Saturday, January 14, 2012

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes - movie 1970


Summary: A woman appears at Mr. Holmes's door, having no idea of her name nor even of her reasons of coming. Apparently, she'd been the victim of attempted murder and nearly drowned... Mr. Holmes decides to take the case. 

This movie adresses directly some of Holmes most controversial habits, such as his addiction to cocaine and his sexuality. It also questions Dr Watson's scriptures by constantly doubting their precision and the fact that Dr Watson had romanticised Holmes' adventures and maybe left his unsuccessful cases aside.

Holmes is depicted just as in the Canon: witty, mischievious, full of life and humour... but still elegant and very british (also not that keen of conventions) in behaviour. Watson is not that endearing unfortunately, being used more as a comic relief than as a valid companion to such a clever man, even though he does speak his mind and is not just an admirative tool of Holmes'. Mycroft's fans will be pleased to notice his presence in the movie and the importance of his part. Of course the overall acting is quite different from our day's, quite theatrical I'll say.

Personal opinion: This is one of the best interpretations of the Canon I've seen so far. I'm quite sure Sherlock's fans would enjoy it immensely. I might even venture to say that the writters of BBC Sherlock have probably inspired themselves from some parts of this movie -or maybe good interpretations of the Canon can't help but look alike, just as siblings somehow look like each others.

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