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{{Short description|English actor, director, playwright (1861–1948)}}
'''Eille Norwood''' (11 October 1861 - 24 December 1948) was a British actor who spent most of his screen career playing ]. He was born Anthony Edward Brett in ], ]. He apparently took his stage name from his lady friend Eileen and the town of Norwood. From 1921 to 1923 he played Holmes in forty seven silent films (45 shorts and 2 features) directed by ] and ]. ] played Watson in nearly all these films. For the final Holmes film, however, Hubert Willis was replaced by ]. Given that some Sherlock Holmes stories had not even been written yet, Norwood stands as the actor who played Holmes the most times in existing stories.
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Eille Norwood
| image = Eille Norwood, silent film actor (SAYRE 7500).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Norwood as ] in 1923
| birth_name = Anthony Edward Brett
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1861|10|11}}
| birth_place = ], ]
| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|df=yes|1948|12|24|1861|10|11}}}}
| death_place = ], England
| resting_place = ], ]
| other_names =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* Director
* Playwright
}}
| years active = 1884–1934
| spouse = {{Marriage|]|1905<!--As marriage ended with his death, year is omitted per Template:Marriage instructions--->}}
| children =
| relatives =
| signature =
}}
'''Eille Norwood''' (born '''Anthony Edward Brett'''; 11 October 1861 – 24 December 1948) was an English stage actor, director, and playwright best known today for playing ] in a series of silent films.

==Early life==
He was born 11 October 1861 in ] as '''Anthony Edward Brett''' and attended ] (B.A. 1883). Norwood took his stage name from a woman he once loved named Eileen and ] in southeast ], where he lived.<ref>The Eagle, Vol. 25-6, June 1904, p. 344</ref>

==Career==
His first professional stage appearance was in 1884 with ]'s Shakespearean company. In 1886-7 he worked for ]'s company. He was active on the stage until 1892, when he became ill and did not recover until about 1899. After acting in a revival of his play ''The Noble Art'', retitled ''The Talk of the Town'', in 1901, he resumed regular stage work. For some years he was employed by ], appearing for him in ''My Lady of Rosedale'' (1904), ''Captain Drew on Leave'' (1906), and '']'' (1907). Among many other roles, he toured in 1909 as ] in a stage version of the amateur detective. He made his film debut in 1911.<ref>"Eille Norwood", Who's Who in the Theatre, Volume 3, ed. John Parker, Boston: Small, Maynard, and Co., 1912, p. 372</ref> He directed the successful production of ], which ran in London from December 1914 to July 1916.

] pictured with ] as ]]]
From 1921 to 1923 Norwood played Holmes in forty-seven silent films (45 shorts and 2 features) directed by ] and ]. The Golden Pince-Nez was restored by the ] in 2024 and screened for the first time since 1922.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alberge |first=Dalya |date=2024-08-28 |title=Silent Sherlock Holmes film to be screened for first time since 1922 release |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/aug/28/silent-sherlock-holmes-film-to-be-screened-for-first-time-since-1922-release |access-date=2024-08-28 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> ] played Watson in nearly all these films. For the final Holmes film, however, Hubert Willis was replaced by ]. Until ]'s run in the tv series ] (2012 - 2019), Norwood had played Holmes more times than any other actor in film or TV.

Norwood was earlier a stage actor associated with the ] company, and he wrote several plays which were produced commercially:
*''Chalk and Cheese'' (one act)
*''Hook and Eye''
*''The Talk of the Town'' (previous title ''The Noble Art''), about a fusty old solicitor who is hypnotised into competing in a boxing tournament. The play was first performed at the Theatre Royal in York in 1892,<ref>The Era Almanack and Annual, ed. Edward Ledger, 1893, p. 62</ref> and then in 1893 at Terry's in London with ] as Andrew Fullalove, and fifteen years later in Australia, with ] in the lead part.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14853966 |title="The Talk of the Town". |newspaper=] |date=28 January 1907 |access-date=31 December 2015 |page=5 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
*''The Grey Room'' (with ]) - produced in York in 1911<ref>"Max Pemberton", Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers, ed. John Reilly, London: Macmillan, 1980, p. 1157</ref>

