Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 23, 2014

1970’s “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” isn’t concerned with radically reworking Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated character, but it does retain a surprising bluntness when it comes to the behavior of the consulting detective that few adaptations have pursued. It’s a movie from Billy Wilder, created during the twilight of the iconic filmmaker’s career, interested in merging traditional Holmes-style mystery with fussy character business, highlighting relationships and curiosity as clues are followed and suspects are studied. Assembled with real snap by Wilder and his frequent collaborator, co-writer I.A.L. Diamond, “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” is an extremely amusing and engaging picture, taking care of all the expected detective work as it offers a few surprises of its own.

Living together in the heart of London, Sherlock Holmes (Robert Stephens) is dealing with the legacy friend and chronicler Dr. Watson (Colin Blakely) is creating for him through his writing. While they bicker and fuss, the pair is soon invited to the ballet, where premiere Russian dancer Madame Petrova (Tamara Toumanova) is looking for the most intelligent man around to father her child. Recovering from such an impossible offer, the partners are quickly thrust into a mystery when amnesiac Gabrielle (Genevieve Page) arrives at their front door. Looking for her missing husband, Gabrielle needs Holmes’s incredible skill to help revive her memory, tempting the detective with her unique appeal. Traveling to Scotland to pursue leads, the trio is confronted with a bizarre list of clues, trying to make sense of a group of little people in the area, a fixation on caged canaries, and the possible appearance of the Loch Ness Monster. All the while, Holmes’s brother, Mycroft (Christopher Lee), tries to divert his sibling’s attention, hoping to pull him off the case before it’s too late.

“The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” celebrates its title in the opening, where secretive writings from Watson are unearthed 50 years after his death, ready to share the lesser known aspects of Holmes’s life with the world. Of course, this promises a few more salacious details than the production is willing to deliver, but it’s an interesting method to help dive back into Doyle’s world, handed a twist of remembrance by Wilder and Diamond. This Holmes isn’t exactly the famous figure he’s allowed Watson to create, slightly frustrated with the role he plays with the public as his friend expands his achievements and fudges his stats to generate a superhero in fog-thick Victorian England. It’s a slightly satiric take on Holmes, though the screenplay doesn’t stay interested in such mythmaking for long, settling down with traditional mystery elements that bring out the best in the pair.

Wilder and Diamond have created a pair of films in “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes,” imagining two separate adventures for the duo (originally four, but deleted scenes have been lost), with the first encounter, concerning the intimate offer from the ballerina, quite strange in its inspection of the dynamic between Watson and Holmes. The screenplay plays with gay panic in this sequence, with Holmes suggesting he’s engaged in a homosexual relationship with Watson to escape the sexual offer presented to him, effectively killing his friend’s chances with amorous background dancers. While it doesn’t result in laughs, the strange scene at least takes “Sherlock Holmes” into a different direction, while it strangely strengthens the bond between the characters as well.

The second half of “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” concerns the mystery of Gabrielle’s missing husband, urging the pair to return to duty after growing accustomed to life in their apartment, where Holmes tests several different types of tobacco and Watson tends to his writing. Wilder and Diamond continue their quest to disturb the regality of the character by following his indefatigable instincts, with Holmes hoping to pull information out of the delirious woman by sleeping with her, pretending he’s the missing husband. The case grows bolder from there, following the trio as they make their way to Scotland, rub up against Mycroft, encounter a group of Trappist monks, and attempt to deduce why a team of little people are tied to the lost man. “The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes” actually assembles quite a rich journey for the characters, boosted by finger-snap dialogue and a credible mystery, with bewildering pieces of the puzzle assembled superbly in the end, resulting in a conventional Holmes adventure with a few choice detours in tone.

Wilder and Diamond also makes a commitment to Holmes’s unsavory side, bringing up his cocaine habit as a mournful medication of concern, taking to the needle as a way to quiet his mind. The production doesn’t back away from depicting this aspect of the character, with the screenplay taking time to understand Holmes’s motivation and Watson’s worry, adding another layer to their already complex partnership.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

At times resembling a "Grindhouse" sequel, the AVC encoded image (2.34:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Sherlock Holmes" is riddled with damage, debris, harsh reel changes, flicker, and judder. The print has seen better days. It's a complicated movie to bring to Blu-ray, shot with tremendous softness and fog effects, leaving HD sharpness a rare occasion, but the image is expressive, offering satisfactory fine detail when cinematography is interested in providing it. Colors look a little muted, struggling to bring out vivid costumes and period interiors. Grain looks untouched and unmanaged, chunky yet filmic, with pockets of noise. Blacks are acceptable with some instances of crush, though, again, this isn't a feature made with crispness and precise definition in mind.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is in a little better shape than the visual elements, presenting a sturdy track that focuses on dialogue exchanges, which remain acceptable, if not entirely crisp. Hiss and pops are present, but rarely does anything distract from the primary sonic goals of the mix, which manages an unusual amount of excitable behavior (for a British period piece) without seeping into distortion. Scoring cues are big and bold, offering accurate instrumentation and a frontal force that supports the drama. Atmospherics are passable but never quite remarkable, providing a faint read of outdoor and city environments.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Featurette (15:17, SD) is a sit-down with Christopher Lee, who waxes rhapsodic about his time with Wilder, honored to be a part of the Holmes legacy, even in a supporting part. Lee discusses his personal interactions with Doyle's material, playing Holmes in three previous pictures, marveling over the richness and bravery of Wilder's vision. It should be noted that the audio here is a tad out of sync.

• Interview (28:40, SD) with editor Ernest Walter details his personal history and work in film cutting. Most interestingly, Walter describes the battle to shave the picture down after an initial cut clocked in at over three hours. Exploring the deleted scenes and how extensive they were, Walter provides a peek into Wilder's creative process. Also discussed is the movie's rocky reception, with the editor insistent that nobody bothered to understand the feature at the time.

• Deleted Scenes (50:03, SD) attempt to restore what was lost with script excerpts, production stills, film footage, and recovered audio. It's fascinating to see what was once intended to be the scope of the feature, sending Holmes and Watson on additional adventures to beef up the story, offering the full feel of a Doyle's episodic tales.

• Deleted Epilogue Scene (6:21, SD) is an audio-only look at the feature's original ending.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:00, HD) has been included.

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" is witty and charming with a dark streak that's inviting, emerging as one of the better Holmes adaptations around. Credit Wilder and Diamond's affection for the character, but also performances from Stephens and Blakely, who are perfectly in sync as the idiosyncratic twosome, playing up brilliance and doubt with equal aplomb. It's a shame the pair never received a chance to reprise their roles for a sequel, as it seems clear that with a shot of cinematic hindsight, the production might've found an even grander quest for the pair, deepening appreciation for their unique partnership.