MovieChat Forums > The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) Discussion > DVD comment

DVD comment

posted 19 years ago by mobile707
4 replies | jump to latest

The DVD divides the film into 16 chapters. Of these, it must be said that the first four chapters really add nothing to the story, and are weak in their own right. The whole Russian-ballet sequence: What was the point of that? Other than to plant the seed that Holmes and Watson were lovers?

However, the story really "begins" with chapter 5, and from there on the movie is very strong.

Obviously, the final cut was taken out of Billy Wilder's hands, and one can only imagine how things might have been if he had been allowed to see it through to completion as he desired.... Oh, well!

[–] gasfarty 18 years ago

Actually, the ballet sequence has everything to do with the film. It plays on the speculation about Holmes' sexuality, sets up the "Swan Lake" solution to the Loch Ness mystery, and cements the friendship between Holmes and Watson. Without it, the film would simply have been an okay mystery about midgets and a submarine.

[–] terrythomas 18 years ago

Personally, I thought that the ballet sequence was much more interesting than the main storyline, which tended to drag a bit; not bad by ANY means, just not as good as the beginning. Just my useless opinion.

[–] poofta1970 18 years ago

My word, Terry.

Don't put yourself down.

Looking at the recreation of the deleted scenes I was fuming into my cocoa, wishing to see all the stories unfold in their correct order.

Studio executives really do take the biscuit.

And what's cocoa without a biscuit, hmm?

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]