Peter Cook summed up the problems with this would-be-outrageous parody of the Sherlock Holmes stories during an interview with comedy historian Roger Wilmut. In short, Paul Morrissey - best known for his occasionally engaging collaborations with Andy Warhol - was a big fan of British comedy, and apparently enjoyed cordial relationships with most of the performers on the set, but asking him to actually direct a British comedy was like asking Cook to direct an improvised film about homeless junkies in Los Angeles - not at all compatible. In his posthumously published diaries, Kenneth Williams reveals that he apparently had a fun time on the set of this film (and he turns in one of his most subtle, least characteristic performances in the progress), but was hugely disappointed by the end result - what seemed hilarious on paper came across as forced and laboured on the screen, and to be fair, you can see his point. ('And they led me by the point to the police station', as Dudley Moore might have added...)
In short, the film is a mess. Cook plays Holmes with a muted Jewish accent, Moore plays Watson with a slightly amusing Welsh accent, and the rest of the cast are left to fend for themselves. But what a cast it is! In fact, it's worth persevering with this one just to see Terry-Thomas, Spike Milligan, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith, Henry Woolf and all the other lovely old comedians and character actors who seem to pop up in cameo roles every few minutes. Plus, there's the voluptuous Dana Gillespie who has an enjoyable scene with Moore and Griffith. Hamish, the donkey-sized Irish Wolfhound who almost stole the show from his human co-stars in 1975's Carry On Behind, puts in a memorable appearance too. Fans of Cook and Moore's Derek and Clive tapes will be amused to hear Moore using his seedy pervert voice from the 'Members Only' sketch during the otherwise baffling inclusion of the 'One Leg Too Few' sketch.
Technically, the film isn't too shabby. The widescreen photography gives it a lavish look, the lighting is fine, the sets and costumes are often impressive and Moore's soundtrack score is as good as you'd expect from an accomplished pianist and composer. It's hardly laugh-a-minute stuff, but there are worse ways of spending ninety minutes. Those who are claiming it to be the nadir of British comedy obviously haven't seen some of the real stinkers that emerged at around the same time, such as What's Up Superdoc (1978) - and the less said about more recent, yet infinitely more woeful offering such as the Harry Hill, Keith Lemon and Mrs Brown's Boys films, the better!
In conclusion, then... a decent-looking film full of good actors and familiar faces, lumbered by a dodgy script and an unsuitable director, yet it still manages to be a fun and undemanding watch. Try it, you might like it!
In short, the film is a mess. Cook plays Holmes with a muted Jewish accent, Moore plays Watson with a slightly amusing Welsh accent, and the rest of the cast are left to fend for themselves. But what a cast it is! In fact, it's worth persevering with this one just to see Terry-Thomas, Spike Milligan, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith, Henry Woolf and all the other lovely old comedians and character actors who seem to pop up in cameo roles every few minutes. Plus, there's the voluptuous Dana Gillespie who has an enjoyable scene with Moore and Griffith. Hamish, the donkey-sized Irish Wolfhound who almost stole the show from his human co-stars in 1975's Carry On Behind, puts in a memorable appearance too. Fans of Cook and Moore's Derek and Clive tapes will be amused to hear Moore using his seedy pervert voice from the 'Members Only' sketch during the otherwise baffling inclusion of the 'One Leg Too Few' sketch.
Technically, the film isn't too shabby. The widescreen photography gives it a lavish look, the lighting is fine, the sets and costumes are often impressive and Moore's soundtrack score is as good as you'd expect from an accomplished pianist and composer. It's hardly laugh-a-minute stuff, but there are worse ways of spending ninety minutes. Those who are claiming it to be the nadir of British comedy obviously haven't seen some of the real stinkers that emerged at around the same time, such as What's Up Superdoc (1978) - and the less said about more recent, yet infinitely more woeful offering such as the Harry Hill, Keith Lemon and Mrs Brown's Boys films, the better!
In conclusion, then... a decent-looking film full of good actors and familiar faces, lumbered by a dodgy script and an unsuitable director, yet it still manages to be a fun and undemanding watch. Try it, you might like it!
Tell Your Friends