The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975)

Best movie of this year hands down!

I love this movie so much

Redundant and unnecessary.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

I'm not a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, so usually Holmes films appeal to me if they do something unique with the formula. The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is not only a comedy which spoofs with reverence its source material but is also a straight up action/adventure swashbuckler; a vehicle for writer, director and star Gene Wilder to show off a full range of talents including comedy, singing and fencing.What prevents me from considering Holmes' Smarter Brother from being a masterpiece is that the movie is not consistently funny. The first third of film had me laughing a lot, particularly the scene in which Wilder, Marty Feldman and Madeline Kahn are introduced to each other had me laughing a lot with their kangaroo hoping madness (plus that fencing machine is one of the most amusing props ever); after that I only laughed seldomly. Most of the jokes after the first third are only chuckle worthy but at least avoid being embarrassing.Even with the depleting laughs there is enough to the film to keep it afloat. Firstly that the movie works on its own as an action/adventure film, full of interesting characters as well as a heavenly chemistry between the trio of heroes. I was still able to care what was going on even with the largely incomprehensible plot. Likewise despite being as neurotic as he is, Gene Wilder does make for a convincing romantic hero – an intriguing, contradictory combo. Holmes' Smarter Brother was one of Wilder's directing ventures and he definitely has an eye for detail with the film's handsome and lush production values – another aspect which helps elevate the film above its comic shortcomings.The film also hosts some exciting swashbuckling action scenes in which Wilder gets to show off his skills as a swordsman. The final duel between Holmes and Moriarty is a real treat, taking place in a costume and props storage room of a theatre; it's full of clever and inventive uses of the surroundings. It reminds me of the scene in The Lady Vanishes in which the two protagonists inspect the cargo bay of the train.The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Bother misses the mark of being a comedy masterpiece but is still a fun time.

Wilder, the writer/director, is Sigurson Holmes, supposedly Sherlock's smarter brother. Marty Feldman is his exopthalmic sidekick, Orville Sacker. Leo McKern is an overweight Professor Moriarty, and Madeline Kahn is Jenny Hill, the pretty chorister. Kahn begs Wilder for help in unraveling a mystery and Wilder does so, though the task involves many tribulations.It's a comedy with occasional thrilling scenes but it struck me as a little deficient in the laugh department. I don't mean it's a stupid movie, because it's not. It isn't cheaply done and it's evident that some care went into its preparation. The name of Feldman's character, for instance, is Orville Sacker. "Ormund Sacker" is one of the names that Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle considered for his detective before settling on you-know-what. That in-joke reflects a little research on Wilder's part. Not much, necessarily, but we're not dealing with a slapdash job.The problem is that it's not really very funny. First, Wilder has a tendency, here and in his work elsewhere, to linger a while over reaction shots following a gag. The gags aren't usually that funny, although the performers put them over as well as they can.Some of the gags are repetitive. As Holmes, Wilder is always hearing footsteps outside the door, calling the person by name to enter, and it's the wrong person. Sherlock would never have made such errors. And they aren't entirely devoid of amusement. In one case, Wilder identifies the caller as a young lady but a heavy-set man enters. Wilder dresses him down, shouts at him to stop pussyfooting around in hallways.Some of the gags are slapstick and these are usually not very funny. A chase involving three hansom cabs down a cobblestone street just doesn't generate the smiles it's designed to.Wilder as Actor may be better than Wilder as Writer/Director. He has a face that's comic all over, and surrounded by that nimbus of frizzy hair. And his best moments come when he explodes after a particularly frustrating moment or two. I would guess that he had a fencing coach for the climactic bout on the rooftop because he appears to handle an épée fairly well.As I say, not insulting, not cheap, not careless -- but not too funny either. And that's a shame because, wow, what a set up for parody the canon is.

This movie is amazing! This is Gene Wilder's first take on direction. This is his second take on writing. It's a fun movie! It can be a fun movie for comedy buffs, Gene Wilder buffs, Madeline Kahn buffs, Dom DeLuise buffs, Marty Feldman buffs, and even Mel Brooks buffs! Please see it!The very great attempt at a Sherlock Holmes parody! Sherlock Holmes is also shown in the movie, it's obvious so I don't think it's a spoiler. So come and do The Kangaroo Hop in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother! The very great underrated movie of last century, 35 years ago, to be exact!

Just watched Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother (Encore Channel) for the first time since it was new in theaters in 1975 - very funny flick! I'm not sure why it isn't ranked up there with Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles - much of the same cast is in place. Tho Mel Brooks didn't direct Sherlock, I heard his voice doing two cameos, so he was at least hanging around the set - Gene Wilder wrote and directed.It's a little bittersweet to be laughing and then realize that Dom Deluise, Madeline Khan, Leo McKern, and Marty Feldman have all passed away --- but there are a lot of great scenes, from the Bunny Hop musical number(s) to the GREAT battle scene atop three rolling horse carriages, with Holmes and his nemesis grabbing giant sign props as they pass the shops, to use as weapons, like a giant hand and a giant foot...And Marty Feldman as the Watson-like sidekick with "photographic hearing" - what a treat! Now if only the Encore Channel would show Wilder's other forgotten vanity gem, World's Greatest Lover -----