100-year-old ‘Sherlock’ screened on Odessa’s Potyomkin Steps

16 July, Odessa’s Treasure of European Film Culture – the Potyomkin Steps – gathered around 10,000 spectators for an open-air screening of the international silent film classics.

Such grand screenings have become a traditional cherry on top of the Odessa International Film Festival, this year marking its 7^th edition.

1916 Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Bertheletis the world’s first film about the famous detective, and celebrates its 100 anniversary this year.

The film had long been considered lost, until a year ago it was found in the Cinémathèque’s collection in Paris. Sherlock Holmes is played by William Gillette, who is actually considered responsible for Holme’s widely accepted image, namely, the deerstalker hat and the calabash pipe. Arthur Conan Doyle himself recommended Gillette for the role.

The screening on the Potyomkin Steps boasted of the unique music score, created especially for the event by famous composer Donald Sosin, who presented the film and thanked the Symphony Orchestra of the Odessa National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, managed by conductor Ihor Shavruk, who premiered the score.

‘I’m very glad to be here in Odessa, this is the second time me and my family are in this very beautiful city. This is such an amasing experience to be standing here and seeing all of you’, Sosin said.

‘William Gillette was the first Sherlock Holmes, and when you see him, you will really understand, what a great actor he was’, added the composer.

To remind, this year Odessa hosts the 7th International Film Festival.

Aleksandra Demskaya, EMPR

Tags: movie odessa oiff