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Sherlock, Jr.

Play trailer Poster for Sherlock, Jr. 1924 48m Comedy Drama Action Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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87% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station -- only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theater, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.
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Sherlock, Jr.

Sherlock, Jr.

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Critics Consensus

Sherlock, Jr. showcases enough of Buster Keaton's brilliance to make it well worth a watch, even if the laughs don't flow quite as freely as they do with some of his other features.

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Critics Reviews

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Kenneth Taylor Los Angeles Times Feb 23, 2024
As the small town motion-picture projectionist who is studying to be a detective on the side, Keaton is seen to great advantage. The picture seems to be funnier than Our Hospitality, measuring well up to the standard of Three Ages. Go to Full Review Roy Ellarcotte Detroit Free Press Feb 23, 2024
[Sherlock, Jr.] is about the best thing this "straight face" comedian has done. Go to Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times Feb 23, 2024
There is an extremely good comedy which will give you plenty of amusement, so long as you permit Mr. Keaton to glide into his work with his usual deliberation. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jun 14, 2026
3/4
...Keaton offers up a series of jaw-dropping stunts that prove effective (to say the least) at sustaining one’s interest for the duration of the movie’s 45 minutes... Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Dec 28, 2025
4/4
Fans of The General will disagree, but this absolutely dazzling comedy is perhaps the best of all Keaton features. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Apr 26, 2025
No other silent film turns logic on its head with such grace and comic hilarity. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cinema S @cinema_sensei Aug 25, 2026 I honestly expected a 1924 silent comedy to feel much more dated, but this surprised me. Buster Keaton's physical comedy is incredible, and some of the visual tricks genuinely made me wonder how they pulled them off with the technology of the time. The sequence where he enters the movie screen is still ridiculously clever, and the motorcycle chase is insane. It's only around 45 minutes, but there's so much creativity packed into it. For me, this isn't just an important old film, it's genuinely entertaining cinema that still works a century later. See more Jian B @RT75272519 Jul 29, 2025 Truly one of the best representation of timeless humour. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3, 2025 48 minutes is too short, God **** it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Alexsander B @Aelxs May 22, 2025 Simply incredible and revolutionary, a film full of playful and poetic adventures, it's a must-see for any self-respecting film buff. See more A M @Amazer May 12, 2024 Revolutionary, Keaton was one of the great geniuses of his century See more Jarrod R @RT27243469 Apr 9, 2024 A century old this year and it HOLDS UP! (Like a fine wine being smashed through a window) This is easily one of my favorite silent movies and had me laughing throughout. Also had many moments when I thought, "how did they do THAT?!" Outstanding physical comedy as always from the legendary Buster Keaton See more Read all reviews
Sherlock, Jr.

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Cast & Crew

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Buster Keaton

Director

Buster Keaton

Sherlock, Jr.

Kathryn McGuire

The Girl

Ward Crane

The Sheik

Joe Keaton

The Girl's Father

Erwin Connelly

The Hired Man

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Sherlock, Jr.

Sherlock, Jr. (1924) Sherlock, Jr. (1924) Sherlock, Jr. (1924) Sherlock, Jr. (1924) Sherlock, Jr. (1924) Sherlock, Jr. (1924) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A kindly movie projectionist (Buster Keaton) longs to be a detective. When his fiancée (Kathryn McGuire) is robbed by a local thief (Ward Crane), the poor projectionist is framed for the crime. Using his amateur detective skills, the projectionist follows the thief to the train station -- only to find himself locked in a train car. Disheartened, he returns to his movie theater, where he falls asleep and dreams that he is the great Sherlock Holmes.
Director
Buster Keaton
Producer
Joseph M. Schenck, Buster Keaton
Screenwriter
Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Image Entertainment Inc., Kino Video
Production Co
Buster Keaton Productions Inc. [us]
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Action, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 21, 1924, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 9, 2019
Runtime
48m
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