A Study in Scarlet

A loose — very loose — adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's first Sherlock Holmes novel, reimagined as a London-set mystery involving a secret society whose members agree to share their estates upon death, creating a strong motive for murder. Reginald Owen plays Holmes (becoming the first actor to play both Watson and Holmes on screen), and Anna May Wong delivers a sharp performance as a key figure in the conspiracy. The film bears almost no resemblance to Doyle's original story, which is set primarily in Utah, but it's an entertaining whodunit on its own terms, with atmospheric London settings and a twisty plot. Wong fans will appreciate seeing her in a rare non-stereotypical role — intelligent, self-possessed, and integral to the mystery.