The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

 

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)

A Handsome, Vintage Mystery with Old-School Charm

★★★☆☆

Watched 20 Dec 2024 — A cerebral, dialogue-heavy production that feels like a lost gem from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Directed by master storyteller Billy Wilder, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is an old-fashioned mystery comedy that radiates vintage appeal. While released in 1970, the film’s structure and dialogue-heavy script feel more akin to a 1950s black-and-white classic. It is a handsome, well-made production boasting outstanding production design and colorful vistas. Though it lacks the visceral action sequences found in modern adaptations like Guy Ritchie’s or the BBC's Sherlock, it offers a solid, cerebral anchor in Robert Stephens' performance as the title character.

"The script especially feels vintage as it is a little too heavy on the dialogue, even for a Sherlock Holmes story. It feels less like a 70's film and more like a 50's black and white film."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Billy Wilder
• Starring: Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely
• Supporting: Christopher Lee (Mycroft Holmes), Geneviève Page
• Music: Miklós Rózsa

The Vision

Wilder’s vision was to humanize the detective, peeling back the layers of his "private life" with wit and humor. The film prioritizes cerebral deduction over kinetic thrills, resulting in a tier of Wilder’s filmography that, while not reaching the iconic status of Some Like It Hot, remains highly respectable. Unfortunately, the vision was compromised by studio intervention; the film was heavily truncated from a three-hour epic to two hours, leaving two entire mystery cases on the cutting room floor—a true "cinematic tragedy" for aficionados.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Lost Footage: The original roadshow version included segments like "The Dreadful Business of the Naked Honeymooners," but the [deleted footage](https://en.wikipedia.org) remains largely lost or exists only as silent clips.
• Christopher Lee's Holmes Hat-Trick: Christopher Lee is one of the few actors to play both Sherlock (in other films) and [Mycroft Holmes](https://www.imdb.com).
• Nessie Mystery: The film features a unique sub-plot involving the Loch Ness Monster, showcasing the film's blend of Sherlockian lore and Wilder’s whimsical imagination.

✅ Pros

• Outstanding production design and beautiful visuals.
• Solid, memorable performances from the central trio.
• Charming, "old school" Golden Age atmosphere.

❌ Cons

• Pacing issues and a lack of cinematic action.
• Feels "terribly truncated" with an abrupt ending.
• Dialogue-heavy script may feel dated to modern audiences.

🏆 Final Verdict

A solid, high-tier adaptation that belongs in the library of any Sherlock fan. It’s the perfect "blanket and fireplace" movie for a chilly night when you crave a mystery with heart and vintage style.

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