Sherlock Holmes Baffled

I agree with another reviewer who says this film is impossible to rate. Although the film is longer than the 30 seconds stated on IMDb (possibly due, in part, to the speed at which it was played but mine clocked in at about 50 seconds), there really isn't enough film to allow you to rate it. In addition, what you see seems to have NOTHING to do with Sherlock Holmes. In fact, it looks like it was inspired by the films of Georges Méliès--as it uses some of the same tricks this French master director used. Specifically, by stopping and restarting the camera, Arthur Marvin made characters appear and disappear in order to bedevil 'Sherlock Holmes'--who spends most of the film trying to catch this appearing and disappearing character. A strange little curio worth seeing once, but as I said before, it bears very little semblance to the Conan Doyle character.

Um... I just watched this movie in YouTube. And... it is really weird.

No character, no plot, one set, trick photography but no camera movement--did anyone of the time consider these few seconds a harbinger of Holmes in the cinema? Not all of the stories had been written, and when this was made Holmes was still murdered by Professor Moriarty. Besides that, people weren't going to the movies in theaters yet, because no one was making any decent films in 1900: they were only considered nickel arcade curiosities. That's why it's neat to watch this little turn, once or twice; and to think about people who already knew who Sherlock Holmes was.

But, I'm afraid the people who made the movie didn't!

I guess this was the first Sherlock Holmes movie ever made. the special effects are superb (especially for the time back then), they do get every attention. some guy appears and disappears a lot of times. I wonder how they would do it nowadays. anyway, the effects are way better than the acting performances. they act quite ridiculous, so it's more a comedy than a detective movie. it's even more a horror movie than a comedy. the villain who seems to be untouchable, is a theme that would come back in a lot of films nowadays. yes, this short movie is very important in the history of cinema: without this genre mix, movies as Jurassic Park (reactions on something that isn't there) would be impossible to make.

This strange film was produced by American Mutoscope circa 1900, but it was not released 'till 1903. It's only a few seconds film about a burglar who is surprised during his task by a very strange Sherlock Holmes. It is silly and very schematic, but funny and interesting anyway for Sherlock Holmes Films aficionados...