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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Year: 1970 Classification: Mystery / Suspense Directed: - Billy Wilder Actors/Actresses: - Robert Stephens - Christopher Lee Another look at Sherlock...a good look at Mycroft There are few SHERLOCK HOLMES film adventures that fail to entertain or provide vicarious challenge to join the World's<BR>most famous Consulting Detective(and compadre,Dr. Watson)in whatever criminal "game's a foot".THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (numerous incarnations)and MURDER BY DECREE(a non-Conan Doyle case where Sherlock resovles identity of Jack The Ripper)are often accorded pride of place in cinematic Holmesian annals.THE PRIVATE LIFE of SHERLOCK HOLMES...a classy,if modest imagining by Director Billy Wilder...may bestir renewed interest because of upcoming LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN. Both...particularly the latter...feature 19th Century exploits/machinations of the British Secret Intelligence Service with focus on one ace government deputy and MI-5 superspy named MYCROFT HOLMES. Christopher Lee's cameo as Sherlock's(smarter?)brother and Queen<BR>Victoria's favorite secret agent adds"shaken-not stirred" martini twist making THE PRIVATE LIFE of SHERLOCK HOLMES succeed as kind of Chess Game thriller.The film's been touted as "Billy Wilder's Hysterical Glimpse at the 'Real' Sherlock Holmes" with even some PC-lame homosexual innunedo thrown-in for bad measure.Forget it. Our man Sherlock is God-Save-the-(real)Queen straight as ever;if he occasionally indulges himself in a Seven Per Cent Solution neither Doyle, Watson nor attentive fans seemed to begrudge an extraordinary gentleman hero this failing. THE PRIVATE LIFE is neither(too)extraordinary,nor "bent". With dwarves;the Loch Ness monster;castle keepers;numerous spies and counter-spies competing for an ominous SECRET WEAPON,the story is characteristically non-elementary. It's Top Shelf quality outing with another look at Sherlock and a good look at his mysterious brother,OHMSS, Mycroft Holmes... Very entertaining film Boasting an excellent cast (including Christopher Lee of former Dracula and current Lord of the Rings fame), this 1970 film directed by none other than Billy Wilder engages the redoubtable Sherlock Holmes (well played by Robert Stephens) in a complex tale involving midgets, canaries, Trappist monks, the Loch Ness monster, a beautiful widow, a top secret government project, and a very stuffy Queen Victoria--among other items. Also included are a haughty Russian ballerina, a Stradivarius violin, Sherlock's supercilious but wickedly intelligent brother Mycroft, hints of sexual deviance, and a drunken Dr. Watson. Oh yes, and let's not forget a woman in a wheelchair, a signalling parasol, and a Scottish castle under construction. Put these all together and you get a devilishly entertaining film shot through with Holmes' mordant wit (for which Watson is the perfect foil), and, as well, with his keen intelligence. The only (minor) flaw I found was how it was that Holmes was not able to decipher the real identity of a critical personage in the tale; that person's real identity was supplied by someone other than Sherlock, which was very surprising. Nevertheless, this is a great film that never bores. Laughter, thrills, and puzzles abound. Colin Blakely is Dr. Watson--to a T. The remaining supporting cast is equally fine. A shame this is not yet on DVD. Perhaps someday.... Highly recommended. Wilder's Sherlock Mystery... Wilder spices up the personality of Sherlock Holmes as the master detective enters another remarkable journey into the world of mystery and crime. It all begins with a beautiful lady who appears out of nowhere at Holmes' front door, and it seems as if she suffers from amnesia and a lost husband. However, these mysteries are old news for a genius such as Sherlock Holmes and his companion Dr. Watson. Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is an interesting film, but the overall picture lacks the usual spice that Wilder used to combine into his creations. Buy The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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