CoffeeBeanCinema
'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' (1970) is one of Billy Wilder's last and unfortunately least talked-about films that is easily in the running for one of the top three or so Sherlock Holmes films ever made. The story told in 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' is an original and engaging one to be certain. Although it would be much more accurate to describe the film's story as a mash-up of two different stories (though the same threads can be seen from beginning to end), thought up by Wilder and his frequent co-collaborator I.A.L. Diamond. Holmes rarely encounters these types of cases throughout the character's history on the small or big screens; the narrative takes a closer and less romanticized (one might say... "private") look into Sherlock Holmes' life as a consulting detective. It would be criminal to give too much of the film's plot away - but the short of the long of it is that Holmes and Watson find themselves wrapped up in a strange set of events that leads them into the life of a young woman, international intrigue and perhaps even a monster of legend. However, this particular set of adventures play out much differently than Holmes feels Dr. Watson has famously recounted in the past.As one may expect, legendary auteur director Billy Wilder ('Double Indemnity' (1944), 'The Apartment' (1960)) crafts a marvelous film in 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.' Wilder had originally envisioned - and even shot - this film as a three-hour epic with intermissions, more story lines, etc. as a part of the final cut. Unfortunately, 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' suffered from the age-old tale of intervention from the production studio. Still, even in its lasting taught form, the viewer experiences beautiful photography, a brilliant Miklós Rózsa score and wonderful performances from Colin Blakely as Dr. Watson & Christopher Lee as Mycroft Holmes throughout.Robert Stephens, who had some practice playing the character on the stage before portraying the character in 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes,' is particularly fantastic in the lead role as Sherlock Holmes. As great as the modern-day portrayals from the likes of Robert Downey Jr. and Benedict Cumberbatch are, it is difficult for me not to view Robert Stephens as the greatest screen Sherlock Holmes after seeing this film. The displays of intelligence, humor and fallible nature felt incredibly authentic - Stephens has sold the complexity and humanity of Holmes in a way that I do not think any other actor has yet topped.As the most-portrayed character in movie history, the character of Sherlock Holmes can be seen in many different incarnations for the small and big screens. 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' definitely stands out among the masses as one of the finest screen productions to feature the character. Although the story is not based on anything original Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle created, 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes' represents the character of Sherlock Holmes and world that Doyle created with a degree of quality that most screen incarnations have not been able to reach.
SnoopyStyle
Iconic director Billy Wilder takes on another icon, Sherlock Holmes. And it started off with some fun jabs. There is a persistent rumor that Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes are a gay couple, and Dr Watson is not happy.From there, we dive into a Holmes mystery. The problem is the case gets more and more ridiculous. And there's nothing amazing with Holmes' deductions. It veers solidly into Scooby Doo territories with midgets, monks, and Loch Ness monster. Is it the grounds keeper? And do we pull off the mask? The relationship between Dr Watson and Sherlock Holmes is OK but the doctor is always complaining. And Sherlock is a little too cold. The chemistry is not my favorite.
ma-cortes
When a bored Holmes (Robert Stephens who also played Holmes on the stage and in TV series 'The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes') eagerly takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon (Genevieve Page) after an attempt on her life , the search for her missing husband leads to Sherlock and Watson (Colin Blakely) towards Loch Ness and the legendary monster. This affectionate story reveals the secret allegedly hidden by Holmes and Watson .Atypical Holmes movie , resulting to be a extremely personal pastiche of the Arthur Conan Doyle stories and takes a melancholic point of sight at famous eye private . It is packed with intrigue , thrills , emotion , taste , wit , and of course ,intrigue . In the flick appears the usual of the Arthur Conan Doyle's novels : Mycroft (Sherlock's brother , well played by Christopher Lee) , Mistress Hudson (Irene Handl) , and as always Doctor Watson (Colin Blakely). Furthermore , a notorious secondary cast as Clive Revill , Stanley Holloway as an undertaker , Catherine Lacey in her last cinema film and the classic dancer Tamara Toumanova . The film has an enjoyable atmosphere , it's in wonderful color that originates a glamorous setting created by the magnificent cameraman Chistopher Challis , and filmed at Pinewood Studios , Buckinghamshire, and Inverness , Highland , Scotland . Production design by the expert Alexandre Trauner is of first rate , the movie is very atmospheric , 221 Baker Street home , the streets of London , castles are very well designed .Robert Stephens's interpretation is magnificent, he's one of the best Sherlock Holmes in the cinema , likeness to Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett in television. Robert Stephens as Holmes plays in a clever , broody and impetuous manner . Colin Blakely plays as Watson with humor, goofy and joy , he's the perfect counterpoint to Holmes . However , initially Peter O'Toole was going to play Sherlock Holmes with Peter Sellers playing Dr. Watson, but Billy Wilder decided to go with lesser known stars instead . Originally, the scenes featuring the Loch Ness Monster were intended to be filmed in the actual Loch , a life-size prop was built which had several Nessie-like humps used to disguise flotation devices , the humps were removed, however, at Billy Wilder's request. Unfortunately, during a test run in Loch Ness, the Monster-prop sank and was never recovered ; a second prop was built, but was only filmed inside a studio tank . At the request of director Billy Wilder, composer Miklós Rózsa adapted music from his own Violin Concerto , opus 24 , as the basis for the film score, supplementing this with further original music. This special Billy Wilder movie takes melancholy look at Holmes . Apparently, he had been a fan of Sherlock Holmes for many years prior to making this picture. Wilder said of this flick in the book 'Conversations with Wilder' by 'Cameron Crowe' : " when I came back from Paris, it was an absolute disaster, the way it was cut. The whole prologue was cut, a half-sequence was cut , in fact it was intended as a 3 and half hour film . I had tears in my eyes as I looked at the thing. It was the most elegant picture I've ever shot ¨ . The motion picture was panned by the critics whose reputation should soar in future years , being recently a 12 minutes restored . Rating : Better than average , 7/10 . Well worth watching .
Pan32
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) A European film on paper with a virtually all British cast and written and directed by Billy Wilder and filmed in the UK but it's very much a Hollywood studio product which means it comes with a large dollop of hokum in this case the premise that Holmes is not gay and beneath the crusty exterior of a misogynists beats a heart just ripe for plucking by the right gal. The first 25 minutes or so first lay the ground work by demolishing any notion that Holmes and Watson have a thing: Holmes is offered a Strad violin to make a baby with a Russian ballerina in a post performance visit to her dressing room and he first demurs with the excuse he is English but when this doesn't do it he plays the homo card and rings in Watson. Meantime, Watson is backstage doing the can-can with a bevy of beauteous dancers and when word is passed the girls drop off one by one and are replaced by male dancers throwing Watson into a tantrum as he screeches his denials. So the scene is played for yucks and homos are always good for a laugh in the Hollywood of the period. It's not about PC it just wasn't funny and was irrelevant to the story that follows. But it does introduce Watson as a stooge and fall guy for Holmes and in fact he does several pratfalls, that is when he's not screeching at Holmes for something or other. So the story finally begins with a beautiful woman that Holmes must travel to Scotland with as husband and wife for security and at the end when she disappears he is suitably stricken. A lot of other stuff happens that's all good clean fun Hollywood style and done with great craftsmanship and flair but it's the old kid's stuff that you've seen over and over.
