London on Location | The Sign of Four

Director: Maurice Elvey

Release Date: May 1923

It was reported in the Kinematograph Weekly, 16 November 1922, that ‘One of the big features of the Stoll film version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous Sherlock Holmes story, “The Sign of Four,” is to consist of a race to catch the arch-villain, Abdullah Khan, before he can escape from England on board his private yacht, and Maurice Elvey, the director of the picture, is going to film this race within the next week or two. It will be quite unlike any race that has hitherto appeared on the screen, for its course is laid all through London from Twickenham Ferry to Limehouse Reach, and whereas Abdullah Khan will travel by road in a Rolls-Royce past some of the most famous landmarks in the Metropolis, Sherlock Holmes will, perforce, speed down the Thames in his quarry’s electric launch. Since the road route is so very much shorter than the river route, it stands to reason that Abdullah Khan will reach his yacht and manage to get away in it; but thereafter the race will be confined to London’s waterway. Occasionally glimpses of a specially drawn map of London will serve to show the respective positions of pusuer and pursued and to work up the excitement.’ It’s unknown if the ‘specially drawn map’ made it to the finished film but it did not feature in the fuzzy and somewhat butchered looking print I watched. When the Daily News (London) reviewed the film, 4 May 1923, it noted that the car and boat race ‘is so arranged that to a Londoner, at any rate, the pursuit becomes very exciting.’ It appears that a crisper and sharper print might clear up a few of these ‘unidentified’ shots.

Capture 1

Unidentified. Presented as Baker Street the home of Sherlock Holmes.

Capture 2

In a flashback a character recalls a visit to St. James's Palace with the band marching in Marlborough Road.

Capture 3

Unidentified. The same character also recalls leaving 'a picture theatre'.

Capture 4

Unidentified. Presented as a house in Twickenham.

Capture 5

Unidentified. The police keeping an eye on an organ grinder, and his monkey, known to be working near the Twickenham house.

Capture 6

Eille Norwood, playing Sherlock Holmes, arriving at his home at about 110 Baker Street.

Capture 7

As Norwood leaves his Baker Street home, en route to Twickenham, the corner of Bickenhall Street comes into view.

Capture 8

Unidentified. En route to Twickenham.

Capture 9

Unidentified. Heading to Twickenham.

Capture 10

Unidentified. Closer to Twickenham.

Capture 11

Unidentified. Nearer to Twickenham.

Capture 12

Unidentified. Would it be helpful if more of that sign, appearing to read 'Holly So....', were visible?

Capture 13

Unidentified. Nearing the Twickenham house.

Capture 14

Unidentified. The Twickenham house and some of its neighbours.

Capture 15

The chase from the Twickenham house, en route to the river front at Barking, begins with Khan's car on Richmond Bridge with Twickenham in the distance.

Capture 16

Norwood in pursuit having just passed Richmond Bridge.

Capture 17

Passing Kew Bridge.

Capture 18

I'd like to thank David Warwick for pointing out that the car is heading north east along Rocks Lane with Barnes Station to the left.

Capture 19

Passing Kew Railway Bridge.

Capture 20

On Hammersmith Bridge.

Capture 21

Passing Barnes Bridge.

Capture 22

Uncertain. The car reaches what appears to be Hammersmith Broadway facing east with Shepherd's Bush Road to the left and Hammersmith Road in the distance to the right.