A film projectionist dreams of becoming a private detective. His wish comes true when he is framed for a theft. Suddenly, he must apply his scant sleuthing skills to save himself. Meanwhile his girlfriend takes a more practical approach. They don’t make ’em like they used to, or do they? This silent classic gives us very early examples of dream sequences, surrealism and movie-within-a-movie devices, used repeatedly in countless films in the 9 decades since Sherlock Jr was released. But the main reasons for watching Buster Keaton’s masterpiece is it’s terrific, brilliantly funny while showcasing Keaton’s supreme physical comedy skills. Not sure about a silent film? Bet you’ll be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

The seamless stunts look effortless, but one required weeks of training and took days to shoot, while another gave Keaton a broken neck. The film tricks that come thick and fast are technically so complex that a century later, fans are still puzzling them out. At the same time, some of the biggest laughs come from simple comic tropes and ideas.

‘Fascinating and enthralling short feature. Buster Keaton created something altogether special here.’ David Parkinson, Empire