They Might Be Giants (film)

Last updated
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Anthony Harvey
Screenplay by James Goldman
Based onThey Might Be Giants
1961 play
by James Goldman
Produced by John Foreman
Starring George C. Scott
Joanne Woodward
Jack Gilford
Lester Rawlins
Al Lewis
Rue McClanahan
Cinematography Victor J. Kemper
Edited by Gerald B. Greenberg
Music by John Barry
Production
company
Newman-Foreman Company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
  • June 9, 1971 (1971-06-09)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

They Might Be Giants is a 1971 American comedy mystery film based on the 1961 play of the same name (both written by James Goldman) starring George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward. The play opened at Stratford East in 1961, and closed after only four weeks. [1]

Contents

The film's title was later adopted as the name of a popular music group. [2]

Plot

Joanne Woodward and George C. Scott in They Might Be Giants. They Might Be Giants trailer.jpg
Joanne Woodward and George C. Scott in They Might Be Giants.

Justin Playfair is an eminent  judge who retreats into fantasy after his wife's death, imagining himself to be Sherlock Holmes, the legendary fictional detective. Complete with deerstalker hat, pipe and violin, he spends his days in a homemade criminal laboratory obsessing over plots hatched by his (Holmes's) archenemy, Professor Moriarty, and pursuing clues throughout the city.

Justin's brother Blevins tries to commit Justin to a mental institution run by his friend Dr. Strauss so he can get power of attorney and control Justin's finances. The criminal to whom Blevins owes money is more than willing to get it by killing Justin so Blevins can inherit.

Psychiatrist Dr. Mildred Watson's signature is needed on the commitment papers. She insists on doing a proper interview and is immediately fascinated by Justin, who demonstrates a knack for what Holmes describes as "deduction"(technically better categorized as abductive reasoning) as well as for hand-to-hand combat. He walks out of the institution during the ensuing confusion, and Watson comes to his home to attempt treatment. Justin is initially dismissive of Watson's attempts to psychoanalyze him. He knows Justin Playfair, who tried to make the world the kind of place it might have been and went mad. “I am not that man,” he declares, and tests his logic on her with a scathing analysis of her lonely life, down to the fact that her suit is 10 years old. But when he hears her name, he enthusiastically incorporates her into his life as Doctor Watson, the sidekick to his Holmes. Watson accepts the role of “chronicler”.

They begin an enigmatic quest for Moriarty,  following all manner of bizarre and (to Watson) unintelligible clues and encountering a rich tapestry of people in assorted urban situations. Eventually he takes her to Wilbur Peabody, who thinks Dr. Watson is deluded until she identifies herself. He has known Justin for more than 30 years. She leaves Justin there.

The next morning, Wilbur wakes Justin, who fell asleep reading about himself in Who's Who. He asks Wilbur which is his life. He has no memories. What's wrong with being Holmes? his friend replies. Wilbur wishes he were the Scarlet Pimpernel. Watson rushes in declaring that Blevins wants Justin's money. They'll find Moriarty first and then deal with his brother. Justin is energized:  “I'm very glad you're here. I like you very much.”

At an abandoned building, they find an older couple who retired from the world in 1939 to grow magnificent topiaries. The crook and his henchman appear. Holmes and Watson escape by different exits.

They are to meet as prearranged at Watson's small apartment at 7 pm. Holmes arrives late, by the fire escape, bearing flowers. Watson is wearing a white organdy dress with short puff sleeves and a pink satin sash. Her dinner preparations have been disastrous. They have a drink and he talks about going out together after this is over. She agrees. They are dancing when a bullet smashes the window, grazing his forehead and knocking him to the floor. Distraught, she calls him “my Holmes.”

The two head to the midnight rendezvous with Moriarty. Wilbur and the other fascinating people they met earlier join in a brisk parade past New York City landmarks. They stop by a kiosk covering a manhole. He tells his friends that Earth is shining under the soot. Moriarty has deceived us; we will bring him down. He takes Watson's hand and they descend into a tunnel. The others do not follow. A giant supermarket is a dead end. Then Watson comes up with their next stop, the Riding School just off Central Park.

