The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother (1975)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Best movie ever!

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

This is better than I remembered it to be. I did not realize that this was the follow-up films for YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN alums Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman and Madeline Kahn, written and Directed by Wilder.A worthy follow-up. Funny enough - especially Marty Feldman.Worth a viewing if you haven't seen it in a while and enjoy Mel Brooks- type comedies.

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.

Gene Wilder is Sherlock Holmes' overshadowed brother Sigerson in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother," a 1975 film directed by Wilder and also starring Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Dom Deluise, and Leo McKern. Sherlock is busy on a case, so he gives Sigerson one to work on, causing Sigerson to come up against Moriarity (McKern), falls for a music hall singer (Kahn) and ends up on an opera stage singing about sexy wine.This is one of those films that demands multiple viewings. Some of it comes out of left field - such as the "Kangaroo Hop" - and some of it is so hilarious, you want to see it again any. Unlike "The Producers," it's an uneven movie. And one stops caring about what the case actually is long before it's solved, though the case was never the point.McKern gives a flamboyant performance as a completely insane Moriarity, who seems to have trouble with basic math. It's always both a happy and sad occasion to see the wonderful Madeline Kahn - she's terrific as always, but now we've been deprived of her beauty and talent. I'm not entirely sure that she sings the operatic portions of the film, but she does sing throughout in her lovely voice. She and Wilder are a riot together, as are Wilder and Feldman. Wilder has such sweetness and warmth, as well as humor, in his portrayal.For me, though, the funniest scenes are with the operatic tenor Eduardo Gambetti (Dom Deluise) - truly one of the best characters ever in cinema. When he's counting the money in Italian, I was in tears. His entire portrayal is genius.If you see this film and are a little put off by its craziness, I suggest you see it again. You'll appreciate it more. Maybe a movie shouldn't require a second viewing to be liked, but this one is worth it.

Well, I can see that this movie really didn't get the best reviews, which surprised me as it is one of my favorite movies ever.I thought back on it while posting my 9 out of 10 review and I can see how others might not enjoy this style of humor, as it does take getting used to and not everyone gets that chance because the movie is rarely played.If you are a Gene Wilder fan, a Marty Feldman fan, a Madeline Kahn (sp?) fan, or a fan of sherlock holmes, then this movie is for you. Yes, it's a bit dry in places, and yes it can be a bit flighty, but if you can stick it out and just turn off the logical part of your mind for a bit and go along with the wild ride, I think that in the end, you'll buy a ticket and ask to go on the ride again.The singing numbers, the wild looks of Kahn, Wilder and of course my buggy eyed friend, Feldman, help to make this movie quirky and humorous at the same time. The dark London (I think it's in London) streets and the perpetual night helps to make this a very fun period piece with humor at every step.For someone such as myself who does enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes story, I truly loved the way that our main character (Wilder) is constantly getting things so way off. Such as when he thinks he is describing the person on the other side of the door based on the clues he has and then he is so way off that it's hilarious.See this movie, and if you need to watch it again to fully enjoy it, give it about a week and then see it again. It's worth the multiple viewings.