A Study in Scarlet (1933)

In London, a secret society led by lawyer Thaddeus Merrydew collects the assets of any of its deceased members and divides them among the remaining members. Society members start dropping ... See full summary »

Director:

Edwin L. Marin

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (suggested by book "A Study in Scarlet"), Robert Florey (screenplay),

Stars:

Reginald Owen, Anna May Wong, June Clyde

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Reginald Owen	...	Sherlock Holmes
Anna May Wong	...	Mrs. Pyke
June Clyde	...	Eileen Forrester
Alan Dinehart	...	Merrydew (as Allan Dinehart)
John Warburton	...	John Stanford
Alan Mowbray	...	Lestrade
Warburton Gamble	...	Dr. Watson
J.M. Kerrigan	...	Jabez Wilson
Doris Lloyd	...	Mrs. Murphy
Billy Bevan	...	Will Swallow
Leila Bennett	...	Daffy Dolly
Wyndham Standing	...	Capt. Pyke
Halliwell Hobbes	...	Dearing

Storyline

In London, a secret society led by lawyer Thaddeus Merrydew collects the assets of any of its deceased members and divides them among the remaining members. Society members start dropping like flies. Sherlock Holmes is approached by member James Murphy's widow, who is miffed at being left penniless by her husband. When Captain Pyke is shot, Holmes keys in on his mysterious Chinese widow as well as the shady Merrydew. Other members keep dying--Malcom Dearing first, then Mr. Baker. There is also an attempt on the life of young Eileen Forrester, who became a reluctant society member upon the death of her father. Holmes' uncanny observations and insights are put to the test.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | sherlock holmes | secret passage | limehouse | lawyer | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 May 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

En studie i rött

Filming Locations:

California Tiffany Studios - 4516 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

K.B.S. Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

72 min 72 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the movie is credited as having been "suggested by the book by A. Conan Doyle," in fact, the plot is very different from that of the novel itself, which first introduced the character of Sherlock Holmes to the general public. Even the characters other than Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are not the original ones that appeared in the story.

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Goofs

Holmes and Watson's address is given as 221-A Baker Street, rather than the more familiar 221-B.

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Quotes

Sherlock Holmes: You came to see me professionally.
Inspector Lestrade: Well, er, unofficially.
Sherlock Holmes: I see. Heads you win, tails I lose.

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Connections

Version of Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Scarlet (1968)

User Reviews

Good but not Great.

I was intrigued by the thought of Reginald Owen playing Sherlock Holmes because I disliked him as Ebeneezer Scrooge in MGM's " A Christmas Carol" (1938). In that role he was very subdued and did not bring the character to life, although I have been spoiled in this regard by Alastair Sim; would the same happen here?

Happily, he was much better as Holmes, but once again I have been spoiled by Basil Rathbone and Arthur Wontner. Nevertheless, he was more than adequate but was done in by the leaden pace of the proceedings in A Study In Scarlet - it could have been so much better with a little tension and suspense and a few less dead spots, as the the storyline was excellent. I especially enjoy mysteries in which the murderer is unknown until the last scene.

A good entry in the Holmes series - unless you've seen the aforementioned Rathbone or Wontner in the title role.