She means to walk with him. She is not afraid. They express their love for each other, and Holmes hears Moriarty coming, on horseback. We hear nothing. Watson hears nothing—and then she does, and we do, the sound of hoofbeats approaching from the darkness beneath a bridge. They hold hands. “Let it be said that they found us very close together, in the light.” Justin says. The camera zooms in and a bright light shines on and around them, growing brighter until it almost fills the screen.

Cast

Title explanation

The title is an indirect reference to Don Quixote's famous exploit of tilting at windmills, believing them to be "monstrous giants". In reference to this, the character Playfair argues:

Well he had a point. Of course, he carried it a bit too far. He thought that every windmill was a giant. That's insane. But, thinking that they might be...well...all the best minds used to think the world was flat. — But, what if it isn't? — It might be round — and bread mold might be medicine. If we never looked at things and thought of what they might be, why, we'd all still be out there in the tall grass with the apes. [3]

Critical views

The film opened to mixed reviews. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called it "a mushy movie with occasional, isolated moments of legitimate comedy." [4] On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating 61% based on reviews from 18 critics. [5]

Releases

There have been various running times of the film over the years with the Kino Blu-ray at 91 minutes. The largest missing material is a long sequence near the end that takes place in a grocery store. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Final Problem</span> Short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes

"The Final Problem" is a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle featuring his detective character Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in The Strand Magazine in the United Kingdom, and McClure's in the United States, under the title "The Adventure of the Final Problem" in December 1893. It appears in book form as part of the collection The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Scandal in Bohemia</span> Short story by Arthur Conan Doyle featuring Sherlock Holmes

"A Scandal in Bohemia" is the first short story, and the third overall work, featuring Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. It is the first of the 56 Holmes short stories written by Doyle and the first of 38 Sherlock Holmes works illustrated by Sidney Paget. The story is notable for introducing the character of Irene Adler, who is one of the most notable female characters in the Sherlock Holmes series, despite appearing in only one story. Doyle ranked "A Scandal in Bohemia" fifth in his list of his twelve favourite Holmes stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonel Moran</span> Fictional character

Colonel Sebastian Moran is a fictional character in the stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle. An enemy of Sherlock Holmes, he first appears in the 1903 short story "The Adventure of the Empty House". Holmes once described him as "the second most dangerous man in London", the most dangerous being Professor Moriarty, Moran's employer.

<i>Without a Clue</i> 1988 British comedy film by Thom Eberhardt

Without a Clue is a 1988 British comedy film directed by Thom Eberhardt and starring Michael Caine and Ben Kingsley. It is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's characters from the Sherlock Holmes stories but, in this version, the roles are reversed: Dr. John Watson is the brilliant detective, while "Sherlock Holmes" is an actor hired to pose as the detective so that Watson can protect his reputation as a physician.

<i>The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes Smarter Brother</i> 1975 film by Gene Wilder

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother is a 1975 American musical comedy film with Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Madeline Kahn, Dom DeLuise, Roy Kinnear, and Leo McKern. The film was Wilder's directorial debut, from his own original script.

Sherlock Holmes has long been a popular character for pastiche, Holmes-related work by authors and creators other than Arthur Conan Doyle. Their works can be grouped into four broad categories:

<i>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes</i> (film) 1939 film by Alfred L. Werker

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a 1939 American mystery adventure film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. Although claiming to be an adaptation of the 1899 play Sherlock Holmes by William Gillette, the film bears little resemblance to the play.

<i>The Woman in Green</i> 1945 American film directed by Roy William Neill

The Woman in Green is a 1945 American film, the eleventh of the fourteen Basil Rathbone-Nigel Bruce Sherlock Holmes films based on the characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle. Produced and directed by Roy William Neill, it stars Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Bruce as Dr. Watson, with Hillary Brooke as the woman of the title and Henry Daniell as Professor Moriarty. The film follows an original premise with material taken from "The Final Problem" (1893) and "The Adventure of the Cardboard Box.

<i>Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon</i> 1943 film by Roy William Neill

Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1942) is the fourth in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of 14 Sherlock Holmes films which updated the characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the then present day. The film is credited as an adaptation of Conan Doyle's 1903 short story "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," though the only element from the source material is the dancing men code. Rather, it is a spy film taking place on the background of the then ongoing Second World War with an original premise. The film concerns the kidnapping of a Swiss scientist by their nemesis Professor Moriarty, to steal a new bomb sight and sell it to Nazi Germany. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson have to crack a secret code in order to save the country.

