The Sign of Four

The Sign of Four is a 1923 British silent mystery film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Eille Norwood, Isobel Elsom and Fred Raynham. The film is based on the 1890 novel The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle, and was one of a series of Sherlock Holmes films starring Norwood. Premise Holmes and Watson are called in to investigate a strange murder in South London which appears to have its roots in events in India some years before. Production Previous Watson performer Hubert Willis was replaced by Arthur M. Cullin in the role as director Maurice Elvey felt that Willis was too old to woo the much younger Isobel Elsom as Mary Morstan. Norwood was unimpressed with Cullin in the role although Cullin brought previous experience having played Watson to H. A. Saintsbury's Holmes in The Valley of Fear. The climactic chase on the Thames was shot on location.