THE ROYAL SCANDAL
Canada, 2001, 90 minutes, Colour.
Matt Frewer, Kenneth Welsh, Liliana Komorowska, R.H. Thomsen. Robin Wilcock.
Directed by Rodney Gibbons.
The Royal Scandal is based on Sherlock Holmes’ story, A Scandal in Bohemia. It focuses on Irene Adler, the woman with whom Holmes was infatuated but who was an arch-criminal.
This is the second in a series directed by Rodney Gibbons with Matt Frewer as Sherlock Holmes and Kenneth Welsh as Doctor Watson. Matt Frewer has been encouraged to play his character as eccentric and even for laughs. However, this is probably the most of the four in the series. Kenneth Welsh plays straight down the line as Doctor Watson and is the more effective for it. Liliana Komorowska is Irene Adler.
The film involves the Crown Prince of Germany and a photograph in which he is compromised with Irene Adler. In the meantime, a spy at the British Admiralty is selling plans to the Germans. Irene Adler is employed by Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s older brother, to be an alternate spy and to get back the plans for the British warships.
Holmes in flashbacks indicates how he was initially attracted to Irene Adler, but is also bemused by her and attracted to her in London. Much to Doctor Watson’s disapproval.
The film is interesting in its re-creation of the period, the presentation of the Conan Doyle story, the dramatisation of Irene Adler.
1. The popularity of Sherlock Holmes stories? As written by Doctor Watson? Doctor Watson and his work with Holmes?
2. The series with Matt Frewer and Kenneth Welsh? The interpretation? The touch of comedy? Holmes as arrogant? Watson as plainspoken and ordinary? How successful an interpretation?
3. This film based on A Scandal in Bohemia? One of the basic Sherlock Holmes stories? The Crown Prince, Irene Adler, espionage?
4. The focus on the espionage, the Crown Prince of Germany? To become the Kaiser? The scandal, the photographs, his employing Holmes to recover them? His disguise, Holmes penetrating the disguise? The connection with the preparations for war? The Admiralty, the plans for the warships, the junior official and his selling the secrets? The involvement of Irene Adler – double agent? The other members of the espionage group? Meister and his sinister behaviour? The murders? The final confrontation?
5. Holmes, his reminiscing about Irene Adler? The opera, his infatuation? Her inviting him to stay, the robbery, his being used by Irene Adler? Yet his devotion to her? Discovering she was in London, the meetings, the confrontations? Her trying to beguile Holmes, succeeding? Watson’s disapproval? The disguise, her helping Holmes, his taking the photographs? Her disillusionment? The truth from Mycroft Holmes?
6. The photos, the various groups wanting the photos? The British and their wanting them for a hold over Germany? Mycroft Holmes and his involvement, requesting Sherlock for photos? The double dealings with Mycroft and the government?
7. Holmes, the regulars and their scouting for him? Their discoveries? Holmes and his relying on them?
8. The politics, the personal scandal? The devious behaviour? The photos as pawns? The photos of the ships? The death of the young official?
9. A satisfying Holmes story – with Matt Frewer’s eccentric performance?