<i>The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It</i> 1977 film by Joseph McGrath

The Strange Case of the End of Civilisation as We Know It is a 1977 comedy film directed by Joseph McGrath and starring John Cleese. It is a low-budget spoof of the Sherlock Holmes detective series, as well as the mystery genre in general.

<i>Sherlock Holmes: The Musical</i> Musical play

Sherlock Holmes: The Musical is a musical based on characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with music, lyrics, and book by Leslie Bricusse. The story concerns a 1901 confrontation between Holmes and his arch-enemy Professor Moriarty; Moriarty's brilliant daughter Bella proves to be an even more determined foe than her father.

<i>Sherlock Holmes in New York</i> 1976 film by Boris Sagal

Sherlock Holmes in New York is a 1976 American made-for-television mystery film about Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, played by Roger Moore and Patrick Macnee respectively.

<i>Sherlock Holmes</i> (1922 film) 1922 American silent mystery drama film by Albert Parker

Sherlock Holmes is a 1922 American silent mystery drama film starring John Barrymore as Sherlock Holmes, Roland Young as Dr. John Watson and Gustav von Seyffertitz as Moriarty.

<i>The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson</i> (film) 1980 Soviet Union film

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson is a 1980 Soviet film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories about Sherlock Holmes. It is the second film in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson film series directed by Igor Maslennikov.

<i>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</i> 2011 film by Guy Ritchie

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is a 2011 period mystery action film and a sequel to the 2009 film Sherlock Holmes. The film is directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Dan Lin, Joel Silver, Lionel Wigram and Susan Downey.

Victorian Undead is a series of comics about Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson dealing with the supernatural. The first series Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes vs. Zombies is a six-issue American comic book limited series published by Wildstorm. The series was written by Ian Edginton, with art by Davide Fabbri. The story is set in Victorian England and follows Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson in the midst of a zombie outbreak. It was followed by Victorian Undead Special: Sherlock Holmes vs. Jekyll/Hyde and a second series, Victorian Undead: Sherlock Holmes vs. Dracula, which sees Holmes and Watson helping to track down the title character before he kills Queen Victoria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Abominable Bride</span> Episode of Sherlock

"The Abominable Bride" is a special episode of the British television programme Sherlock. The episode was broadcast on BBC One, PBS and Channel One on 1 January 2016. It depicts the characters of the show in an alternative timeline: the Victorian London setting of the original stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The title is based on the quote "Ricoletti of the club foot and his abominable wife" from "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual" (1893), which refers to a case mentioned by Holmes. The story also draws on elements of original Conan Doyle stories of Holmes such as "The Five Orange Pips" (1891) and "The Final Problem" (1893).

<i>Holmes & Watson</i> 2018 film by Etan Cohen

Holmes & Watson is a 2018 mystery comedy film written and directed by Etan Cohen. The film stars Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as the eponymous characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, respectively; with Rebecca Hall, Rob Brydon, Kelly Macdonald, Steve Coogan and Ralph Fiennes in supporting roles. The plot follows the famed detective duo as they set out to find the culprit behind a threat at Buckingham Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professor Moriarty in other media</span>

Professor James Moriarty is the fictional archenemy of Sherlock Holmes in some of the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He has appeared in several forms outside of the original stories.

"The Final Problem" is the third episode of the fourth series, and the series finale, of the British television series Sherlock, and the thirteenth episode overall. The episode first aired on BBC One, PBS, Channel One and 1+1 on 15 January 2017.

References

  1. ↑ Barnes, Alan (2011). Sherlock Holmes on Screen. Titan Books. p. 288. ISBN   9780857687760.
  2. ↑ Walker, Chloe (June 9, 2021). "They Might Be Giants Remains as Charmingly Weird as the Band Its Name Inspired". Paste . Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ Howell, Cory (February 14, 2014). "Review: They Might Be Giants". I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ Canby, Vincent (June 10, 1971). "They Might Be Giants". The New York Times .
  5. ↑ "They Might be Giants". Rotten Tomatoes .
  6. ↑ Galbraith IV, Stuart (June 11, 2019). "They Might Be Giants". DVD Talk . Retrieved December 31, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.