Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Description

Sherlock Jr. is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton and written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, and Joseph A. Mitchell. It features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton, and Ward Crane.

In 1991, Sherlock Jr. was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” In 2000, the American Film Institute, as part of its AFI 100 Years… series, ranked the film #62 in its list of the funniest films of all time (AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Laughs).

Cast:

• Buster Keaton as Projectionist / Sherlock Jr. – A poor, young projectionist who wants to marry The Girl. He has an interest in being a detective and when he falls asleep, he dreams of being Sherlock Jr., the world’s greatest detective.
• Kathryn McGuire as The Girl – The daughter of a fairly wealthy man, whom the Projectionist is in love with. In the dream, she must be saved by Sherlock Jr.
• Joe Keaton as The Girl’s Father – A man who is wealthier than most. He does not want his daughter to marry a thief. In the dream, he is a very rich man.
• Erwin Connelly as The Hired Man / The Butler – A hired man of the girl’s father. In the dream, he is a co-conspirator in the theft of the necklace.
• Ward Crane as The Local Sheik / The Villain – A poor scoundrel that has his eyes on the girl. He steals the pocket watch, and in the dream, he is the villain who steals the necklace.
• Ford West as Theatre Manager / Gillette, Sherlock’s assistant – The projectionist’s boss in the real world. In the dream, he is the assistant. (uncredited)
• Jane Connelly as The Mother (uncredited)
• George Davis as Conspirator (uncredited)
• Doris Deane as Girl Who Loses Dollar Outside Cinema (uncredited)
• Christine Francis as Candy Store Girl (uncredited)
• Betsy Ann Hisle as Little Girl (uncredited)
• Kewpie Morgan as Conspirator (uncredited)
• Steve Murphy as Conspirator (uncredited)
• John Patrick as Conspirator (uncredited)