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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes, The
    Genre:Mystery Suspense

    Reviewed In Issue 09 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Robert Stephens, Colin Blakely.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 2.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    While the film has never been successfully restored to its original 3 hour length, this edition contains a supplementary section with the complete footage, sans soundtrack, from one of the removed segments, “The Dreadful Business of the Naked Honeymooners.” Another, whose film footage is lost, “The Curious Case of the Upside Down Room,” is presented in sound only over various still frames. There is an interview with the film’s editor about the production, a set of production stills of some of the missing scenes, sections from a pressbook and a complete script for the original film.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): MGM Home Entertainment
    (Catalog Number): ID7413MG
    (MPAA Rating): PG13
    (Retail Price): $59.99
    (Running Time In Minutes): 125
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1970
    (LD Release Date): 11/01/93
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Billy Wilder
    (Screenplay/Written By): Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Miklos Rozsa
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Alexander Trauner
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Ernest Walter
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): Walter Mirisch
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Billy Wilder

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Mag Stereo
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    The Private Life Of Sherlock Holmes, based upon the legendary characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is an examination of the human side of the famous fictional detective. This collector’s edition presents the standard version of director Billy Wilder’s film which was released in 1970, short two of the four relatively independent story segments originally intended for theatrical exhibition.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The 2.35:1 picture has lots of artifacts and looks a bit dated, but otherwise it is sure to please with its vivid colors and excellent contras.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The monaural soundtrack is faulted with dialogue on the left channel and music on the right, instead of both properly centered.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass):
    (Deep Bass Challenging):
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield):
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging):
    (Directionalized Dialogue):
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: