‘Sherlock Holmes’ Fatal Hour:’ A Lens Into Early Holmes Cinema

This 1931 feature allows viewers to settle in and follow the clues with the master detective.

Sherlock Holmes (Arthur Wontner) solves a mystery in an early failm adaptation of Conan Doyle's classic character, in “Sherlock Holmes' Fatal Hour.” GJW+

NR | 1h 12m | Crime, Mystery | 1931

The early sound era created a peculiar crossroads for mystery cinema. “Sherlock Holmes’ Fatal Hour” (1931) arrived in that moment with a sense of confidence that feels uncommon for productions of its scale. Director Leslie S. Hiscott guided the material, originally released in the UK as “The Sleeping Cardinal,” with a focus on atmosphere and deliberate pacing.