Following his appearance in the films, Norwood appeared on the London stage as Sherlock Holmes in '']'' in October 1923. The play was successful enough that it was toured in Europe without Norwood after its London run.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-12 |title=The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: Eille Norwood: the Silent Detective – Black Gate |url=https://www.blackgate.com/2014/05/12/the-public-life-of-sherlock-holmes-eille-norwood-the-silent-detective/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> Norwood continued to appear on the London stage until at least 1934.<ref>The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, J. P. Wearing, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014, p. 401</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1905 Norwood married fellow English stage and silent film actress ] (1878-1949). His step-daughter actress Jane Grahame (1899-1981) married actor/writer ], creator of another well-known English detective character, ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-02-04 |title=Ernest Dudley |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ernest-dudley-465491.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> In his later years he lived at Corner Cottage, Waverley Lane in ] in ].<ref></ref>

Norwood died in London on Christmas Eve 1948 at age 87. He is buried in ] in Farnham in Surrey.<ref></ref>


==Quote== ==Quote==
*Conan Doyle himself admired Norwood's portrayal, saying: "His wonderful impersonation of Holmes has amazed me."<ref></ref> *Sir ] himself admired Norwood's portrayal, saying: "His wonderful impersonation of Holmes has amazed me."<ref></ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1911|| '']'' || James Stuart || Short
|-
|1916|| ''The Charlatan'' || Dr. O'Kama ||
|-
|1916|| ''Temptation's Hour'' || ||
|-
|1920|| '']'' || Dr. Jonathon Capper ||
|-
|1920|| '']'' || The Tavern Knight ||
|-
|1921|| ''A Scandal in Bohemia'' || Sherlock Holmes ||
|-
|1921|| '']'' || Gaston de Marsac ||
|-
|1921|| '']'' || Sherlock Holmes ||
|-
|1921|| '']'' || Lord Pryse ||
|-
|1922|| '']'' || Francis ||
|-
|1922|| ''Charles Augustus Milverton'' || Sherlock Holmes ||
|-
|1922|| ''The Crimson Circle'' || ||
|-
|1923|| '']'' || Sherlock Holmes || (final film role)
|}


==See also== ==See also==
*] *]
*] *]

==Selected filmography==
* '']'' (1920)
* '']'' (1921)
* '']'' (1921)
* '']'' (1923)


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}
*Barnes, Alan. Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Richmond, Surrey: Reynolds and Hearn Ltd., 2002. *Barnes, Alan. Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Richmond, Surrey: Reynolds and Hearn Ltd., 2002.
*Rothwell-Smith, Paul. Silent Films! the Performers (2011) ISBN: 9781907540325


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{imdb name | id=0636385 | name=Eille Norwood }}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Eille Norwood |sopt=t}}
*{{IMDb name | id=0636385 | name=Eille Norwood }}

{{Authority control}}


{{Authority control|VIAF=58717387}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME = Norwood, Eille
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 11 October 1861
| PLACE OF BIRTH = York, Yorkshire, England, UK
| DATE OF DEATH = 24 December 1948
| PLACE OF DEATH = London, England, UK
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Norwood, Eille}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Norwood, Eille}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 23:09, 23 November 2024

English actor, director, playwright (1861–1948)

Eille Norwood
Norwood as Sherlock Holmes in 1923
BornAnthony Edward Brett
(1861-10-11)11 October 1861
York, England
Died24 December 1948(1948-12-24) (aged 87)
London, England
Resting placeGreen Lane Cemetery, Farnham, Surrey
Occupations
  • Actor
  • Director
  • Playwright
Years active1884–1934
Spouse Ruth Mackay ​(m. 1905)​

Eille Norwood (born Anthony Edward Brett; 11 October 1861 – 24 December 1948) was an English stage actor, director, and playwright best known today for playing Sherlock Holmes in a series of silent films.

Early life

He was born 11 October 1861 in York as Anthony Edward Brett and attended St John's College, Cambridge (B.A. 1883). Norwood took his stage name from a woman he once loved named Eileen and Norwood in southeast London, where he lived.

