ma-cortes
Agreeable and charming Holmes film with continuous suspense and intrigue . The motion picture sparkles with polish and wit and the ending results to be as exciting as moving and being decently directed by Boris Sagal . This is a nice tribute to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle , it is a stylish original Sherlock movie that has the sleuth rushing to America after the villainous scoundrel executes a twisted plot . It stars in Victoria Docks , London , on the 19th of March 1901 , where the uniquitous professor James Moriarty (John Huston was cast as Professor Moriarty after Oliver Reed passed on the role) , ruler of England's underworld and veritable emperor of international crime maintains his secret and impenetrable headquarter , there he meets Holmes with threats each other . After that , 221 B, Baker Street , London , on the 22nd of March 1901 , where Mr Sherlock (Roger Moore) , the world's first consulting detective and his companion and chronicler , John Watson (Patrick McNee) , M.D. maintain modest lodgings . Later on , 1901 , the 31st of March , in New York where the rest of this adventure takes place , there Moriarty has carried out the ultimate bank robbery , as he has imperiled the world's gold supply . Meanwhile, calculating Holmes enjoys a blossoming romance with Irene Adler (Charlotte Rampling) , his old flame . Then Adler becomes the target of a kidnap and Moriarty is threatening Holmes's long time love . Sherlock sets out in pursuit Moriarty and he goes to help his old flame from long time ago . Another film about Sherlock filled with intrigues , suspense and action but this time is added a new ingredient : romanticism . In this mystery we find the famous calculator sleuth confronting his arch-enemy Moriarty and he pursues him to New York . Holmes excursion brings the famed Victorian sleuth towards N.Y. , as Holmes along Watson will solve unanswered mysteries and Sherlock undergoes some risked experiences to resolve the cases using even his habitual disguise . This is a nice Holmes film with gripping London and N.Y.C. setting . A genuine ripping yarn and very intriguing . The movie blends suspense , thriller , detective action , cloak and dagger , mystery and being enough interesting . It packs an exciting amount of surprises with great lots of entertainment . This is a classy and effective romp with a strong cast . Roger Moore as whimsical detective is passable , he's in cracking form . He makes an unique perspective on his life , revealing a complex personality . He's finely matched in battle of wits with Moriarty/John Huston . Although Basil Rathbone will be forever identified as Holmes ; however , here Roger Moore/Holmes is also played as an intelligent , cunning , broody and impetuous pipesmoking sleuth but addicted to cocaine , his interpretation is likeness to Christopher Plummer (Murder by decree) , Nicol Williamson (Elemental Dr. Freud) or Peter Cushing and Jeremy Brett in television . While Dr. Watson isn't a bumbling and botcher pal generally represented by Nigel Bruce , but a clever and astute partner well incarnated by Patrick McNee of ¨The avengers¨ . In fact , this is first of three feature film collaborations of actors Roger Moore and Patrick Macnee . The movies include Sea wolves (1980), A view to kill (1985), and Sherlock Holmes in New York (1976), with the latter of the three the only one being made for television . Furthermore , the support cast is pretty well such as : David Huddleston as Inspector Lafferty NYPD , Signe Hasso as Fraulein Reichenbach , Gig Young as Mortimer McGrew , Leon Ames , John Abbott and the former child prodigy , Jackie Coogan . Atmospheric soundtrack , being first American television production scored by music composer Richard Rodney Bennett . Evocative cinematography by Michael Margulies . The motion picture was professionally directed by Boris Sagal , though with no originality . Sagal was a good craftsman who usually worked in TV , such as : ¨Ike: the war years¨ , ¨Masada¨, ¨Night Gallery¨ and occasionally made films as the successful Sci-Fi : ¨Omega man¨ .
Jonathon Dabell
Who has played Sherlock Holmes on screen better than any other actor? Who has captured the essence of the role most accurately? There are those who would say Basil Rathbone; others might plump for Jeremy Brett; Peter Cushing has his admirers too. Not in a month of Sundays would you think Roger Moore could make it onto that illustrious list. Moore is usually the suave, handsome, ever-humorous leading man – the Saint, yes; Lord Brett Sinclair, yes; James Bond, yes - but not a character actor with sufficient range to play Conan Doyle's famous literary sleuth. As it happens Moore is surprisingly good as Holmes, giving a refreshingly witty and confident performance in this made-for-TV movie. While he never quite threatens to erase memories of Basil Rathbone, he certainly creates a memorable and unique interpretation of the oft-portrayed character.In Victorian London, nefarious villain Moriarty (John Huston) is confronted in his hideout by a disguised man who reveals himself as Sherlock Holmes (Roger Moore). Moriarty successfully escapes from the confrontation, leaving Holmes to return to his famous home on Baker Street to ponder his next move. Aided by his loyal sidekick Dr Watson (Patrick MacNee), Holmes deduces that Moriarty is on his way to realizing some sort of sinister master plan…. a plan which somehow involves New York City. Holmes and Watson embark for New York, where they try to convince American policeman Inspector Lafferty (David Huddleston) that trouble is in the air. Holmes also renews his acquaintance with an ex-flame, Irene Adler (Charlotte Rampling), whose young son Scott (Geoffrey Moore) may be his son. Eventually, it becomes evident that Moriarty is scheming to carry out an incredibly audacious bank robbery, simultaneously kidnapping young Scott to discourage anyone from pursuing him. Holmes must use his considerable intellect to thwart his arch-enemy's despicable plan….The actors seem to be having a ball with their respective roles in this film. Moore enjoys the opportunity to escape his James Bond persona; Huston is slightly hammy but very enthusiastic as the cunning Moriarty; MacNee provides amusement as Holmes's ever-reliable sidekick; and Rampling is her usual elegant self as the ex-lover. Alvin Sapinsley's script is wordy but clever, bringing in various characters from the original Conan Doyle stories, while Boris Sagal directs the film solidly. The film has a rather studio-bound look which detracts from the overall believability and brings unwanted attention to the film's modest budget. But on the whole this is an enjoyable affair, a TV-movie of rare quality which passes very nicely indeed as a lazy afternoon's entertainment.
