Fans of Sherlock Holmes are applauding French historians – who’ve unearthed a long-lost Holmes silent film – almost 100 years after it was made.

It stars famed Holmes actor William Gillette.

The American actor played the detective approximately 1300 times on stage – after he launched the part in 1899.

Gillette is credited with originating the detective’s trademark deerstalker hat.

The 1916 film was found earlier this month in the vaults of the French film archive – which is currently working on a digital restoration of the reels.

The reborn footage will be shown at the archive’s film festival in January – before a screening at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival next May.