Arthur Wontner (21 January 1875 – 10 July 1960) was a British actor best known for playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's master detective Sherlock Holmes in five films from 1931 to 1937.
Career
Wontner's acting career began on the stage where he played such roles as Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet, Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice, Bunny Manders in Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman and Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers (1930, West End). In 1926, Wontner appeared in The Captive alongside Basil Rathbone, both of whom went on to play Sherlock Holmes on film.
Sherlock Holmes
Wontner landed the role of Sherlock Holmes thanks to his performance of Holmes imitation Sexton Blake in a 1930 stage production. He played the famed sleuth in five films from 1931 to 1937.
The Sleeping Cardinal (1931) (US title: Sherlock Holmes' Fatal Hour), based on Doyle's two stories, "The Final Problem" and "The Adventure of the Empty House" The Missing Rembrandt (1932) (still considered lost), based on "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton" The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932) The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935), based on The Valley of Fear Silver Blaze (1937) (US title: Murder at the Baskervilles, release 1941), based on "The Adventure of Silver Blaze"
Of the five films in which Wontner portrayed Sherlock Holmes, The Missing Rembrandt is no longer available. It is officially a lost film.
Silver Blaze was renamed Murder at the Baskervilles on its US release in order to make the most of the publicity which had been generated by Basil Rathbone's version of The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Wonter was considered to have a strong resemblance to Sidney Paget's drawings of Holmes featured in The Strand Magazine. After seeing The Sleeping Cardinal, Vincent Starrett said "Surely no better Sherlock Holmes than Arthur Wontner is likely to be seen and heard in pictures, in our time."
Personal life
Wontner's son became the well-known hotelier and Lord Mayor of London Sir Hugh Wontner.
Selected filmography
Temptation's Hour (1916) Lady Windermere's Fan (1916) - Lord Darlington The Bigamist (1916) - Tony Henderson Bonnie Prince Charlie (1923) - Lord Kingsburgh Eugene Aram (1924) - Eugene Aram The Diamond Man (1924) - Lady Marshalt The Infamous Lady (1928) - The K.C. The Sleeping Cardinal (1931) - Sherlock Holmes A Gentleman of Paris (1931) - Judge Le Fevre Condemned to Death (1932) - Sir Charles Wallington The Missing Rembrandt (1932) - Sherlock Holmes The Sign of Four (1932) - Sherlock Holmes The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935) - Sherlock Holmes Royal Cavalcade (1935) - Minor Role (uncredited) Line Engaged (1935) - Insp. Morland Dishonour Bright (1936) - Judge Second Bureau (1936) - Col. Gueraud Thunder in the City (1937) - Sir Peter Storm in a Teacup (1937) - Fiscal Silver Blaze (1937) - Sherlock Holmes The Live Wire (1937) - Montell Just like a Woman (1938) - Escubar The Terror (1938) - Col. Redmayne 13 Men and a Gun (1938) - Captain Kate Plus Ten (1938) - Colonel Westhanger Old Iron (1938) - Judge The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) - Embassy Counsellor Blanche Fury (1948) - Lord Rudford The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) - Lord Grenville Brandy for the Parson (1952) - Major Glockleigh Genevieve (1953) - Old Gentleman Sea Devils (1953) - Baron de Baudrec Three Cases of Murder (1955) - Leader of the House (segment "Lord Mountdrago") (uncredited) (final film role)