Okay, imagine the fictional Sherlock Holmes' drug habit and obsessions are getting out of hand, and he's manipulated into getting treatment from the historical Dr. Sigmund Freud. You might think you'd get some sort of grim tale of how suffering relates to genius, or a serious meeting of minds. But the makers of this lovely film went with a comic mystery, with only touches of deeper drama. Like "Shakespeare In Love" the filmmakers may have hoped that they would make a movie that was more than fluff, and like "SOL" it isn't, it's just particularly good fluff.
The mystery isn't really much, something about a kidnapped actress and corrupt nobles, but the actual crimes are really beside the point. One watches this film to see the sparkling byplay between the super-rational Holmes and the seemingly more mystical Freud. And like a lot of good comedies there are moments of seriousness (drugs and paranoia don't let go easily, not even in movie comedies); but the filmmakers wisely keep the melodrama in check, offering more wit and action than psychological depth.
The leading performances are everything one could hope for. Nicol Williamson is quite a perfect Holmes - cool and brilliant on the surface, with a madness underneath that frightens everyone, including himself. Alan Arkin (whom I love enough to marry) as Dr. Freud is a delight as the stodgy young doctor who finds himself involved in an adventure, and much to his surprise finds himself having the time of his life. Robert Duval as Dr. Watson isn't nearly as much fun, but then he doesn't get any of the good lines. Vanessa Redgrave, Joel Grey, Lawrence Olivier, and Samantha Eggar are wasted in supporting roles; Toby the dog has better scenes although Vanessa looks incredible with her sweeping period hairdo. Herbert Ross' direction is so charming and lively that one even forgives him for ending a Sherlock Holmes with a chase scene - because it's such a *good* chase scene. There's even a nice bouncy score keeping everything moving.
This is a good movie, well made and enjoyable, by all means watch it when you want something that's both fun and clever.
(P.S. And if you can't live without more Sherlock Holmes comedies: "Without A Clue" is both hilarious and original. Also recommended is "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes", which has some very funny comedy parts in the first half your, before becoming a good gothic-romantic mystery. Sadly inferior are Gene Wilder's "Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" and the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore version of "The Hound Of The Baskervilles".)
(P.P.S. Itty tiny spoiler There is no "7%" involved in the solution to the crime. Don't wait for it.)
The mystery isn't really much, something about a kidnapped actress and corrupt nobles, but the actual crimes are really beside the point. One watches this film to see the sparkling byplay between the super-rational Holmes and the seemingly more mystical Freud. And like a lot of good comedies there are moments of seriousness (drugs and paranoia don't let go easily, not even in movie comedies); but the filmmakers wisely keep the melodrama in check, offering more wit and action than psychological depth.
The leading performances are everything one could hope for. Nicol Williamson is quite a perfect Holmes - cool and brilliant on the surface, with a madness underneath that frightens everyone, including himself. Alan Arkin (whom I love enough to marry) as Dr. Freud is a delight as the stodgy young doctor who finds himself involved in an adventure, and much to his surprise finds himself having the time of his life. Robert Duval as Dr. Watson isn't nearly as much fun, but then he doesn't get any of the good lines. Vanessa Redgrave, Joel Grey, Lawrence Olivier, and Samantha Eggar are wasted in supporting roles; Toby the dog has better scenes although Vanessa looks incredible with her sweeping period hairdo. Herbert Ross' direction is so charming and lively that one even forgives him for ending a Sherlock Holmes with a chase scene - because it's such a *good* chase scene. There's even a nice bouncy score keeping everything moving.
This is a good movie, well made and enjoyable, by all means watch it when you want something that's both fun and clever.
(P.S. And if you can't live without more Sherlock Holmes comedies: "Without A Clue" is both hilarious and original. Also recommended is "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes", which has some very funny comedy parts in the first half your, before becoming a good gothic-romantic mystery. Sadly inferior are Gene Wilder's "Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" and the Peter Cook/Dudley Moore version of "The Hound Of The Baskervilles".)
(P.P.S. Itty tiny spoiler There is no "7%" involved in the solution to the crime. Don't wait for it.)