THE MUSGRAVE RITUAL (1912). Tinted. French titles

In 1912, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sold the film rights of the Sherlock Holmes character to Éclair. French actor Georges Tréville produced and directed the series as well as starred in the title role of Sherlock Holmes. Filmed in England, each film ran approximately 1,700 feet. The series consists of two-reel films. Only loosely based on Doyle's stories, the Franco-British productions were released in America before reaching the rest of the world.

PLOT:
Sherlock Holmes, the master of all detectives, the clue to the unraveling of this remarkable and unusual mystery. The maid and the butler planned and carried out a daring robbery in which they secured a mysterious ritual which told of a hidden treasure and gave directions for the finding of the money and jewels. Following the directions, the butler and the maid locate the hidden fortune, but coming suddenly in possession of such enormous riches, turned the head of this daring woman. The decision was reached in an instant, "I will have it all," and just as the butler handed out the treasure laden box, she allowed the heavy flag stone to crash down upon him. Imprisoning him in this death trap where the treasure had lain for years. When he arrived on the scene. Holmes wanted a clue. By clever grouping of the servants of the household, he flashed the old parchment hearing the ritual and watched their faces. Only the maid recognized the ritual and her startled look gave Holmes his entering wedge. The forcing of a confession from the woman is quickly brought about in most dramatic fashion.\

CAST:
Georges Treville--Sherlock Holmes
M. Moyse---Dr. Watson
PRODUCTION::
The first three films were released in 1912 and the final five in 1913. This is This film is the only one of the original 8-part series of 1912-1913 to survive.