que é a combinação de Abraham Lincoln com o Doutor Caligari. Um Nick Charles embrionário. Cinematografia belíssima. Todos os ingredientes juntos criam uma película imperdível.

We have in the movie an outstanding cast, starting with John Barrymore. Aerial footage of London. A professor Moriarty who is the combination of Abraham Lincoln and Doctor Caligary. An embrionary Nick Charles. Wonderful cinematography. All the ingredients create a must-see movie.
Era uma vez um estudante de Cambridge chamado Sherlock Holmes (John Barrymore). Seu amigo Watson (Roland Young) indica-o para resolver um problema que aflige o príncipe Alexis (Reginald Denny): vossa alteza está sendo acusado de roubar dinheiro da sociedade atlética da universidade. Este primeiro caso leva Holmes a se encontrar com o professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz, que aterrorizou Mary Pickford em “Sparrows”, de 1926), e então nosso amigo Sherlock encontra sua vocação: trabalhar como detetive para livrar o mundo de todo o mal representado por gente como Moriarty, e então se estabelece na 221B Baker Street.

Once upon a time there was a student from Cambridge called Sherlock Holmes (John Barrymore). His friend Watson (Roland Young) refers him to solve a problem that Prince Alexis (Reginald Denny) has: your Highness is being accused of stealing money from the university’s athletic society. This first case takes Sherlock to Professor Moriarty (Gustav von Seyffertitz, who terrorized Mary Pickford in “Sparrows”, from 1926) and then our friend Sherlock finds his calling: he was born to be a detective and erase the evil off the world. Then Sherlock establishes 221B Baker Street as his headquarters.
Anos depois, estamos diante do Sherlock Holmes que conhecemos e amamos. O príncipe Alexis se tornou herdeiro do trono, desistiu do casamento com Rose Faulkner (Peggy Bayfield) e agora está sendo chantageado por Moriarty. Holmes não se importa muito com a reputação do príncipe, mas não vai perder a chance de rever Alice Faulkner (Carol Dempster), por quem se apaixonou.

Years later, we find the Sherlock Holmes we all know and love. Prince Alexis inherited the throne, broke up his engagement with Rose Faulkner (Peggy Bayfield) and is being blackmailed by Moriarty. Holmes doesn’t really care about the Prince’s reputation, but he won’t miss the opportunity to once again see Alice Faulkner (Carol Dempster), with whom he fell in love.
Sherlock in love
O diretor Albert S. Parker não teve como inspiração as histórias originais de Conan Doyle, mas sim uma peça de 1899 escrita e protagonizada por William Gillette, o maior Sherlock Holmes do teatro. Gillette levou a peça para o cinema em 1916, e por muitos anos seu Sherlock cinematográfico foi considerado perdido, mas felizmente o filme foi encontrado e restaurado em 2015.

Director Albert S. Parker didn’t adapt any of Conan Doyle’s original stories, but an 1899 play written and starred by William Gillette, the greatest Sherlock Holmes of the stage. Gillette turned his play into a movie in 1916, and for many years his film was considered lost, but fortunately it was found and restored in 2015.
William Gillette
A restauração também faz parte da história do Sherlock de 1922, pois o filme também ficou durante décadas desaparecido. Nos anos 70, uma cópia foi encontrada, mas com os takes fora de ordem. O trabalho de detetive ficou por conta do próprio diretor Albert S. Parker, que instruiu os restauradores sobre a ordem dos takes. Com falhas de memória, Parker morreu antes de o trabalho ser completado, e coube ao historiador Kevin Brownlow reconstruir a película da melhor forma possível. A restauração foi financiada por Hugh Hefner – sim, o editor da revista Playboy.

Restoration is also part of the story involving the 1922 Sherlock. This film was also considered lost for decades. In the 1970s, a copy was found, but with the takes all mixed. The detective work was made by Albert S. Parker himself, who recalled the order of the takes and helped the restaurators. His memory, however, was fading, and Parker died before the job was completed. Then historian Kevin Bowwnlow jumped into the work and rebuilt the film the best way he could. The restoration was paid by Hugh Hefner – yes, the editor of Playboy magazine.
Se o filme fosse perdido, além da interpretação de Barrymore, o mundo também ficaria para sempre sem ver uma jovem Hedda Hopper no papel secundário de Madge Larrabee, e seria perdida também a estreia de William Powell no cinema, sem bigode, interpretando um estudante de Cambridge que depois se torna um mordomo. A imagem a seguir, senhoras e senhores, é a primeira vez que o mundo viu nosso querido Bill Powell:

If the film was lost, besides Barrymore’s performance, the world would never again see a young Hedda Hopper as secondary character Madge Larrabee, and William Powell’s film debut would also be lost forever. William is here without a mustache, playing a Cambridge student who later becomes a butler. The image above, ladies and gentlemen, is the very first time the world saw our beloved Bill Powell: 
Ao final, o que temos é um veículo que faz Barrymore brilhar, desde que Sherlock aparece pela primeira vez embaixo de uma árvore, aos oito minutos de projeção. A sequência de Moriarty invadindo a casa de Holmes é orquestrada com muito suspense, mas seu desfecho é rápido demais para a tensão que foi criada - a impressão é de que estariam ainda faltando cenas. Pode ser meio estranho encontrar um estudante universitário de 40 anos de idade, mas Barrymore é um Sherlock Holmes perfeito: alto, elegante, charmoso, inteligente e habilidoso.

