Customer Reviews

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

While some have ridiculed this Sherlock Holmes' parody, I love it and rejoice at its long-awaited DVD release. Made in 1975, funny man Gene wilder wrote, directed and starred in the film, which also boasts the incomparable talents of the late and truly lamented Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman. It also stars Dom DeLuise and Leo (Rumpole of the Bailey) McKern.

Wilder, a well-schooled actor in parodies having starred earlier in his career with Kahn and Feldman in Mel Brooks' classic and beloved "Young Frankenstein," turned is considerable skills to create this loving send-up of the world's most famous sleuth. Wilder was well-equipped to do so as he is a life-long Conan Doyle fan and bonafide member of the Baker Street Irregulars, a famous real-life Sherlockian scholarly society whose members include Christopher Morley. (In this film, Brooks has a cameo role, but he is heard and not seen.)

In this Victorian era film, Wilder portrays Sigerson Holmes, the "smarter" but very jealous younger brother of the brilliant Consulting Detective, whom he derisively refers to as "Sheer-luck." (In the Conan Doyle canon, "Sigerson" was an alias Sherlock Holmes used during his "missing years" after his falsely believed death-plunge at the Richenback Falls at the hands of his evil nemesis, Professor James Moriarty; while Mycroft Holmes was actually Sherlock's smarter brother.)

In the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, Sigerson begins an investigation, at the request of Sherlock, into the disappearance of a vital cache of government documents. Sherlock and Dr. John Watson leave England to travel to the Continent on another assignment, apparently confounded by the missing document mystery.

Kahn, who in her life was a classically trained singer, was given the opportunity to showcase her impressive vocal talents as Jenny Hill/Bessie Underwood/Opera singer, a compulsive liar and Sigerson's love interest. The film is well worth watching if for nothing else than a zany drawing room musical scene when Sigerson and Jenny first meet, which culminates in the truly unforgettable, "Kangaroo Hop."

Feldman is Sigerson's Watson, Sgt. Orville Sacker of Scotland Yard who possesses "photographic hearing," and who, along with Jenny, help Sigerson recover the documents and thwart Moriarty (with some invaluable behind-the-scenes assistance from Sherlock Holmes!)

McKern is wonderfully evil as the new Moriarty, while DeLuise is a bumbling blackmailer.

This film is fun, wacky, sweet and very off-beat. Kudos to Wilder for choosing to enlist his old partners Kahn and Feldman, providing yet another permanent chapter in their unforgettable and immortal careers!

Like "Young Frankenstein", "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother" is a knowing and affectionate spoof. It does not set out to destroy its target, but to show appreciation for it. Wilder, a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, shows his knowledge of Holmsian lore by including many references and quotations from a number of the stories, though mostly from "The Naval Treaty." Wilder, Kahn and Feldman are once again a wonderful, cohesive trio, Dom DeLuis is a riot as a bizarre and untalented opera singer, and Leo McKern shows both utter strangeness and menace in his role as Moriarty. The film has moments of total manic humor, such as spontaneous singing ("The Kangaroo Hop"); Wilder and guest villain Roy Kinnear having a coach-top battle with a giant shoe and glove taken from businesses they pass; and a hilarious spoof of the opera, "The Masked Ball" with very funny English "translation" from the Italian. McKern and Wilders' final duel in a spooky prop room is genuinely exciting and nicely choreographed and the film perfectly captures the look and sounds of 1890s England, with a nice John Morris music score evoking Korngold, as Wilder wanted him to do.
Everyone clearly had a good time making this film and it shows in the enthusiasm for the material. The film is not out-and-out funny all the way through, but it wasn't designed to be.
At the end, for example, there is a genuinely poignant scene where Sigi has Sacker leave the sought-after Redcliff document in the prop room, clearly realizing that his famous older brother has been watching out for him and will retrieve the document himself. The elder Holmes later plays some violin music to bring Sigi and Jenny back together, and Wilder's look tells us he realizes the old fiddle player is really his older, despised brother.
Wilder's commentary at times is insightful, at other times, he doesn't have much to say. I wanted more behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the production; in the final duel between Holmes and Moriarty, I wanted to know how they created the very effective forced-perspective shot of the wharves below the opera house, making it appear as if the fighters were many floors above the river.
I have great affection for this movie, as both a Sherlock Holmes fan and someone who appreciates Gene Wilder's talent. This is a lost gem, finally available to enjoy again. If you can watch Roy Kinnear hail a taxi with a four-foot-long glove on his hand without laughing, there is no hope for you! And don't forget to drink some sexy wine while you enjoy this film.

I am a huge Gene Wilder fan and loved Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, The World's Greatest Lover, Stir Crazy, etc. This movie however just didn't work for me. With Kahn and Feldmon I thought this would be a winner, especially with Wilder writing and directing. I love his humor, but I just didn't laugh with this movie. I think this one you should rent first if you haven't seen it. It is certainly not for everyone judging by the wide swing of ratings.

This movie is nuts! I'm not sure that i can describe what the movie is about but i'll try.Sherlock Holmes' brother is intrigued by a woman to find a missing document.Otherwise I'm really at a loss on what else it is about. The movie stars some of the funniest people of all-time including Gene Wilder,Madeline Khan,Marty Feldman and Dom Deluise.The movie is hilarious,eventhough the story is confusing.Like i said,it's nuts,but in a good way.The cast bursts out in song and dance out of nowhere and for no real reason,Wilder and one of the bad guys(the father of veruca salt in willy wonka and the chocolate factory)fight atop horse and carriages during a chase with large feet and hand props,wilder and feldman appear suddenly in a large ballroom of people dancing(the outcome of this scene alone is worth the price of admission),and Wilder has to turn-on Khan sexually in order to get the truth out of her,all work in this insane comedy.Deluise is another who gets to put in a memorable performance,but is underused unfortunately.If you are a Wilder fan it should be noted that he also wrote and directed this.It's one of the funniest films i've ever seen but it's not perfect like almost all comedies.The story isn't clear,and maybe that's part of it's charm,but the ending is a disappointment,which always hampers a film.All in all I'd definitely watch this again for the laughs and i recommend this film to everyone as well.I'm betting that most have never even heard of this film and that is a shame as it should not be forgotten.

1974 saw the premiere of the classic Young Frankenstein, with Marty Feldman, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn. In 1975 these legends were assembled for another film - how could they lose ? One Word: Mel Brooks.

Although Mel Brooks expertly directed Young Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother was Gene Wilder's first attempt at directing. After this turkey he's fortunate he was given another chance.

Can't call it uneven - this miss is slow, boring, predictable, and unfunny from start to finish.

Don't bother - what a waste of talent.

As a child, I thought this 70s Sherlock Holmes' parody, was brilliant. Sadly, now, decades later, I see and realize the tarnished elements to the film.

Gene Wilder, fresh from his brilliant performance in Young Frankenstein does do a fine job in the role of a bitter and pompous younger brother to the more known Holmes. However, outside of one case mentioned (that of the Three Testicles, a throw-away line), we have no idea how good of a 'consulting detective he is.' There are moments he is bumbling and then moments where he is clever. And this odd variation is endemic to the entire plot.

We have the wonderful and talented Madeline Kahn as the love interest and mystery lady. Unfortunately, her character never makes any sense - all her scenes are meant to elicit laughs but there is no depth behind her character. Why would someone who is a governess be working as a dance hall singer and an opera singer and be romancing the head of the household? It's a shame as she can only do so much with the material presented. And despite their friendship, the two lack romantic chemistry.

Then, there's Marty Feldman, who is never given enough to do. It's a shame as he's quite a good physical actor. And Dom DeLuise hams up every scene, often for a touch too long.

Fortunately, Leo McKern provides the silver screen with one more memorable Moriarity's filmed. A shocking claim? Not at all. McKern's character, at times whimsical, other times pathologically vicious, steals every scene. You can see that he is a man motivated by his (hilarious) curse to commit a heinous act every 24 minutes. He's not a bumbler (except at math) and his lines are the best written in the movie.

The plot wanders a bit. But generally this is a decent comedy of its era. Not on par with the best of Mel Brooks, or with the other Holmes spoof, Without a Clue, but worth a laugh.

However, what is not worthwhile at all are the extras. The film's original trailer is dull (a monotone voice narrating). And the most disappointing aspect of the entire DVD is Wilder's commentary.

I hate to read into his own narration, but there was the sense that Wilder had grown tired and distant from his early work. There is barely any effort to reference scenes, characters, to give the audience a real sense of what happened in the making of this movie. There are long pauses when he remains quiet, as if he's seeing the film for the first time again. There are moments where he states the obvious. I became so frustrated because I wanted to know why he did scenes this way and that, to hear the clever details. One would never know that Wilder is a comedy legend by the painful way he (barely) relates his commentary.

this movie has been a favourite for generations in my family, it is one of gene wilders lost classics.
i was thrilled to finally get my hands on a copy, and laughed just as much as when i first saw it.
not to be missed, marty feldman, dom deluse,madelaine kahn.
if you are into silly noncence and to lose yourself in a wild goose chase about a stolen document which is revealed during a crazy opera, it is well worth the time.

I love the Sherlock Holmes stories, and I definitely love Gene Wilder, so the marriage of the two is perfect for me. Gene Wilder is always funny, especially in Young Frankenstein, but this movie is a close second. It is truly hilarious (although I will admit some of the amusement comes from not quite getting the obscure jokes). The same side-splitting cast from Young Frankenstein is in this movie and they are singing and dancing as usual. This is a must have DVD for any rainy day; it will put you in a good mood and have you laughing in seconds.

I bought this movie as a gift for my dad as our family loves this film! I watched it a lot as a child. Once again, Gene Wilder had part in a film where the humor was way ahead of its time! Classic good family fun. We all enjoyed reliving the scenes & quoting the whole movie like fools. I would recommend it to all ages. *NOTICE THERE ARE RARELY ANY FOR SALE, I RECEIVED A FAKE (COPY) THAT JUMPS AND SKIPS AND WAS DISAPPOINTED-KNOW YOUR SELLER ON THIS ITEM!

For me this movie just never "clicked," despite some great talent (Feldman, Kahn, Wilder, etc.) and some good gags. The plot just didn't come together, to my great disappointment. Perhaps it's just that my expectations were high because of the previous films I'd seen the cast in.