Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Good-natured Sherlock spoof with some dirty-joke humor.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE ADVENTURE OF SHERLOCK HOLMES' SMARTER BROTHER begins foggy 1891 London. It turns out there are two consulting detectives named S. Holmes -- the illustrious Sherlock (Douglas Wilmer), and his estranged, furiously jealous younger brother Sigurson (Gene Wilder). When a scandalous diplomatic document is stolen, one of the parties involved is the evil Professor Moriarty (Leo McKern), afflicted with a nervous compulsion to do something really, really mean every 24 minutes. Sherlock decides to deceive the master villain by pretending to leave town, handing the case over to Sigurson, along with a pretty music-hall songstress (Madeline Kahn) who lies about practically everything, and a messenger-sidekick (Marty Feldman) with a "photographic sense of hearing."
Is It Any Good?
Gene Wilder made his directing debut here with a genre farce that, like Young Frankenstein, shows respect and real affection for the material being burlesqued, not just anything-goes yucks. Though gags are uneven -- a horse-carriage fight scene using a giant fake hand vs. giant fake shoe is hilarious; a reference to the classic short story "The Lady or the Tiger?" is merely odd -- and the plot just sort of turns into confetti after a while, there's a consistent sense of fun throughout. Despite a few naughty bits, teens should jam to the infectious, let's-put-on-a-show enthusiasm (occasionally the cast bursts into a loony dance number, the "Kangaroo Hop"), not to mention the built-in empathy factor for younger brothers everywhere. Deductive logic, an essential part of the Sherlock stories, is strangely absent in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother. Yet one hardly notices.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the inferiority-complex problem Sigurson has with his brother Sherlock. Can any of your family members relate?
What kind of humor doesThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother rely on? What other movies does it remind you of? What kinds of things make you laugh?
What do kids know about Sherlock Holmes? How can you find out more?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 15, 1975
- On DVD or streaming : April 4, 2006
- Cast : Dom DeLuise , Gene Wilder , Madeline Kahn
- Director : Gene Wilder
- Studio : Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate