List Price: $14.98You Pay Only: $10.49 You Save: $4.49 (30%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
EAN: 9780792856214
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 079285621X
Label: MGM (Video & DVD)
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 15, 2003
Running Time: 125 minutes
Sales Rank: 13512
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Theatrical Release Date: 1970
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Editorial Review:
Description:
The acting, photography and score are tops (Leonard Maltin) in this lively satirical homage from seven-time Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Billy Wilder (Sunset Boulevard) and his long-time writing partner I.A.L. Diamond (The Apartment). When a beautiful woman claims that her dear husband has disappeared, the investigation takes Sherlock Holmes (Robert Stephens) and Dr. Watson (Colin Blakely) to Scotland, whereto their surprisethey uncover a plot involving clandestine society, Her Majesty's Secret Service and the Loch Ness Monster! But before he can deduce matters to the elementary, Holmes makes an error that may jeopardize the national safety of Britain and ruin his reputation! *1960: The Apartment (Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay (with I.A.L.Diamond)); 1950: Sunset Boulevard (Original Screenplay (with Charles Brackett and D.M. Marshman, Jr.)); 1945: The Lost Weekend (Director, Adapted Screenplay (with Charles Brackett)); 1987: Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award
Amazon.com:
This 1970 Billy Wilder comedy-drama about a major defeat in the career of Sherlock Holmes may have little to do with the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but in its uncut form it happens to be one of the finest films of the decade. Robert Stephens makes a perfectly splendid Holmes, brilliant, sophisticated, and deeply flawed, while Colin Blakely plays Dr. Watson as a drinker and ladies' man with more personality and intelligence than is often granted him by filmmakers. The case (which has some echoes of Doyle's story 'The Bruce-Partington Plans') begins with Holmes aiding the distressed Madame Valladon (Geneviève Page), who is searching for her missing husband. The inquiry shifts to Scotland, and despite a stern warning from the hero's brother, Mycroft Holmes (Christopher Lee), Sherlock pursues events that reveal a top-secret government plan. Lush, energetic, funny, gorgeous to look at, and ultimately tragic, the film is layered with Wilder's familiar collision of cynicism and yearning, hope and betrayal, grace and isolation. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - private life of sherlock holmes
I would like to tell you about the great people that shared & helped in the private life of sherlock holmes. he was the best at solveing the crime that was against the law &then had to maked the guilted answer for their action's.they had done which were outside of the law and have justiced served.Checkout this movie i think you will enjoy it very much.
Rating: - The Human Side of the Most Famous Detective
This 1970's film directed by the genius of Billy Wilder, who made over 90 films in his life time, (not one a dud) adapted the film from the novel by I.A.L. Diamond, focusing on the human side of the most famous detective in history.
Robert Stevens as Holmes is more "real" for lack of a better term, as Wilder shows not only his genius but his addiction to cocaine, and his prudishness, typical of the times and an emotional side that most of us have barely caught a glimpse.
The term "Classic" has been bandied around a lot lately, even calling 21st century films, "True Classics." Well, this film was made in 1970, directed by a genuis who had been making films in Hollywood since the 1920's.
"Private..." has that good old atmosphere to it; a certain amount of irony and tongue and cheek to keep the most cynical intrigued because it doesn't take it self too seriously...a melodrama yes, but something of old Hollywood in the love story. Sorry, but Holmes falls in love and in the books, it was only hinted at once. (I hope this is not a spoiler, but an aspect of the film, (particularly Holmes fans and film lovers' generally to see the film again or seek it out.)
Colin Blakely as Dr. Watson is one of the most funny and charming interpretations of the character that has been done...not over the top, but funny and reveals a great concern for his unusual friend.
A True Classic, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes IS a gem and should be in every Holmes ... Read More
Rating: - A truly great movie even in its present form
A long-time dream project for Billy Wilder, beginning life as a musical, going through several years of rewrites and casting proposals - at one point even a vehicle for Peter O'Toole and Peter Sellers until the director found both impossible to make a deal with - before going into production as a hugely expensive $10m budgeted three-hour plus roadshow picture only to be cut down to little over two hours when exhibitors refused to book the uncut version, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is something of a legend in itself. The whereabouts of all the elements for a full restoration has long defied the finest minds in film restoration, adding a layer of mystique and what-if? to the film's reputation.
The best way to watch The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes is to forget what could have been and marvel at what is left. For all its problems, even in the heavily cut version that was eventually released, this is one of Billy Wilder's greatest and certainly most heartfelt achievements - and a pretty good yarn as well, throwing missing dwarves, dead canaries, Trappist monks, Swan Lake, Sherlock's mysterious brother Mycroft, Queen Victoria and the Loch Ness Monster into the mix, as well as an amnesiac woman who rouses more than Holmes' professional curiosity, to tragic results.
Throughout, Wilder presents a much less self-assured vision of the great detective than had been seen before. In the opening scene he castigates Watson for the expectations the Doctor's stories in Strand Magazine ... Read More
Rating:  - What Might Have Been...
The film that was released is an amusing Holmes pastiche, but when you take the time to review all the extras and get a sense of Wilder's intentions, you'll realize that this could have been a masterpiece. Poignent and farcical "movements" blend together seamlessly. It should be added to the ranks of "The Magnificent Ambersons" as a tragic loss.
Rating: - Highly underrated Holme's tall tale
Billy Wilder's genius comes through again in this more diverse look at Sherlock Holmes. Fundamental Holmesians may be appalled because this story looks at a couple of Sherlock's flaws. But most people will appreciate that after all he was human and these flaws will actually endear him more to the majority of people. The story itself is quite enteratining as Sherlock looks for a missing husband and encounters cutthroats, spies, and government red tape as he tries to get to the bottom of a couple mysteries. Engaging with superb directing, acting, scenery, sets, and music. Overall a real treat. Although I certainly enjoy the realistic Holmes movies like "Murder by Decree", I find this movie more fun to watch. I plan to purchase this DVD. The dvd is decent quality but contains no extras.
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