In the end, we have a movie in which Barrymore shines. He is the focus of the feature since the first time Sherlock appears, under a tree, at the eight minute mark. The sequence in which Moriarty invades Holmes’s house is full of suspense, but its conclusion is too fast compared to the tension that escalated – it looks like there is some scene missing. It may be weird to find a 40 year-old college student, but Barrymore is a perfect Sherlock Holmes: tall, elegant, charming, intelligent and skilled.
Watson (sentado), Holmes (em pé) e uma caveira decorando o ambiente
Watson (seating), Holmes (standing) and a skull used as decoration 
Se você gosta de Benedict Cumberbatch, Basil Rathbone ou qualquer outro Sherlock da história, perceba como todos eles devem a Barrymore a aura cavalheiresca e intelectual do personagem. William Gillette pode ter introduzido a frase “Elementar, meu caro Watson”, mas foi John Barrymorre, em sua única aventura como Sherlock Holmes, que nos mostrou o que é realmente elementar para incorporar um personagem tão icônico.

If you are a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, Basil Rathbone or any other Sherlock, you’ll see how all of them owe to Barrymore the intellectual gentleman aura the character is famous for. William Gillette may have introduced the quote “Elementary, my dear Watson”, but it was John Barrymore, in his only adventure as Holmes, who showed what really is to incorporate such an iconic character. 

This is my contribution to the Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon, hosted by Ethel Barrymore connoisseur Crystal at In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood. 

15 comments:

Pedrita said...

eu vi vários. adoro. até os mais recentes. o robert downey junior deu um ótimo sherlock. tb gosto do sherlock filme do jô soares. eu tenho 3 posts com sherlocks homes, só um é antigo http://mataharie007.blogspot.com.br/search?q=sherlock

Caftan Woman said...

Charming review of the 1922 film. William Powell certainly makes his role outstanding and I greatly enjoy Roland Young as Watson. The casting of John Barrymore was genius!

Dan Day, Jr. said...

John Barrymore was an excellent Sherlock Holmes. It's too bad he never got the chance to play Holmes in a sound film....with, say, bother Lionel as Dr. Watson?

FlickChick said...

Oh, I want so badly to see this! Thanks for a lovely review of a must-see film. JB as Sherlock puts a little romance in the great detective.

Silver Screenings said...

It would be interesting to see Hedda Hopper in this film, along with the (very) young William Powell.

But the best reason to see this film, I bet, is John Barrymore. I really liked your analysis of his performance. I'm a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock, but I think I'd like John Barrymore the best.

carygrantwonteatyou.com said...

I just ate up all of the Cumberbatch series on Netflix, and am so curious to see where it all began, thanks to this great review! And Powell:) How interesting that Hefner is such a classic movie fan. Didn't know that.

Unknown said...

Thanks for referring us to the film on YouTube, I cant believe I have not seen this film!

Red Team said...

What a lovely review and yes, thank you for pointing out the debt of gratitude that all the other Holmeses owe to Barrymore! Thank you also for the YouTube link!!

I really loved this post!!

Warmest wishes,

Sister Celluloid

Anonymous said...

Great review. It didn't even bother me that Barrymore was a 40-year-old playing a student, which I think shows how good his performance was!

John said...

Will have to check this out. I was completely unaware of this version.

Anonymous said...

The enduring appeal of Holmes is fascinating. I wonder if Arthur Conan Doyle knew what he was creating when he wrote the originals. Although I've seen a lot of the modern versions I haven't seen this one - look forward to tracking it down and comparing how perceptions and interpretations of the character have developed. I can imagine Barrymore plays the role well

Judy said...

It's a while since I saw this but I remember being a bit disappointed by it- partly feeling that it had too many title cards interrupting the flow. All the same, John Barrymore makes an appealing Holmes and must agree it is a thrill to see William Powell so early in his career. Great piece, Le.

Unknown said...

Sou apaixona pelo Holmes, o melhor personagem já feito, já li os livros e vi os filmes

Unknown said...

I love Sherlock Holmes and William Powell. I will definitely have to watch this soon. Thanks for sharing a The Classic Movie Marathon Link Party.

Rebecca Deniston said...

I'm definitely going to have to look for this one--Barrymore would be a terrific Holmes.

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