The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
Nicholas Meyer (novel)

Release Date:

2 June 1977 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

To treat his friend's cocaine induced delusions, Watson lures Sherlock Holmes to Sigmund Freud.

Plot Keywords:

Cocaine | Sherlock Holmes | Sigmund Freud | Subconscious | Kidnapping

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Alan Arkin	...	Dr. Sigmund Freud
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Lola Deveraux
Robert Duvall	...	Dr. John H. Watson / Narrator
Nicol Williamson	...	Sherlock Holmes
Laurence Olivier	...	Professor James Moriarty
Joel Grey	...	Lowenstein
Samantha Eggar	...	Mary Morstan Watson
Jeremy Kemp	...	Baron von Leinsdorf
Charles Gray	...	Mycroft Holmes
Régine	...	Madame
Georgia Brown	...	Mrs. Freud
Anna Quayle	...	Freda
Jill Townsend	...	Mrs. Holmes
John Bird	...	Berger
Alison Leggatt	...	Mrs. Hudson

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 (video rating) | UK:AA (original rating) | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Herbert Ross Productions

Trivia:

While the book showed Dr. Sigmund Freud with a daughter, the child he had in real life, the movie showed him with a make-believe son because Dr. Anna Freud threatened a lawsuit if she was included. Since her father was dead she had no control over how he was portrayed.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the railroad pursuit, the trains are seen on two tracks that are about to merge. Holmes states that there are no points left to switch. However, the coming together of the two track lines necessarily involves a switching point. And, in fact, that set of points is visible soon thereafter.

Quotes:

Sherlock Holmes: I never guess: it is an appalling habit, destructive to the logical faculty. A private study is an ideal place for observing facets of a man's character. That the study belongs to you exclusively is evident from the dust: not even the maid is permitted here, else she would scarcely have ventured to let matters come to this pass.
Sigmund Freud: Go on.
Sherlock Holmes: Very well. Now, when a man collects books on a subject, they're usually grouped together, but notice, your King James Bible, your Book of Mormon, and Koran are separate, across the room in fact, from your Hebrew Bible and Talmud, which sit on your desk. Now these books have a special importance for you not connected with a general study of religion, obviously. The nine-branched candelabra on your desk confirms my suspicion that you are of the Jewish faith; it is called a menorah, is it not?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Homicide: Life on the Street: The Twenty Percent Solution (#7.4)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

The Madame's Song

Excellent Holmes movie

Sherlock Holmes (Nicol Williamson) is deep in the grip of cocaine addiction. His best friend Dr. Watson (Robert Duvall) and brother Mycroft Holmes (Charles Grey) get him to Vienna to receive treatment for his problem by Dr. Sigmund Freud (Alan Arkin). While there a mystery pops up involving a beautiful red-haired woman (Vanessa Redgrave)...

Just great. I caught this in a revival theatre back in 1979 when it was playing with "Murder By Decree" (Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper). I just loved it--and it still holds up. The film never takes itself too seriously (during the opening credits there's a note saying the whole picture is true "only the fact have been made up"!) This was beautifully filmed with exquisite costumes and production design. Also director Herbet Ross does a great job--everything moves at a brisk pace--he even makes a tennis game look exciting!

It's 2 hours long but I was never bored. The first hour deals with Freud dealing with Holmes' cocaine addiction--the second hour the mystery comes in. During the final 30 minutes it turns into an action adventure flick--but it always stays on track. There's also a lot of amusing visual or verbal references to other Holmes' adventures--we even get to see Toby from "Sign of the Four"! But you don't have to know the references to enjoy them--this film works so everyone can enjoy it. The story mixes Holmes' deductive reason with Freud's psychological reasonings in an interesting and very entertaining way. It also explains why Holmes doesn't like women, why he became a detective and why he hates Moriarty.

Acting is (mostly) good. Williamson is just great as Holmes--he perfectly captures the detective under the grip of cocaine...and the recovery. Duvall is surprisingly bad as Watson--he seems constrained by the costumes and unsure of how to play the role. Arkin (a REAL strange choice) is actually pretty good as Freud sporting a believable accent. Grey is just great in his small role as is Samantha Eggar (who disappears much too quickly playing Mrs. Watson). And it's amusing to see Laurence Olivier play Professor Moriarty! Redgrave is hardly in this but she's amusing.

Basically one of the best Sherlock Holmes pictures ever! I heard this didn't do well at the box office...that's a shame. It is out on DVD but Universal released it in a hideous full frame transfer (which makes no sense) that completely destroys the film. Try to see it on TCM where it's shown letter-boxed.

A GREAT film--lots of fun. I give it a 10.