WITHOUT A CLUE: WHO IS HOLMES?

Sherlock Holmes, to me, is the greatest sleuth of all time. The books written decades ago remain as entertaining today as they were when they were first published. The classic movies starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and his stalwart companion Dr. Watson are as enjoyable now as they were when first released. And the current versions of Holmes found in the performance of Benedict Cumberbatch or Johnny Lee Miller bring him to life in the present and will hold your interest as well. But what if Holmes wasn’t really the detective we’ve always thought he was?

That is the premise behind the 1988 film WITHOUT A CLUE. The title refers not just to the mystery at hand but to the person of Holmes himself presented here. While Holmes (Michael Caine) solves the latest mystery to the praise of the press, once inside his apartment at 221 B Baker Street we discover that he is nothing more than an actor hired to play the part. In reality the detective is and always has been Dr. John Watson (Ben Kingsley), who hired actor Reginald Kincaid to portray Holmes giving a face to the detective. In an attempt to avoid the throng of fans he created a monster, an actor who has no clue how to solve a mystery and who is more interested in women and drink than crime.

Now that Watson is ready to face the public on his own terms he finds himself in a bit of a jam. Not only is no one willing to believe the truth that he is the real detective, his publisher tells him that it will ruin their magazine as well as any career he would hope to have. When the queen sends an emissary to recruit Holmes for an extreme case, he refuses Watson’s aid and insists on Holmes to handle the case. Not an easy task since Watson just fired him and tossed him out. In no time at all he finds “Holmes”, brings him home and then begin to attempt to solve the case before them.

The case involves the disappearance of plates used to print 5 pound bank notes as well as the man responsible for the printing of those notes. Should counterfeit notes flood the streets of England it might collapse the country’s economy. Only a man like Holmes can help find the two and return things to right.

The bumbling faux detective and the real crime solver set out to save the country, never realizing at first that the man behind it all is the evil Prof. Moriarty that Watson has long known to be the leader of the criminal underworld in England for some time. Traveling from one end of the country to the other the duo do their best to find the clues needed to solve the case, enlisting the help of both the Baker Street irregulars and their landlady Mrs. Hudson (who both know the truth behind Holmes) to save the day.

The highlight of this film is the performances of both Caine and Kingsley in their respective roles. Caine portrays the unknown and less than able actor who seems more intent on a glass of whiskey than on saving the world. Kingsley turns in a great performance as a man frustrated by his own creation who now desires recognition yet receives none. That both of them can stand to be in the same room with one another as their goals go different directions yet force them to be next to one another makes for some hilarious moments. That there is a deep fondness between the two that neither is willing to admit makes it even better.

The mystery involved here makes the movie work as well, providing plenty of clues for the viewer to acknowledge and follow with the chance to solve the story before the end credits roll. The secondary performances add to the movie as well with not a one wasted or underplayed. The film production seen on screen is solid and the set designs and costuming, which could make a period piece like this fall apart, are handled with excellence.

Sherlock Holmes fans will love this film. They’ll enjoy not just the mystery but the hilarious concept of the film to begin with. While not based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books or stories it is an excellent addition to the history of Holmes to be placed right alongside such items as THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION and THE PRIVATE LIFE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, two other great movies involving the character but not based on the original material. Some laughs, a mystery and enough action to hold your interests, this is a movie that should be in every Holmes fan collection as well as those of Caine and Kingsley. An enjoyable night’s entertainment for all.

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