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ITC Entertainment

Orion Pictures

Not part of a collection.

Without a Clue

Name: Without a Clue
Released: 1988-05-05T00:00:00.000000Z
Rating: 6.7

The flip side of Sherlock Holmes

1988 • 107 min • ★ 6.7 (266) • Released

Comedy Crime

Sherlock Holmes is as dashing as ever, but with a little secret: Dr. Watson is the brains behind the operation. When Reginald Kincaid, the actor he has hired to play Holmes becomes insufferable, Watson fires him and tries to go out on his own, but finds that he has done too good a job building Holmes up in the public's mind.

IMDb ↗

Original title: Without a Clue
Language: EN
Country: US,GB
Budget: —
Revenue: $8,539,181

Reviews & Ratings 1

CinemaSerf

Aug 7, 2025 · via TMDB

★ 7.0

I’d love to have seen a Rathbone\Bruce example of role reversing! This one sees us with an entirely hopeless “Holmes” (Michael Caine) acclaimed as a sleuth by just about everyone except the true brains of the operation. That’s “Dr. Watson” (Ben Kingsley) who is the long-suffering cerebral power behind the throne. Finally exasperated by the drunken antics of “Holmes”, “Watson” determines to start writing about the “Crime Doctor” instead. Not only do the publishers not fancy that idea, but neither do the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Nigel Davenport) nor “Insp. Lestrade” (Jeffrey Jones) when they need someone to investigate the theft of some Bank of England five pound plates. With nobody interested in the good doctor’s theories, he has to induce his erstwhile, sozzled and broke, colleague to return to 221B. Only then can they get on with the deducting - and get paid (in tenners!). The clues lead them to the beautiful Lake District where they soon realise there is a criminal mastermind behind this dastardly crime, but what chance they can thwart his scheme? What makes this work is some really engaging chemistry between Caine and Kingsley. The former is on great form as the dipso detective and the latter likewise as his quick-witted mentor. The writing allows for some pithy ripostes between the two men, the comedy stays the right side of slap-stick and every now and then the sceptical Jones pops up just to give us a moment to recalibrate before their next adventure. Jeopardy? Well no, not really, especially as we all know fairly swiftly who is pulling the strings, but that doesn’t matter as this is really more of a characterful romp by a cast having fun. It’s funny just how potent a put down “idiot” can be, when given the right amount of inflexion! Good fun.

User reviews courtesy of TMDB.

Keywords 5

19th century alcoholism detective london, england victorian england

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Cast 30

Michael Caine

Sherlock Holmes

Ben Kingsley

Dr. John Watson

Jeffrey Jones

Inspector Lestrade

Lysette Anthony

Impostor Leslie Giles

Nigel Davenport

Lord Smithwick

Peter Cook

Greenhough

Gregor Fisher

Bobby at Warehouse

Paul Freeman

Prof. James Moriarty

George Sweeney

John Clay

John Tordoff

Mr. Andrews

Alexandra Spencer

Mrs. Andrews

Matthew Sim

Real Lesley

Pat Keen

Mrs. Hudson

Matthew Savage

Wiggins

Tim Killick

Sebastian

John Warner

Peter Giles

Harold Innocent

Mayor Johnson

Murray Ewan

Archie

Stephen Tiller

Reporter #1

Michael O'Hagan

Reporter #2

Ivor Roberts

Reporter #3

Martin Pallot

Photographer

Caroline Milmoe

Constance

Steven O'Donnell

Bartender

James Bree

Barrister

Dave Cooper

Thug #2

Andy Bradford

Dockworker

Jennifer Guy

Christabel

Elizabeth Kelly

Landlady

Lesley Daine

Lady on Train

Crew 10

Ian Whittaker

Set Decoration

Alan Hume

Director of Photography

Lois Burwell

Makeup Artist

Peter Frampton

Makeup Artist

Paul Weston

Stunt Coordinator

Rocky Taylor

Stunts

Thom Eberhardt

Director

Jeremy Zimmermann

Casting

Noel Davis

Casting

Henry Mancini

Original Music Composer

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US Release Dates 2

Oct 21, 1988

PG Theatrical

Jan 1, 1989

Orion Home Video #8733 [VHS] 107 minutes

PG Physical