They Might Be Giants (1971)
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78% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
76% of users liked it
(1,154 ratings)
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… More 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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Anthony Harvey
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
G,
- In Theaters
- Mar 1, 2006 Wide
- Studio
- MVD Music Video
Critic Reviews
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a tribute to the power of the sheer will of the imagination over reality
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Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Comédia romântica que se torna fascinante graças à sua galeria de personagens insanos, ao desempenho dos protagonistas e à curiosa mensagem sobre a busca da felicidade através do não-conformismo às convenções da sociedade.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
For dark-edged whimsy and charm, few films are better.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It's not exactly an undiscovered gem; too many people already know about it. It's more like a flawed treasure.
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James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
Its humor and emotions are subtle, and the exterior of the film is a quite bizarre mix of sometimes disparate elements
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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George C. Scott
as Justin
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Joanne Woodward
as Watson
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Jack Gilford
as Peabody
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Lester Rawlins
as Blevins
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Rue McClanahan
as Daisy
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Ron Weyand
as Dr. Strauss
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F Murray Abraham
as Clyde the usher
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Candice Azzara
as Teenage Girl
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Paul Benedict
as Chestnut Vendor
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Sudie Bond
as Maud
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Ralph Clanton
as Supermarket Manager
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Oliver Clark
as Mr. Small
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Matthew Cowles
as Teenage Boy
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Jenny Egan
as Miss Finch
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Peter Fredericks
as Her Boy Friend
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Frances Fuller
as Mrs. Bagg
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Jane Hoffman
as 2nd Telephone Operator
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Al Lewis
as Messenger
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John McCurry
as Police Lieutenant
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Michael McGuire
as Telephone Guard
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Theresa Merritt
as Peggy
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Eugene Roche
as Policeman
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Jacques Sandulescu
as His Driver
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James Tolkan
as Mr. Brown
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M. Emmet Walsh
as 1st Sanitation Man
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Kitty Winn
as Grace
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Louis Zorich
as Sanitation Man
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Worthington Miner
as Mr. Bagg
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Ted Beniades
as Taxi Driver
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Tony Capodilupo
as Chief
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Staats Cotsworth
as Winthrop
