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7.3/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Lelícek ve sluzbách Sherlocka Holmesa remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school slapstick and don’t mind subtitles that move a bit fast, you’ll probably get a kick out of this. It’s definitely not for the people who need their mysteries to actually make sense. If you are looking for a gritty detective story, you’re in the wrong place. Go watch The Red Circle instead.
Vlasta Burian is basically the whole movie. He’s running around like a headless chicken, and his energy is just exhausting to watch. In a good way, I think?
There is this one scene where he’s trying to navigate royal manners, and it feels like it lasts for an eternity. The timing is so weirdly off that you start wondering if the film reel is just stuck. But then he makes a face, and you just laugh. It’s that kind of experience.
It’s not trying to be prestigious or anything. It’s just a guy playing two roles and failing at both of them. It’s way more fun than the usual stiff Sherlock stuff you see in other flicks like The Phantom. 🕵️♂️
It’s a bit of a mess. Sometimes the scenes just end. Like, they didn't even bother with a fade-out. One second someone is talking, and then suddenly we are somewhere else entirely. It’s jarring, but it’s kind of refreshing compared to modern movies that hold your hand for two hours.
You can tell the director was just trying to get to the next gag. Who cares about logic when you have a guy trying to eat soup while wearing a crown? It’s not a masterpiece. It’s barely a movie, honestly. But it’s got a weird heart to it. Definitely worth a watch if you have a slow Sunday afternoon and a weird sense of humor. 👑