Without a Clue (1988)

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.