Der verkehrte Sherlock Holmes

James Goldman's most beautiful and literary script, a fragile and delicate fantasy/comedy that delivers on its initial promise. Beautifully acted by Scott, Woodward and Gilford, and with a dozen or more cameos that are truly memorable, this is truly a feel-good movie for the literate and the intelligencia. I would rank it among my top half-dozen.

In 1976, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST(1975) was nominated for 9 Academy Awards, winning 5 in all the major categories. But 5 years earlier, another film tackled mental illness (all be it in a different manner) in it's own unique way. This film was THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS(1971). Now many would argue that Cuckoo's Nest was a superior film, and they would probably be right. They Might Be Giants was shot on a miniscule budget, and was cut down for release by studio exec's. In a further insult, the same studio exec's refused to support the Director's bid for a wide release. It's a shame too, because it featured one of the most overlooked comic performances in film history. George C.Scott plays Justin Playfair, a retired judge who thinks he's Sherlock Holmes. And he does it perfectly. Right down to the subtle gestures and mannerisms. In one of films best scenes, Playfair arrives in a local Mental Institution for an evaluation. A struggle breaks out with the patient before him (a mute, who refuses to reveal even his name) and it's up to Holmes to save the day. And Save the day he does. The Dialogue in this scene is brilliant. Some of the best I've ever heard. And it's all Scott. Not only does he get the man to talk, he guesses his name! The supporting cast is excellent as well. Joanne Woodward is the perfect foil as Dr Watson, Jack Gilford as Wilbur Peabody, and the rest of the New York actors are real, and delightfully eccentric. The end of the film with the "March to find Moriarty" is a classic. Listen to the music in this scene, it's great! So if you liked Cuckoo's nest, check this one out...you won't regret it!!

They Might Be Giants is now better known for giving the name to a quirky pop group rather a quirky cult film in its own right. Although the title is derived from Cervantes novel Don Quixote.

The films is an adaptation of the stage play where George C Scott plays a brilliant jurists who after the death of his wife thinks he is Sherlock Holmes.

His brother tries to have him committed so he can receive his money. The psychiatrist who is to evaluate him is called Dr Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward) in order to understand his condition more ends up enlisting in his adventures to venture down the streets of New York to find Moriarty.

Dr Watson is sceptical at first and knows the condition he is suffering from, standard textbook stuff really. However Dr Watson a middle aged spinster has issues of her own and is drawn to the former judge and the director pulls off a remarkable trick where at a point in the film the sceptic becomes a convert. Both fall for each other and pursue Moriarty with zeal.

The film deals with mental illness and some themes in this film were pursued two decades later by Terry Gilliam in the movie The Fisher King, a director who has long pursued to make his own version of Don Quixote.

This is a small scale actors film. Both Scott and Woodward give terrific performances with a strong support cast. It does have it flaws, maybe the brother needed to be drawn stronger as a villain and it might just get a bit to silly at the end. The climax is rather frustrating as they think Moriarty is approaching.

Sadly, i saw this film only once, back in the early eighties;it remains unforgettable.An earlier reviewer said that it echoes Don Quixote as well as Holmes;they were right. Scott was one of the greatest actors, and this is one of his finest films. It is rich in humor and fantasy, and it boasts a very good performance by Ms. Woodward to compliment the one by Scott.

I stumbled across this sleeper on cable years ago. I was familiar with Scott's heavy roles, but was absolutely blown away by his portrayal of a charming, self-convinced character who thought he was Sherlock Holmes. The way his face lit up when he met Joanne Woodward's Dr. Watson was one of my favorite movie "moments" of all time.

I am writing this on learning of his passing. While not his greatest movie, it deserves watching almost as much as Patton, The Hospital, Dr. Strangelove, or 12 Angry Men (& much more than Firestarter), if only to see him in an entirely different type of character.