Open ClassicCINEMA
Back to the collection

OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 712

Sherlock, Jr.

192445 minUnited States
ComedyAdventureRomance
Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs
44:05
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Buster Keaton · Public domain

Synopsis

A cinema projectionist studies detective work and hopes to impress the woman he loves. When a rival frames him for theft, his amateur investigation goes badly. Back in the projection booth, a dream lets him enter the film on screen and become the master detective he cannot yet manage to be outside it.

Cast

DirectorsBuster Keaton

Behind the scenes

Keaton builds the central fantasy around a character crossing into a projected movie. Carefully matched positions and edits make changes of setting seem to happen around his body, turning film technique itself into a source of physical comedy.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

Audience rating

Loading ratings…

Keep exploring

Collection