A Study in Scarlet

19331933
PassedPassed
1h 12min

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 dropp... Read allIn 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 b... Read allIn 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 myste... Read all

5.6/10

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Director
- Edwin L. Marin
Writers
- Arthur Conan Doyle(suggested by book "A Study in Scarlet")
- Robert Florey(screenplay)
- Reginald Owen(dialogue)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

Reginald Owen in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Warburton Gamble and Reginald Owen in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Warburton Gamble, Doris Lloyd, and Reginald Owen in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Doris Lloyd and Reginald Owen in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Warburton Gamble in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Reginald Owen and Anna May Wong in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Anna May Wong in A Study in Scarlet (1933)

Director
- Edwin L. Marin
Writers
- Arthur Conan Doyle(suggested by book "A Study in Scarlet")
- Robert Florey(screenplay)
- Reginald Owen(dialogue)
All cast & crew

See production, box office, & company info

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. —Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>

sherlock holmes character dr. john watson character widow lawyer chinese 26 more

Trivia
Bears no relation in plot to Arthur Conan Doyle's original novel of the same name, as the producers purchased rights only to the title, not the storyline of Doyle's book.

Goofs
Holmes' and Watson's address is shown as 221-A Baker Street rather than the well-known and correct 221-B. But since their apartment is on the upper floor of the building, the -B is implied, A being the ground floor dwelling and B the upper floor dwelling in the building.

Quotes
Mrs. Murphy: Then you've had to take me, Mr. Holmes?
Sherlock Holmes: I'll, ahh, take up your case.
Mrs. Murphy: Mind you, it'll have to be for love.
Sherlock Holmes: Love?
Mrs. Murphy: For nix. I've noticed how you like workin' for nothin'.
Sherlock Holmes: My interest is to bring the criminal to justice.
Mrs. Murphy: Well, never mind about justice, never mind about the crime. All I want is my husband's lawful money. And I want you to slap that thievin' lawyers face right across, between his greasy fat chops. Good night, Mr. Holmes. I'll be seeing you and thank you kindly.

Crazy credits
The credits list the character of Inspector Lestrade as "Lastrade".

Connections
Edited into Who Dunit Theater: A Study in Scarlet (2015)

Top review

6/10

Nicely Atmospheric

I had never seen Reginald Owen in anything but a somewhat weak Christmas Carol. He plays a larger, more imposing Sherlock Holmes. Holmes' appearance is usually rather striking, so actors play on his idiosyncrasies. In this movie, he sort of blends in. The story has nothing to do with the story. It will probably never be produced as written because of it's religious issues. This is an attempt to apprehend the big cheese in a series of murders involving the "Scarlet Circle." Men are dying according to the same poem used in Christie's Ten Little Indians (And Then There Were None). Holmes is aware of what is going on, but can't really strike quickly. This results in deaths not being prevented. While there is a seriousness to this film, there is a lot of humor as well. The characters are rich and interesting and the acting is pretty good. See it for another angle on the Holmes canon.

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