Am a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and get a lot of enjoyment out of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. Also love Basil Rathbone's and especially Jeremy Brett's interpretations to death. So would naturally see any Sherlock Holmes adaptation that comes my way, regardless of its reception.
Moreover, interest in seeing early films based on Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and wanting to see as many adaptations of any Sherlock Holmes stories as possible sparked my interest in seeing 'Sherlock Holmes'. Plus to see how John Barrymore would fare as the iconic detective, and see Roland Young and William Powell in their film debuts.
After years of being lost and then found and restored, 'Sherlock Holmes' could and should have been great. While not the worst Sherlock Holmes adaptation, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore will always take that dishonour, it is one of the lesser efforts and a contender for the most disappointing. Not awful, but should have been much better.
There are strengths. It does look good, with very handsome and evocative set/production design and a lot of strikingly beautiful moments in the photography.
Gustav von Seyffertitz is a formidable Moriaty, if occasionally a little eccentric, and William Powell makes a likeable film debut.
However, John Barrymore does not look interested or comfortable as Holmes, which is enough to bring the film by more than one star. Furthermore, Roland Young is one of the duller cinematic, and perhaps ever, Watsons and Carol Dempster is a completely vapid leading lady. Nothing intrigues or entertains in the iconic Holmes/Watson chemistry.
Despite an interesting idea and an atmospheric start, the story is far too ridiculous (often beyond belief) and tediously paced, with nowhere near enough of Holmes or his deductions. What would have solved that would have been to have less reliance on the too talky, bogging-down-pace and overused talking cards and getting rid of the out of character and out of place, not to mention incredibly bland, love interest relationship. How it's solved is too quick and too easy.
In summary, disappointing. 4/10 Bethany Cox
Moreover, interest in seeing early films based on Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories and wanting to see as many adaptations of any Sherlock Holmes stories as possible sparked my interest in seeing 'Sherlock Holmes'. Plus to see how John Barrymore would fare as the iconic detective, and see Roland Young and William Powell in their film debuts.
After years of being lost and then found and restored, 'Sherlock Holmes' could and should have been great. While not the worst Sherlock Holmes adaptation, 'The Hound of the Baskervilles with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore will always take that dishonour, it is one of the lesser efforts and a contender for the most disappointing. Not awful, but should have been much better.
There are strengths. It does look good, with very handsome and evocative set/production design and a lot of strikingly beautiful moments in the photography.
Gustav von Seyffertitz is a formidable Moriaty, if occasionally a little eccentric, and William Powell makes a likeable film debut.
However, John Barrymore does not look interested or comfortable as Holmes, which is enough to bring the film by more than one star. Furthermore, Roland Young is one of the duller cinematic, and perhaps ever, Watsons and Carol Dempster is a completely vapid leading lady. Nothing intrigues or entertains in the iconic Holmes/Watson chemistry.
Despite an interesting idea and an atmospheric start, the story is far too ridiculous (often beyond belief) and tediously paced, with nowhere near enough of Holmes or his deductions. What would have solved that would have been to have less reliance on the too talky, bogging-down-pace and overused talking cards and getting rid of the out of character and out of place, not to mention incredibly bland, love interest relationship. How it's solved is too quick and too easy.
In summary, disappointing. 4/10 Bethany Cox