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They Might Be Giants (1971)

Director: Anthony Harvey

Average user rating
2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

A delightfully quirky movie about a New York lawyer (Scott) who imagines he is Sherlock Holmes, adopting the deerstalking garb and savouring four-pipe problems. The pressures of modern life and the death of his wife have, of course, turned him into a textbook case of paranoid delusion. His somewhat sinister brother sends him to a shrink, Dr Mildred Watson (Woodward), whose Freudian analysis of him is rather overshadowed by his Holmesian analysis of her. Watson's other case is a man who refuses to speak - he thinks he's silent screen star Valentino. Meanwhile, Scott refuses to get better; indeed, he lures everyone into his fantasy, gathering a bunch of Bleeker Street Irregulars who go into snowbound Central Park for a final showdown with the Napoleon of crime, Moriarty. Produced by Paul Newman, it was a box-office disaster (shorn of ten minutes on its original release) that now seems years ahead of its time.

Author: ATu 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


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User reviews of this film

  • Robbie said...
    Posted on Oct 27 2009 02:53 This twee romantic (sort of) comedy (at times) will wear thin for various people at various points in its fairly brief running time. Scott is fun, even moving, and seeing Joanne Woodward in even such a mild role reminds one of how the movies never really found a place for this engaging actress. The writer himself, James Goldman, felt that his play that the film is based on didn't get it "quite right." Apparently the lure of a paycheck for a film version proved irresistible.
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  • Willam said...
    Posted on Aug 04 2009 06:40 This movie is really stupid. Don't waste your time. You keep hoping that there will be some sort resolution in the end, and possibilities abound, but they are all carelessly thrown away and the ending leaves you empty. A total waste of time, and of the skills of two great two great actors.
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