Without a Clue (1988)

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

Director:

Thom Eberhardt

Writers:

Gary Murphy, Larry Strawther

Stars:

Michael Caine, Ben Kingsley, Jeffrey Jones

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Reginald Kincaid / Sherlock Holmes
Ben Kingsley	...	Dr. Watson
Jeffrey Jones	...	Inspector Lestrade
Lysette Anthony	...	Leslie Giles
Paul Freeman	...	Prof. James Moriarty
Nigel Davenport	...	Lord Smithwick
Pat Keen	...	Mrs. Hudson
Peter Cook	...	Greenhough
Tim Killick	...	Sebastian
Matthew Savage	...	Wiggins
John Warner	...	Peter Giles
Matthew Sim	...	Real Lesley
Harold Innocent	...	Mayor Johnson
George Sweeney	...	John Clay
Murray Ewan	...	Archie

Storyline

This is a Sherlock Holmes story with a difference. Here Dr Watson is the ace detective and has been using an actor to play the part Holmes. Holmes is a drunken actor and gets on Watson's nerves. When Watson tries to go it alone, he doesn't have much success, so he is forced to let Holmes take all the credit once more.

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Plot Keywords:

sherlock holmes | spoof | private detective | drunkenness | knocked unconscious | 

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Taglines:

"Without a Clue" is a joyful, rip-roaring, hilarious role-reversal adventure.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sherlock and Me

Filming Locations:

Syon Park, Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,246,772, 23 October 1988, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$8,539,181

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Michael Caine portrayed dual roles in this movie. They were the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Reginald Kincaid.

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Goofs

During Holmes and Moriarty's sword-fight, Michael Caine's fencing double can clearly be seen from time to time.

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Quotes

Inspector Lestrade: Half a tick, Mr. Holmes. Ye can't go walkin' into someone's residence, pokin' about their personal possessions, disruptin' their privacy... That's for Scotland Yard.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are superimposed over still images of Victorian London. The final shot of Holmes and Watson form the backdrop for the end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Knots Landing: Without a Clue (1989)

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Soundtracks

Where Did You Get that Hat?
(uncredited)
Written by Joseph J. Sullivan
Performed by Sarah Parr-Byrne

User Reviews

Absolutely brilliant, Watson! A Sherlock Holmes story where LESTRADE SOLVES THE BLOODY CASE!

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.