Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother [DVD] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother isn't Mycroft but the `forgotten' third brother Sigerson (actually the assumed name Holmes used in The Adventure of the Empty House), and there's a lot to forget about this failed attempt to do for the Holmes family what Gene Wilder did for the Frohnkensteens. Without a collaborator on the screenplay and taking the directorial reins himself, as well as the starring role, there's far more unfettered self-indulgence here than wit. There's thankfully a little less pointless hysteria from Wilder than usual, although this is sadly more than compensated for by excessive yelping from Leo McKern and tedious showboating from Dom De Luise (now there's a surprise). Indeed, this may well be the only film in which chronic overactor Aubrey Morris gives the most restrained performance. There's also an excess of messy eating and childish humor to contend with, not to mention the unforgivable waste of Marty Feldman's unique talents in a dull sidekick role. There is one funny sequence in a ballroom and a couple of moments where the ideas are good enough to survive the sledgehammer execution, but when Albert Finney, in a one-shot cameo in the film's Night at the Operatic finale, turns to the camera to ask "Is this rotten or is it all terribly brave?", it's not difficult to come up with an answer.

Fox's PAL DVD offers a decent 1.85:1 widescreen transfer with the original trailer, but doesn't include the trailer, the additional fullframe version of the film or Gene Wilder's audio commentary that are included on the Region 1 disc - admittedly the latter is no great loss since it's so sparing and uninformative and filled with dead air pauses of several minutes at a time that you'll wonder if you clicked the wrong button on your menu!

Previous reviews have perhaps given a better critical view of this film, but if you are a fan of Wilder and Feldmann you will enjoy this. Leo Mckern makes a fine villain who is both believable and insane, both important to the credibility. Too many of the jokes are simple such as chocolate on the face, but some are sublime such as the wonderful ballroom scene (I will not spoil the joke). For an English audience there is the added 'reassurance' of Roy Kinnear and other 'usual suspects'. The singing, dancing and fencing are unexpectedly good and the whole film becomes an enjoyable romp with some quite dramatic moments.

Just to let all in the USA know... this DOES work on traditional USA blu Ray players! It does not have the brilliant commentary that Gene Wilder added to the DVD in USA but the picture is sublime!

I grew up with Gene Wilder as a favorite and while I found this film a bit uneven the highlights for me still put me on the floor... his calling or yelling at Madelin Kahn "Miss Liar!!" and I'm afraid I lose it seeing "the Kangaroo Hop" ...bring me to happy tears of laughter.

the other reviews go into greater detail but Marty Feldman and other character actors make this a must have for me and I mostly wanted to announce the blu ray's workability in our country as it is a European import!

Well meaning and occasionally funny comedy from Gene Wilder delivering a slighltly disappointing sub-Mel Brooks experience. The musical interludes don't work for me.

The funniest film ever, and the only one that I rate 10 out of 10 on the imdb movie database. We - me and friends, after retiring gracefully from the local clubs at around 2am in the late 1970s - watched it repeatedly with absolute delight. OK, the chocolate scene is completely unfunny, and I'm amazed that this was shown in the trailer to the initial release of the movie, but the rest of the action and songs is just sublime hilarity and/or insanity, with hints of inanity.

I remember seing this movie in the eighties - but I never forgot about it. I have always been a fan of the movies that came out of the insane ability that Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder possesses - to create absolutely hilarious movies. Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother is however a work Gene Wilder created on his own - together with a cast that are perfect for the job. Madeline Khan and Marty Feldman does it splendidly
I can only recommend people to see it. It's filled up with great laughs and not to forget Dom de luise as a operasinging italian wannebe.

Gene Wilder wrote and directed this comedy. filled with lots of British actors who carry the plot along. Sheerluck is well worth watching.

my husband loved this he even lent it to his friend excellent value foro money for a classic comedy dvd