The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother poster & wallpaper
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Gene Wilder, Madeline Kahn, Marty Feldman, Dom DeLuise, Leo McKern ... see more see more... , Roy Kinnear , John Le Mesurier , Douglas Wilmer , Thorley Walters , George Silver , Susan Field , Tommy Godfrey , John Hollis , Nicholas Smith

Comic actor Gene Wilder made his debut as a writer and director in this period comedy in which he plays Sigerson Holmes, the older bother of famous detective Sherlock Holmes. For years, Sigerson has b... read more read more...een living in his little brother's shadow, and he is convinced that he must constantly prove his superiority to his brother in all things at all times. Of course, he often fails, but one can't argue with his determination. In this story, Sherlock (Douglas Wilmer) and his faithful assistant, Watson (Thorley Walters), are called away from England on an assignment, and Sherlock asks Sigerson if he wouldn't mind looking into a case for him. With typically misguided enthusiasm, Sigerson is hot on the trail of a cache of missing government documents, whose theft may be the dirty work of the wicked Moriarty (Leo McKern). Sigerson is assisted in his investigation by Olville Sacker (Marty Feldman), a bumbling Scotland Yard detective who claims to have photographic hearing, and the mysterious and seductive Jenny Hill (Madeline Kahn). Gene Wilder rose to fame in the offbeat comedies of director Mel Brooks, so it was fitting that, for his first film as a director, Wilder cast Brooks in a cameo role (he's heard but not seen after discovering that the door he chose had the tiger, not the lady). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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56% liked it

3,738 ratings

PG, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Gene Wilder

Release Date: December 14, 1975

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DVD Release Date: April 4, 2006

Stats: 218 reviews

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Gene Wilder & Madeline Kahn The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
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Flixster Reviews (218)

  • phubbs1
    May 18, 2011
    phubbs1
    A classic cast line up including Feldman, Wilder, DeLuise, Kinnear and Le Mesurier unfortunately can't quite save this brilliantly original wacky tale which sounds and looks better than it really is. Its a huge shame to be honest as you really really think this is gonna be an epi... read morec in the same league as 'Young Frankenstein' but its just lacking bite, the cast do well for whats on offer but it just isn't too funny plus there are some really cringing song n dance routines here.
    Dom DeLuise is probably the best for a good chuckle as usual with his jolly japes and camp capers hehe whilst Feldman and Kinnear are decent too but alas Wilder comes across as kinda blunt with his miserable character. Some nice sequences like the stagecoach fight but also some pretty dire ones like the finale make it touch n go, still its a nice flick and worth a look if you like Wilder.
  • ajv2688
    January 3, 2011
    ajv2688
    A very funny spoof of Sherlock Holmes. There are a couple of awkward moments, but overall, it's very funny. Plus, Wilder directs this one.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 7, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    If this had been a Mel Brooks' film, it might have been a lot funnier.
  • Lyndaofwirral
    January 11, 2011
    Lyndaofwirral
    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.
  • alice5mith
    November 16, 2009
    alice5mith
    There's something inexplicably sweet in the foolishness of this film.
    I could try to explain it, but I'm afraid that would be like dissecting a flower to feel its parfume. There are, of course, the extraordinarily expressive faces, and the way they move... and the sets (personal... read morely, I loved the sets), and there are some incredibly good and funny lines, the characters are strong but there's something more... there's a matter of perspective. It was supposed to be a joke but this really is the smarter brother. You can feel it. But why? Maybe because he takes things less seriously than Sherlock?
  • dinahmoehum
    January 26, 2010
    dinahmoehum
    This movie is on the terrible side, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'd recommend it if just to see Marty again. There were some laughs, it kinda feels like an old marks bros pic, but there was nothing that held it together.
  • grayavec
    January 23, 2009
    grayavec
    Weird but funny. The sudden musical numbers start to get annoying but in a strange way, they fit in.
  • LiliVonShtupp
    February 21, 2008
    LiliVonShtupp
    Writer/ Director Gene Wilder tries his hand at the Mel Brooks genre with some other regulars. Wilder plays Sigerson Holmes, Sherlock's over-confident, quirky brother who is also an investigator. Marty Feldman is Sgt. Orville Sacker, the wacky human encyclopedia who ends up being ... read morehis sidekick on a blackmail case that Sherlock gave to Sigerson. The case involves Jenny Hill (Madeline Kahn), a singer/actress and a habitual liar who needs sexual stimulation to trust anyone (as we find out in one of the funniest scenes of the movie).
    Gene's character is very similar to his role as in Young Frankenstein and Marty is freaky cute as usual. Madeline has a great little girl's voice she uses to sing her songs. Dom DeLuise has a great bit as an opera singer.
    Has plenty of 70s and Mel Brooks cheesiness, a couple funny parts. I suspect they filmed this and Young Frankenstein (and possibly Blazing Saddles) at the same time.
  • maidenofvalinor1
    March 11, 2007
    maidenofvalinor1
    HILARIOUS.
    Madeline Kahn, Gene Wilder, and Marty Feldman.
    Three of the funniest persons to ever live.

View All The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Reviews

Critic Reviews

Charles Cassady
February 1, 2011
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media

Good-natured Sherlock spoof with some dirty-joke humor. Full Review

Mark Bourne
April 5, 2006
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com

...the daisy-chain of prop gags, slide-whistle humor, and blackout sketches merge sometimes uneasily with the romantic and mystery-thriller components. What glues it together, barely, is the talented ... Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
December 6, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

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Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Jake Euker
March 9, 2006
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

Geoff Andrew
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

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