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They Might Be Giants

Actor(s): George C. Scott, Joanne Woodward, Jack Gilford, Lester Rawlins, Rue McClanahan
Director(s): Anthony Harvey
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Movie Details

MPAA Rating: G
Content Advisory: Suitable for Children
Movie Release: 1971
DVD Release: 01/25/2000
Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Number of Discs: 1
Run Time: 1 hrs 38 mins
Studio: Anchor Bay
Members Wishing: 31
Genres: Comedy, Adventure Comedy

DVD Synopsis

George C. Scott stars as Justin Playfair, a retired, widowed judge who labors under the delusion that he's Sherlock Holmes. Feigning concern, Playfair's greedy brother Blevins (Lester Rawlins) hires psychologist Dr. Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward) to certify that Justin is insane--and in so doing gain control of the judge's millions. Instead, Dr. Watson is drawn into Playfair's dream world, accompanying the judge on his quest to find the elusive (and imaginary) Professor Moriarty. Reality rears its head when a group of vicious blackmailers, to whom Blevins is deeply in debt, attempt to assassinate brother Justin. In a sequence originally cut from the release version but restored for television, Playfair and Watson are rescued by a group of middle-aged eccentrics, who like the judge would give anything to live the lives of their literary favorites (the most poignant of these is librarian Jack Gilford, who "wishes to God" that he were the Scarlet Pimpernel). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Actors

George C. Scott - Justin
Joanne Woodward - Watson
Jack Gilford - Peabody
Lester Rawlins - Blevins
Rue McClanahan - Daisy
Staats Cotsworth - Winthrop

Editorial Review of DVD

Anthony Harvey's quirky comedy They Might Be Giants comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. Supplemental materials include a commentary track recorded by Harvey and film archivist Robert A. Harris, a making of featurette, the theatrical trailer, and biographies of people involved with the production. This is a quality release from Anchor Bay who deserve credit for doing such a fine job with this cult favorite. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Member Movie Reviews

Kendra M. (KendraM) from NASHVILLE, TN wrote on 1/13/2008...

I was lucky enough to find a dvd of this film just the other day. Although it's not worth the inflated $200 it's selling for here (and higher), it is an excellent film. And, if you can find a copy at a reasonable price, it's worth having. The acting is wonderful, the scenes of 70s New York are so authentically gritty, and the movie is a whole lot of fun. Interestingly enough, my husband mentioned to me that he had never really wanted to see this movie before since he didn't think Scott would make a believable Holmes. Almost immediately into the movie, he admitted how wrong he was.

George C. Scott plays a delusional former judge. He believes he is Sherlock Holmes and it is likely that he became delusional after the death of his wife a year or so before. While a jurist, he always attempted to do good-- always attempted to make the world a better and safer place. Now, as Holmes, he attributes all the evil in the world to his nemesis, Moriarty.

Joanne Woodward is Dr. Watson-- a psychiatrist at the mental health clinic. She does good works, but her personal life is pretty much in shambles. She's lonely, drinks herself to sleep, and doesn't have too high of a self-image. Her signature is required on the papers needed to commit the judge to the institution so that Holmes' brother, one of the board members of the asylum, will gain legal control over Holmes' money which will enable him to pay off his blackmailers.

Holmes knows that there are people after him, and believes they are led by Moriarty. He spends his days searching for clues to Moriarty's whereabouts so that he and Moriarty can have their final showdown. Because Dr. Watson is eager to learn more about her new patient before signing commitment papers, she is drawn into his clue-finding endeavors.

With Dr. Watson tagging along, both she and Holmes scour the city for clues-- making friends with a variety of folks along the way. And, along the way, Watson and Holmes fall in love.

This is really a wonderful story about two lonely people who find each other within the loneliness and anonymity of the big city. Although Watson knows Holmes isn't "really" Holmes, she chooses to believe what he believes since he brings more joy and interest to her life in one day than she's had throughout her entire life.

As for the ending (no spoilers): Yes, the grocery store scene is here. I'm trying to picture to imagine the whole film without it, and it wouldn't have worked. So, it needed to be here, but it's too bad that the directors chose a scene like this in the first place and had no alternate to replace it with. However, it is what it is, and some others may appreciate it. Although I think this scene (and the marching scene) detracts a bit from the quality and feel of the entire movie, I don't think it ruins it.

If the ending does leave one scratching his head, as one reviewer wrote, just wait a second after the screen fades to black. Scrolling text will tie up the loose ends and confirm your suspicions about Holmes, Watson, and Moriarty on his horse.

And, then, after that. . . well, it's likely Holmes will be Holmes.