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Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, Jeffrey Jones, Lysette Anthony, Paul Freeman ... see more see more... , Nigel Davenport , Pat Keen , Peter Cook , Tim Killick , Mathew Savage , Andrew Bradford , James Bree , Gregor Fisher , Jennifer Guy , Harold Innocent , Clive Mantle , Steven O'Donell , Ivor Roberts , Mathew Sim , George Sweeney , John Tordoff , John Warner , Les White , Adam Kotz , Alan Bodenham , Dave Cooper , Lesley Daine , Sam Davies , Murray Ewan , Richard Henry Dana Jr. , Elizabeth Kelly , Caroline Milmoe , Michael O'Hagan , Martin Pallot , Sarah Parr-Byrne , Prince the Dog , Evan Russell , Alexandra Spencer , Stephen Tiller , Chris Webb , John Surman , Matthew Savage

A drunken Sherlock Holmes is really just a cover for the real detective - Dr Watson.

Flixster Users

67% liked it

5,008 ratings

Critics

56% liked it

9 critics

PG, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Thom Eberhardt

Release Date: January 1, 1988

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DVD Release Date: March 2, 2004

Stats: 244 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (244)

  • phubbs1
    November 6, 2011
    phubbs1
    I can't understand why this never did well upon release as I think its a marvellous spoof/comedy that is perfectly cast with Caine and Kinglsey as 'Holmes' and 'Watson'. This could easily of come from the mind of Mel Brooks really its that kind of light hearted romp with silly jo... read morekes and silly prat falls, not too childish just about right.

    The plot for the film is also quite genius, simply the roles are reversed, Watson (Kingsley) is the brilliant detective and Holmes (Caine) is actually a bumbling drunk who is employed by Watson to pretend to be the real Holmes for the sake of his novels and his own job. Caine's character is actually called 'Reg Kinclaid' who simply inherits the name of Holmes for the big cover up that the real Watson has orchestrated.
    What is also quite impressive is the look of the film, sets, costumes and location work are all really well done and look quite realistic, add to this a very impressive cast of classic stars (mainly English) and this really is a top class adventure very much like Gene Wilder's film 'The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother' only much better looking.
  • garyX
    June 7, 2011
    garyX
    Without a Clue is an amusing parody of the Sherlock Holmes stories in which the true genius is Ben Kingsley's Dr. Watson, Holmes being a womanising drunken actor hired to play the part. There's little here that hasn't been done before as Conan Doyle's stories have been pillaged f... read moreor material ever since they were written, but the comic chemistry between the two talented leads works brilliantly. Michael Caine's clearly loving every minute of it and in combination with Kingsley's ever more disdainful and exasperated Watson, they make a great comic partnership. The plot is minimal, feeling like an upmarket Carry On story or the English cousin of Clouseau, but it's all done with such infectious, knockabout charm it rarely fails to raise a smile. Hardly a world changer, but a pleasant diversion on a rainy afternoon.
  • Lemure
    May 16, 2011
    Lemure
    Such an underrated film. This is a great twist on the characters, and the two leads are superb. The film itself doesn't go anywhere you don't expect, but there are plenty of chuckles along the way. Worth a watch.
  • alice5mith
    November 17, 2009
    alice5mith
    Funny enough.
  • sayers1977
    August 21, 2008
    sayers1977
    Always liked this film althgh it's not one of Caine's best and Kingsley was still a few years away from Schindler and the monumental Sexy Beast. A good concept that is completely executed well but has enough in it to keep you entertained. Interestingly it looks like Will Ferrell ... read moreis taking the same tact with his next film. Hopefully he'll take it a step further.
  • lovnkhvkht
    May 27, 2011
    lovnkhvkht
    Without a Clue features stellar teamwork by Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley, who are at their best here. Kingsley is Dr. Watson who actually is the genius at deduction. He has written his adventures as stories with a fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, so as to not hurt his chan... read moreces at being named to a prestigious board. When the stories got so popular that people wanted to meet Holmes he hired actor, Reginald Kincaid to act the part. The problem: Kincaid is a two-bit, drunken, skirt-chasing actor (Caine) which causes no end of trouble and comic delight whenever "Holmes" tries to improvise his way through a case. It is a real delight to watch these two great actors throw themselves into their parts with wonderful comic timing. Caine gets a lot of mileage out of Holmes' efforts to appear a genius. This movie is especially good for any children who understand how twist works on the classic detective stories.
  • CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    September 5, 2009
    CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    Ben Kingsly playing Watson has to hire an actor to play Holmes after his stories gain popularity and his public want a face to the Holmes character. "Sherlock" gets to be full of himself and they part ways but find they cannot do their respective jobs without one another. Michael... read more Caine playing Sherlock Holmes is hilarious! What an amazing actor.
  • grayavec
    January 23, 2009
    grayavec
    No matter how silly and family orientated the film is, I love this movie. The comedic timing, both verbal and physical, between Kingsley and Caine gets me every time I watch it.
  • flixsterbum
    December 29, 2007
    flixsterbum
    This was just great! Clever and funny throughout. Have always been a fan of Ben Kingsley, Michael Caine, and Sherlock Holmes, so this was right up my alley. A good mystery involved here, but it's the performances by Caine and Kingsley that make this worth the watch. Caine esp... read moreecially is hilarious as the bumbling, lecherous, inebriated Holmes. The scene at the keyhole is still making me laugh, the look on Caine's face when that girl removes her stocking, oh man, that's good stuff. A great, satisfying comedy.
  • sleepykiss
    November 10, 2006
    sleepykiss
    I love any campy Sherlock Holmes flick anyway, but this made me LAFF! Luv MCaine & BKingsley always.

View All Without a Clue Reviews

Critic Reviews

David Nusair
July 4, 2009
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews

...it's impossible not to derive some pleasure out of Caine and Kingsley's effortless chemistry with one another... Full Review

Pablo Villaca
June 23, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Uma divertida brincadeira que explora bem as características dos personagens de uma maneira nova, beneficiando-se principalmente da interação entre os ótimos Caine e Kingsley.

Clint Morris
May 6, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

An inspired taken on the "Holmes" legend....some good laughs to be had

Bob Bloom
August 30, 2002
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Conceit was good, execution weak and faulty

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 24, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Rob Vaux
September 6, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

No review available.

Philip Martin
July 30, 2002
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Without a Clue Trivia

  • In back To The Future 3, what 80's chart topping 4 man group made an appearance playing their own composition? Clue - the man without a beard is called Frank Beard.  Answer »
  • Michael Caine movie quotes- guess which film this comes from: "I warn you, sir, I've killed as many as six men in a week. Eight if you count matinees."  Answer »
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