Der Mann, der Sherlock Holmes war (1937)

(The Man Who Was Sherlock Holmes)

Directed by: Karl Hartl

Produced by: Alfred Greven

Written by: Karl Hartl

Robert Adolf Stemmle

Music by: Hans Sommer

Cinematography: Fritz Arno Wagner

Edited by: Gertrud Hinz-Nischwitz

Production company: UFA

Distributed by: UFA

Release date: 15 July 1937

Running time: 112 minutes

Country: Germany Reich

Language: German

Starring:

Hans Albers: Morris Flint

Heinz Rühmann: Macky McPherson

Marieluise Claudius: Mary Berry

Hansi Knoteck: Jane Berry

Hilde Weissner: Madame Ganymare

Günther Ballier: Detective

Paul Bildt: Lachender Mann

Erich Dunskus: Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department

Angelo Ferrari: Gangster Fred on the express train

Lothar Geist: Erwin Wutzke

Aribert Grimmer: Detective

Harry Hardt: Freds Kumpel Billy

Clemens Hasse: Ganove Peter

Edwin Jürgensen: Prosecutor

Hans Junkermann: Exzellenz Vangon

Ernst Legal: Dieter Jean

Paul Schwed: The long Poll

F.W. Schröder-Schrom: Police director

Willi Schur: Railway official

Théo Tony: Detective

Ernst Waldow: Hotel detective

Erich Walter: Hotel manager

Heinz Wemper: Administrator of the Lombard house

Walter Werner: Dr. Balderin

Plot:

Hans Albers plays the detective Morris Flynn, and Heinz Rühmann his assistant Macky McMacpherson. They stop a train to Brussels at night, and due to their behaviour and clothes, personnel believe that they are Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This is indeed Flynn's and McMacpherson's intention, but they claim not to be the famous detective and his friend, and they urge them not to tell anybody. They interrogate people in order to make their cover perfect, among them two attractive sisters, Mary and Jane Berry, who travel to accept their uncle's heir.

In Brussels the would-be Holmes and Watson stay at Hotel Palace, and immediately police asks them to solve a case. During the 1910 World Exposition, stamps have been stolen and replaced by counterfeits. Observed and later attacked by gangsters, Flynn and McMacpherson find out that the two sisters' uncle has been the forger and boss of the gang. Their working place is found in the cellar of the uncle's castle the sisters inherited.

Flynn and McMacpherson are put on trial for impersonating the famous detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend. Then a laughing man stands up, who had observed the duo several times, and reveals himself as Arthur Conan Doyle. He explains that Holmes and Watson are fictional characters created by himself. Flynn and McMacpherson get engaged with Mary and Jane Berry.