Career

His first professional stage appearance was in 1884 with F. R. Benson's Shakespearean company. In 1886-7 he worked for Edward Compton's company. He was active on the stage until 1892, when he became ill and did not recover until about 1899. After acting in a revival of his play The Noble Art, retitled The Talk of the Town, in 1901, he resumed regular stage work. For some years he was employed by Charles Wyndham, appearing for him in My Lady of Rosedale (1904), Captain Drew on Leave (1906), and The Liars (1907). Among many other roles, he toured in 1909 as Raffles in a stage version of the amateur detective. He made his film debut in 1911. He directed the successful production of The Man Who Stayed at Home, which ran in London from December 1914 to July 1916.

Eille Norwood as Sherlock Holmes pictured with Hubert Willis as Dr. Watson

From 1921 to 1923 Norwood played Holmes in forty-seven silent films (45 shorts and 2 features) directed by Maurice Elvey and George Ridgwell. The Golden Pince-Nez was restored by the BFI National Archive in 2024 and screened for the first time since 1922. Hubert Willis played Watson in nearly all these films. For the final Holmes film, however, Hubert Willis was replaced by Arthur Cullin. Until Jonny Lee Miller's run in the tv series Elementary (2012 - 2019), Norwood had played Holmes more times than any other actor in film or TV.

Norwood was earlier a stage actor associated with the Brough-Boucicault company, and he wrote several plays which were produced commercially:

  • Chalk and Cheese (one act)
  • Hook and Eye
  • The Talk of the Town (previous title The Noble Art), about a fusty old solicitor who is hypnotised into competing in a boxing tournament. The play was first performed at the Theatre Royal in York in 1892, and then in 1893 at Terry's in London with Arthur Williams as Andrew Fullalove, and fifteen years later in Australia, with Hugh J. Ward in the lead part.
  • The Grey Room (with Max Pemberton) - produced in York in 1911

Following his appearance in the films, Norwood appeared on the London stage as Sherlock Holmes in The Return of Sherlock Holmes in October 1923. The play was successful enough that it was toured in Europe without Norwood after its London run. Norwood continued to appear on the London stage until at least 1934.

Personal life

In 1905 Norwood married fellow English stage and silent film actress Ruth Mackay (1878-1949). His step-daughter actress Jane Grahame (1899-1981) married actor/writer Ernest Dudley, creator of another well-known English detective character, Doctor Morelle. In his later years he lived at Corner Cottage, Waverley Lane in Farnham in Surrey.

Norwood died in London on Christmas Eve 1948 at age 87. He is buried in Green Lane Cemetery in Farnham in Surrey.

Quote

  • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself admired Norwood's portrayal, saying: "His wonderful impersonation of Holmes has amazed me."

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1911 Princess Clementina James Stuart Short
1916 The Charlatan Dr. O'Kama
1916 Temptation's Hour
1920 The Hundredth Chance Dr. Jonathon Capper
1920 The Tavern Knight The Tavern Knight
1921 A Scandal in Bohemia Sherlock Holmes
1921 A Gentleman of France Gaston de Marsac
1921 The Hound of the Baskervilles Sherlock Holmes
1921 Gwyneth of the Welsh Hills Lord Pryse
1922 The Recoil Francis
1922 Charles Augustus Milverton Sherlock Holmes
1922 The Crimson Circle
1923 The Sign of Four Sherlock Holmes (final film role)

See also

References

  1. The Eagle, Vol. 25-6, June 1904, p. 344
  2. "Eille Norwood", Who's Who in the Theatre, Volume 3, ed. John Parker, Boston: Small, Maynard, and Co., 1912, p. 372
  3. Alberge, Dalya (28 August 2024). "Silent Sherlock Holmes film to be screened for first time since 1922 release". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. The Era Almanack and Annual, ed. Edward Ledger, 1893, p. 62
  5. ""The Talk of the Town"". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 28 January 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  6. "Max Pemberton", Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers, ed. John Reilly, London: Macmillan, 1980, p. 1157
  7. "The Public Life of Sherlock Holmes: Eille Norwood: the Silent Detective – Black Gate". 12 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel, J. P. Wearing, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014, p. 401
  9. "Ernest Dudley". The Independent. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995 for Ruth Brett 1949- Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  11. Notable burials- Farnham Town Council website
  12. Where I live: Bradford and West Yorkshire
  • Barnes, Alan. Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Richmond, Surrey: Reynolds and Hearn Ltd., 2002.

External links

Categories: