Mystery

Comedy

Crime

Adventure

History

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Sir Nigel Films

United Artists

The Mirisch Company

Compton Films

Phalanx Productions

United Kingdom

Deutsch

Français

Pусский

English

Robert Stephens

Colin Blakely

Geneviève Page

Christopher Lee

Tamara Toumanova

Clive Revill

Irene Handl

Mollie Maureen

Stanley Holloway

Catherine Lacey

Peter Madden

Michael Balfour

James Copeland

John Garrie

Godfrey James

Robert Cawdron

Alex McCrindle

Frank Thornton

Paul Hansard

George Benson

Anne Blake

Billy Wilder

Ernest Walter

Miklós Rózsa

Arthur Conan Doyle

I. A. L. Diamond

Christopher Challis

Biddy Chrystal

Tony Inglis

Roy Baker

Lesley De Pettit

Cliff Richardson

Freddie Cooper

Alexandre Trauner

Wally Veevers

Julie Harris

Ernest Gasser

Dudley Messenger

Larry DeWaay

Maurice Binder

Terry Parr

Vernon Dixon

Tom Pevsner

David Blair

Eric Rattray

Gordon K. McCallum

Ivo Nightingale

J. W. N. Daniel

Elaine Schreyeck

Leon Davis

Henry E. Lester

Sherlock Holmes the Man Vs Sherlock Holmes the Legend.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is directed by Billy Wilder who co-writes the screenplay and story with I. A. L. Diamond. Based on characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle, it stars Robert Stephens, Geneviève Page, Colin Blakely, Christopher Lee & Irene Handl. Miklós Rózsa scores the music and cinematography is by Christopher Challis.

There were cases that Sherlock Holmes worked on that were deemed of a "scandalous nature" and not for public knowledge. But Dr. Watson made journals, and as Watson's private deposit box is opened some 50 years later, one such journal now sheds light on one particular tricky case, and one that also delved deep into the private life of the greatest of sleuths.

Billy Wilder film's rarely need an introduction, with a CV that contains Stalag 17, The Apartment, Sunset Boulevard and Some Like It Hot, his output, it's safe to say, is mostly remembered and quite rightly is often praised. The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is not forgotten by Wilder fans, but it most certainly is his most underrated. Originally made as a three hour movie, the film was taken from Wilder and snipped to a two hour picture. So where once there was a four story narrative, weaved together as an episodic humanisation of the "consultant detective", now sits a two story movie. That's it's still a fabulous movie is a towering credit to Wilder and his long time associate, I. A. L. Diamond. With Wilder declaring his displeasure at the final cut of the film, it promptly bombed at the box office. Further lending weight to its reputation as something of a stinker. But time has been kind to it, where the advent of various home format releases and internet discussion forums has seen its stock rise considerably. And rightly so.

Wilder deals an irreverent take on Sherlock Holmes, but one that is not disrespectful to the world created by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's a loving recreation that simply portrays the man as a flawed, yet still genius like, human being: one with his own hang ups and insecurities. Once this has been established in the first third of the movie, and hopefully accepted by the audience, Wilder and co then take us into familiar "case to be solved" territory. Once a bedraggled Geneviève Page turns up at 221B, suffering from amnesia and clearly in need of help, we are whisked along with our intrepid duo on a journey involving canaries, midgets, Trappist monks, Queen Victoria and the Loch Ness Monster. With Sherlock's mysterious brother, Mycroft (Lee), front, centre and very involved too. It may not be a mystery to appease purists of the Holmes literature, but it's real good fun and contains one or two twists and revelations along the way.

Robert Stephens plays Holmes as fey yet articulate, intelligent yet complex, but always with a nod and a wink that surely pleased his knowing director. Colin Blakely is pure effervescence as Watson, excitable and exuberant and perfect comic foil for his more mannered partner. Lee is utterly splendid as the straight laced Mycroft, Page adds a simmering sexuality to the proceedings and Handl is joyously sarcastic as Housekeeper Mrs. Hudson. Look out, too, for celebrated stage and screen actor Stanley Holloway as a gravedigger. Rózsa's score is very upbeat, even for the more reflective moments, further evidence of Wilder having tongue nicely nestled in cheek, and the score sits snugly with Challis' pleasing photography around the Scottish Highlands. Major bonus here is the marvellous sets by Alexandre Trauner, particularly the recreation of Baker Street, for here be a sometimes forgotten cinema art at its grandest.

A crisp script is crisply executed by all involved, this film deserves the credit that is now finally coming its way. 8.5/10

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes • 1970 • Theatrical Trailer

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES (Masters of Cinema) New & Exclusive Trailer

Dan Ireland on THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES

Best Movies

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Cast & Crew

Videos

Cast

Robert Stephens

Colin Blakely

Geneviève Page

Christopher Lee

Tamara Toumanova

Clive Revill

Irene Handl

Mollie Maureen

Stanley Holloway

Catherine Lacey

Box office

More Like This

Diabolique

Chinatown

Strangers on a Train

Planet of the Apes

Mad About the Boy: The Noël Coward Story

Ludwig

Casino Royale

Sherlock Holmes