IMDb >
Without a Clue (1988)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsWithout a Clue (1988) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 12 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
21 October 1988 (USA)
more
Tagline:
The flip side of Sherlock Holmes. more
Plot:
A drunken Sherlock Holmes is really just a cover for the real detective - Dr Watson. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win
&
1 nomination
more
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Sir Michael Caine honoured with Variety Award at Bifa 2009
(From t5m.com. 7 December 2009, 1:53 AM, PST)
Interview: James Roday and Dulé Hill
(From CinemaSpy. 5 August 2009, 6:11 PM, PDT)
(From t5m.com. 7 December 2009, 1:53 AM, PST)
Interview: James Roday and Dulé Hill
(From CinemaSpy. 5 August 2009, 6:11 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Absolutely brilliant, Watson! A Sherlock Holmes story where LESTRADE SOLVES THE BLOODY CASE!
more (49 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Michael Caine | ... | Sherlock Holmes | |
| Ben Kingsley | ... | Dr. John Watson | |
| Jeffrey Jones | ... | Inspector Lestrade | |
| Lysette Anthony | ... | Impostor Leslie Giles | |
| Paul Freeman | ... | Professor James Moriarty | |
| Nigel Davenport | ... | Lord Smithwick | |
| Pat Keen | ... | Mrs. Hudson | |
| Peter Cook | ... | Norman Greenhough | |
| Tim Killick | ... | Sebastian | |
| Matthew Savage | ... | Wiggins | |
| John Warner | ... | Peter Giles | |
| Matthew Sim | ... | Real Leslie Giles | |
| Harold Innocent | ... | Lord Mayor Gerald Fitzwalter Johnson | |
| George Sweeney | ... | John Clay | |
| Murray Ewan | ... | Archie |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Singapore:PG |
Spain:T |
Iceland:L |
West Germany:12 (f) |
Australia:PG |
Sweden:11 |
UK:PG |
USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The opening sequence of the movie is inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original Sherlock Holmes story "The Red-Headed League." In the story, Sherlock Holmes captures John Clay and his accomplice, Archie. John Clay even calls out at one point, "Jump, Archie, and I'll swing for it!"
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Lord Smythwick and Inspector Lestrade are leaving Holme's apartment, Holmes has partly closed the door with the Inspector partly turned towards Holmes. The next scene has the door fully opened with the Inspector facing Holmes. Then Holmes closes the door in the Inspectors face.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Time Shift: A Study in Sherlock" (2007)
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (49 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Without a Clue (1988) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother | The Galloping Ghost | Murder by Decree | Hot Fuzz |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Comedy section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |


The Sherlock Holmes stories are full of monumental blunders. Watson's famous war wound, which moves about from limb to limb, is among the least of them. Most of the blame for Arthur Conan Doyle's unparallelled clumsiness has fallen upon poor old John (or, according to one story, James) Watson - as if HE could possibly be responsible for the all (or any) of the inanities in, say, `The Mazarin Stone'.
`Without a Clue' is an honest, meticulously researched film that does what it can to redress the injustice. It reveals that Watson was really the brains of the Holmes/Watson team - that Sherlock Holmes does not, technically speaking, even exist. How does this get us around all the inconsistencies that have puzzled Sherlock aficionados over the past century? To be frank, it doesn't. But no theory does. There are just too many inconsistencies to be fended off and this theory is about as likely to be right as any other. It's the theory I tend to believe. At least it's funnier than any of its rivals.
Anyone who loves the Holmes stories - anyone who has not been exposed to the stories but is genetically predisposed to love them nonetheless - MUST see this film. You don't need to know who Holmes, Watson, Lestrade and Moriarty are in order to enjoy it. Or rather, you need to know, but whatever you may think, you DO know - knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes universe has found its way into the water supply and 90% of all people are born with it. That's why `Without a Clue' is so hilarious. That's why it won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Actor. Actually, it didn't win anything, but I presume this was only because of some footling technicality.
P.S.: I should really set readers' minds at rest by telling them that Lestrade doesn't really solve the case. `Without a Clue' offers us a radically revisionist account of history - but not THAT radical.