Gene Wilder gave his first attempt as a director in 1975 with his film The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. Bringing actors into the film that he had worked with before such as Madeline Kahn and Marty Feldman gave audiences a treat of a slapstick comedy. If you've ever wondered about the rest of Sherlock Holmes' family, like his brother that never gets enough credit, The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is the film for you! A valiant first directorial effort, Smarter Brother packs some good gags but loses its punch throughout the film.
Constantly living in the shadow of his older successful brother Sherlock, Sigerson Holmes (Gene Wilder) becomes determined to solve an important case that spans all the way to the Queen. Queen Victoria (Susan Field) hands a classified document to her Foreign Secretary, Lord Redcliff (John Le Mesurier). When the document is stolen from his safe, Queen Victoria calls upon Sherlock Holmes personally. Since he will be consumed with this case, he passes one of his lesser cases on to his brother, in such a way that he will never know he passed it on to him. Sigerson takes the case in which a woman Jenny Hill, (Madeline Kahn) who is impersonating a music hall performer, is being blackmailed. The only ally to help him solve the case is one that his brother positioned for him. Sherlock attains the services of Scotland Yard records clerk, Sgt. Orville Stanley Sacker (Marty Feldman) who possesses the unusual skill of a photographic memory. Jenny tells lie after lie to Sigerson thwarting the investigation making it all the harder for Sigerson to solve the case. As more of the case comes to light, the intricate web between the players comes out and Sigerson has his hands full solving the case and getting the sensitive document back to its rightful owner.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is proof positive for me that Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder were a fantastic team, and should have graced audiences with more collaborations. Watching this film, with the three principles from Young Frankenstein, fell short of its predecessor. Wilder was too wild, too zany, and too scattered directing himself as the lead in his film. Mel Brooks' films after he stopped working with Wilder were likewise, not as good as when Gene was involved. I had high hopes for this film and it fell short of my expectations. The premise was fun, and I had a good time with it through the middle, but then it fell apart by adding too much to it. Wilder put in a great performance and his chemistry with Madeline Kahn was extraordinary. I wish the overall final product had been a better exercise of their efforts, but I am mostly pleased with The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother.
Constantly living in the shadow of his older successful brother Sherlock, Sigerson Holmes (Gene Wilder) becomes determined to solve an important case that spans all the way to the Queen. Queen Victoria (Susan Field) hands a classified document to her Foreign Secretary, Lord Redcliff (John Le Mesurier). When the document is stolen from his safe, Queen Victoria calls upon Sherlock Holmes personally. Since he will be consumed with this case, he passes one of his lesser cases on to his brother, in such a way that he will never know he passed it on to him. Sigerson takes the case in which a woman Jenny Hill, (Madeline Kahn) who is impersonating a music hall performer, is being blackmailed. The only ally to help him solve the case is one that his brother positioned for him. Sherlock attains the services of Scotland Yard records clerk, Sgt. Orville Stanley Sacker (Marty Feldman) who possesses the unusual skill of a photographic memory. Jenny tells lie after lie to Sigerson thwarting the investigation making it all the harder for Sigerson to solve the case. As more of the case comes to light, the intricate web between the players comes out and Sigerson has his hands full solving the case and getting the sensitive document back to its rightful owner.
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is proof positive for me that Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder were a fantastic team, and should have graced audiences with more collaborations. Watching this film, with the three principles from Young Frankenstein, fell short of its predecessor. Wilder was too wild, too zany, and too scattered directing himself as the lead in his film. Mel Brooks' films after he stopped working with Wilder were likewise, not as good as when Gene was involved. I had high hopes for this film and it fell short of my expectations. The premise was fun, and I had a good time with it through the middle, but then it fell apart by adding too much to it. Wilder put in a great performance and his chemistry with Madeline Kahn was extraordinary. I wish the overall final product had been a better exercise of their efforts, but I am mostly pleased with The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother.