The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Great film

Once out of print and secondary market prices over $100, this excellent story is now available to fans of Sherlock Holmes at a reasonable price and on blue ray.

After many years of only the Americanized 4:3 version on VHS and very, very short supply of a few DVDs, THIS Blu-ray release finally puts an end to the unbelievable mistake of not producing this movie in it's original screen display format. It was not shot in full cinematic widescreen but is very close to our typical 16:9 TVs. Two years ago the VHS versions of this movie had become so scarce that some were offered on auction sites for up to $125.00 each. In Britain, the original format DVD was available in PAL. There were many bad pirate versions out there. This Bluray offering includes the film in it's original screen format on one DVD disc and on one Blu-ray disc. The movie is fascinating because it is based on a best-selling novel that.. while entertaining some wild extrapalatorical plot devices, stays truer to most of Doyles character development than the typical Sherlock Holmes screenplays. Alan Arkin cast as Freud is one of the greatest castings of all time. Duvall's Watson is the weekest link in the production, but is aging well due to his fidelity to "the limp." This is Vanessa Redgrave's finest part ever (she is more radiant than her Isadora). While Sir Olivier had only a small roll as Prof. Moriarty, he aced it (as you would expect). The one bonus feature is a dusey, where the author of the book explains his work and total surprise at it's massive acceptance. Some rather inexperienced reviewers have compared this film to "Sherlock Holmes" movies but the film can only really be described as the best possible, ever Holmes derivative book and film.

In light of the recent resurgence in popularity of Sherlock Holmes, this movie has got up to the zeitgeist. Actually this film would fit nicely with Guy Ritchies Sherlock and TV Elementary. It is a interesting take on alternate history. What if Holmes cocaine addiction became so out of control that his good friend Watson conspires with Mycroft (Sherlock's brother to lure him to Austria to be treated by Sigmund Freud. There you have the set up for this movie. The cast is are all very accomplished actors only Robert Duvall as Watson seems a little awkward. Allan Arkin is a great Freud and Nigel Hawthorne is great \manic depressive Holmes. Lawrence Olivier seems as bewildered as his character Moriarity. Who in this tale is not the master criminal portrayed in other Holmes stories. The Austrian setting makes for an interesting back drop. The injection of the Ottoman Empire adds a little more exoticism that fits perfectly with a Victorian adventure yarn. Duel by tennis racket and fencing on top of a train all very entertaining.. I saw this movie in the seventies and in my opinion it has aged very well.

This film is a clever twist on the Sherlock Holmes coda. Nicole Williamson and Robert Duvall do respectable jobs as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, respectively. Alan Arkin delivers his usual credible performance as Doctor Sigmund Freud, who is tasked with curing Holmes of his cocaine addiction. While in Vienna undergoing treatment, Holmes and Watson stumble across a heinous crime that Holmes feels compelled to solve. The film is nicely paced, adequately acted, and while not the greatest Sherlock Holmes film ever made, it is pleasant enough to help one while away a somnolent Sunday afternoon.

For years and years, I could not make heads or tails out of the meaning of this movie's title. Then, in watching one of the Jeremy Brett / Granada TV's adaptations of the Holmes' adventures, it was mentioned that our stalwart hero, the world's greatest consulting detective, a highly-regarded and on-going and indispensable aide to England's Scotland Yard, in general and to one Inspector Lestrade, in particular, was subject to horrific bouts of 'ennui' - or extreme boredom. It was during these all-too-numerous times when there was no current case to apply his extraordinary mental faculties. that Holmes' almost-constant rooming companion, friend and chronicler, John H. Watson, M.D., would reluctantly administer/inject via hypodermic needle, believe it or not, a 'seven-percent-solution of drugs to 'help' his friend deal with said boredom. Later, we would earn that these seven percent injections were more like 3 or 4 percent. In a last-ditch-effort to help Holmes rid himself of his highly-dangerous 'remedy' to his ennui, Watson, having heard of an up-an-coming colleague of his, one Doctor Sigmund Freud, who was enjoying considerable success in dealing with patients who were suffering from various psychological disorders. Watson, knowing that Holmes would be too proud to admit his addiction problem, tricks his friend into going to Vienna, by convincing him that 'a client' needed his help, very badly in that city. Holmes agrees, and soon the game is, once again, 'afoot'. I will leave it there. There is no Basil Rathbone in this movie. There is no Jeremy Brett in this movie. No Christopher Plummer, Roger Moore, or anyone else who ever played Holmes. Nicol Williamson and Robert Duvall are just wonderful as Holmes and Watson, respectively. Alan Arkin plays Sigmund Freud, and the greatest actor of his generation, Sir Laurence Olivier, takes on the role of Holmes' greatest, life-long enemy, the Napoleon of Crime, Professor James Moriarty. The very beautiful Samantha Eggar, in an almost-cameo role, still manages to capture the viewer's attention and respect. If you are a movie fan, to any degree, you owe it to yourself to get this movie, and watch it from start to finish, without interruption. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be very proud of the way this cast, and crew, have breathed new life into his most-beloved characters. You won't regret the time nor the money spent on this film. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and do. Mr. Z.

