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Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett
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Sherlock, Jr.
(1924) |
Sherlock, Jr. (1924) is Buster Keaton’s slightly bizarre and very funny spoof of detective films, which features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton and Steve Murphy.
Not financially successful at the time of its release, the film has gained stature over time for its inventiveness and bizarre gags. |
 Kino International
2010 Blu-ray Disc edition
Sherlock Jr. (1924), black & white, 45 minutes, not rated,
with Three Ages (1923), black & white, 63 minutes, not rated, and Man’s Genesis (1912) [excerpt], black & white, 9 minutes, not rated.
Kino International, K679, UPC 7-38329-06792-4.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 Blu-ray Disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Mbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, 10 chapter stops; standard BD keepcase in cardboard slipcover; $34.95.
Release date: 16 November 2010.
Country of origin: USA
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This Blu-ray Disc edition, remastered in high-definition, should be the best available home video edition of Sherlock, Jr, but we are a little disappointed in this HD video transfer that is comprised more of dots rather than smooth greytones. Any still frame from the transfer shows clearly-defined dots in the lighter areas of the image. In motion, the dots make the picture overemphasize filmstock grain. Adjusting the sharpness setting on your monitor will minimize this issue.
The edition features three optional music scores: a small ensemble performance by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra in DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 stereo; a jazzy small ensemble score by the Club Foot Orchestra in 2.0 stereo, which was originally prepared for Kino’s home video editions of the 1990s; and a vintage music score synchronized by Jay Ward in 2.0 mono, which is not any different from some of the cobbled together music scores assembled by small budget video producers. We recommend the Mont Alto score.
The supplemental material includes full-length audio commentary by David Kalat, a fantastic video tour of Keaton filming locations conducted by John Bengston, which is full of awe-inspiring revelations (10 minutes), and a documentary on Sherlock Jr. written by David B. Pearson (23 minutes).
This is our recommended Blu-ray Disc home video edition of Sherlock, Jr.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Kino Classics
2012 Blu-ray Disc edition
The Ultimate Buster Keaton Collection (1920-1937), black & white, 1600 minutes total, not rated,
including Sherlock Jr. (1924), black & white, 45 minutes, not rated.
Kino Lorber, K1087, UPC 7-38329-10872-4.
Fourteen single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 Blu-ray Discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Mbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, 10 chapter stops; four multidisc BD cases in cardboard slipcase; $299.95.
Release date: 11 December 2012.
Country of origin: USA
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This Blu-ray Disc boxset contains the high-definition home video release of Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr. Image quality is as noted in the Blu-ray Disc above from Kino.
There are the same music and audio options available as in the single-disc edition noted above.
This boxset edition of Sherlock Jr. is identical to Kino’s single-disc Blu-ray Disc edition noted above. If you have not already purchased the single-disc editions from Kino, this is a great way to collect Buster’s film in one fell swoop.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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United Kingdom: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.co.uk. Support Silent Era.
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 Kino International
2010 DVD edition
Sherlock Jr. (1924), black & white, 45 minutes, not rated,
with Three Ages (1923), black & white, 63 minutes, not rated, and Man’s Genesis (1912) [excerpt], black & white, 9 minutes, not rated.
Kino International, K716, UPC 7-38329-07162-2.
Two single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), 7.2 Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; standard two-disc BD keepcase in cardboard slipcover; $29.95.
Release date: 16 November 2010.
Country of origin: USA
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This DVD edition, remastered in high-definition, improves on the previous Kino DVD edition of Sherlock, Jr. There is clearer image detail and an improved greyscale range in the picture. One or two shots appear to have been sourced from a very-good but slightly blurry 35mm duplicate print.
The edition features three optional music scores: a small ensemble performance by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra in (possibly) Dolby Digitsl 5.1 and 2.0 stereo; a jazzy small ensemble score by the Club Foot Orchestra in 2.0 stereo, which was originally prepared for Kino’s home video editions of the 1990s; and a vintage music score synchronized by Jay Ward in 2.0 mono, which is not any different from some of the cobbled together music scores assembled by small budget video producers. We recommend the Mont Alto score.
The supplemental material includes full-length audio commentary by David Kalat, a fantastic video tour of Keaton filming locations conducted by John Bengston, which is full of awe-inspiring revelations (10 minutes), and a documentary on Sherlock Jr. written by David B. Pearson (23 minutes), plus a photo gallery (26 images).
This is our recommended DVD home video edition of Sherlock Jr.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Kino on Video
1999 DVD edition
Our Hospitality (1923), black & white, 75 minutes, not rated
Sherlock Jr. (1924), black & white, 44 minutes, not rated.
Kino International, K123DVD, UPC 7-38329-01232-8.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, 3 chapter stops; snapper DVD case (reissued in standard DVD keepcase [retail]) and in slimline DVD keepcase [boxset]); $29.95 (reduced to $24.95).
Release date: 23 November 1999.
Country of origin: USA
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This early DVD edition has been mastered from the same analog video transfer produced by David Shepard for release on VHS videotape and laserdisc earlier in the 1990s. The source print is very-good.
We have come to think that the music score to Sherlock, Jr., composed and performed by the Club Foot Orchestra, is out-of-place with the film and is out-of-sync (here, ahead of the film’s action).
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Alpha Video
2020 DVD edition
Sherlock Jr. (1924), black & white, ? minutes, not rated,
with The Play House (1921), black & white, ? minutes, not rated, The Frozen North (1922), black & white, ? minutes, not rated, and The Paleface (1922), black & white, ? minutes, not rated.
Alpha Home Entertainment, distributed by Oldies.com,
ALP 8311D, UPC 0-89218-83119-4.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $7.98 (raised to $8.98).
Release date: 11 February 2020.
Country of origin: USA
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This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from a 16mm reduction print (or worse, 8mm).
The film is likely accompanied by a compiled music score of preexisting recordings.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Other silent era BUSTER KEATON films available on home video.
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Buster Keaton filmography in The Progressive Silent Film List
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