Dr. Watson (played by Robert Duvall) goes to see Sherlock Holmes after a long absence, finds him totally addicted to cocaine and in a wild and paranoiac state. Mr. Duvall's Dr. Watson is better than anybody's I've ever seen. He's not a bumbling idiot--but an intelligent man of action who conceives of a plan to cure Holmes by luring him to the great Sigmund Freud. As a previous cocaine user now cured, Freud is able to help Holmes. When one of his patients, a beautiful former addict, is forced into addiction again by mysterious thugs, the hunt is on. Even though the subject matter is serious, the film is at times humorous and tongue-in-cheek. I liked it when Dr. Watson puts up his dukes to fight an anti-Semitic bully on Dr. Freud's behalf. It illustrates Dr. Watson's endearing personality in this film and makes us wish we had a friend like him. If you like Sherlock Holmes, this is a good one to see because it is different, and it ends well. Although the guy playing Holmes is not at all appealing, and Laurence Olivier's Professor Moriarty is not too believable in the last scene they put him in (he doesn't give us any reason why some woman would ever let him get on top of her), Robert Duvall's engaging interpretation of Dr. Watson makes up for it.

This is one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes films, and I'm glad Universal has made it available on DVD-R in their Vault Series. I saw this in a theater in 1976, and I really liked it. Director Herbert Ross poured on the atmosphere in bringing Nicholas Meyer's bestselling novel to the screen. The script, the acting, and the production values are all terrific. Holmes purists may have problems with Meyer's speculative "rewrite" of Arthur Conan Doyle's iconic character, but I think it makes perfect sense. Nicol Williamson is a fascinating Holmes, and Alan Arkin's Sigmund Freud is delightful. But my personal fave here is Robert Duvall, whose Dr. John Watson is a pleasant surprise. Far from the chubby, jolly bumbler we usually see (Nigel Bruce, etc.), Duvall makes Watson an intelligent, watchful, capable hero. Throw in Joel Grey as a mysterious henchman, beautiful Vanessa Redgrave as a damsel in distress, and Laurence Olivier as the notorious Professor Moriarty, and the result is very clever and entertaining. If you love the Holmes stories and don't mind a loose interpretation of Doyle, you won't want to miss it.

Une belle édition Bluray d'un film intéressant, un des maillons de la chaîne de revalorisation du personnage de Watson. Ici, solidement interprété par Robert Duvall, qui s'avère un des meilleurs Watson de l'écran, le docteur prend l'initiative de conduire Holmes à Vienne afin de consulter le docteur Freud qui pourra le guérir de sa cocaïnomanie. Là, la résolution d'une affaire criminelle s'imposera.

When I first watched the movie in the late 1970s and early 1980s, I thought it was such an intriguing and wonderful extension to the canon of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I think like most fans of Sherlock Holmes, to not be able to continue to follow the exploits of the detective after the original nine volumes (four novels and five volumes of short stories) was disappointing. There are many authors who have attempted to extend the memories of John Watson, but to dive into the reason for Sherlock's addiction was really brave; and having the great detective meet Sigmund Freud was genius! I've been a fan of Nicol Williamson since I watched him play Merlin in Excalibur. Apart from Robin and Marian, playing Little John in another really brilliant masterpiece of exploring the vulnerable side of our heroes, I thoroughly enjoyed Nicol's portrayal of Sherlock still being astute while in the throes of his addiction. The scenes and verbal tango between Alan Arkin (another brilliant actor who will be missed) as Freud and Nicol as Sherlock still brings a smile to my face; along with watching the entourage of legendary actors who appear in the movie. I am so glad to finally have a Blu-ray copy of, what I consider, another timeless classic movie in my collection. No regrets... Thank you, Nicholas Meyer. :o)

This Sherlock Holmes film is not shown very often which is a shame as it’s excellent. Slightly different from other films in that it focuses on Holmes drug addiction but nevertheless there is an exciting adventure to be had based in Austria. Very good performances all round. Recommended.

Buena película pero yo tambien puedo bajarmela de internet y grabarla en un bluray.

Excellent story and very well acted. It sticks to Sir Artur Conan Doyle's original characters.