The Seven Per-Cent Solution is partly a Sherlock Holmes story, but also it is much more than that, it is a story about Sherlock Holmes. It is notable for a number of reasons, but perhaps most of which is the fact that it was not written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but instead Nicholas Meyer. Aside from the stories written by Doyle’s son featuring the famous detective (which are contradictory to themselves and the original stories) his three novels are the closest an outside writer has come to adding to the canon of Sherlock Holmes.
Here we get an alternate version of the events in “The Final Problem” where Sherlock Holmes supposedly meets his death. In canon he faked his death to draw out some criminal elements. With Nicholas Meyer’s story, Moriarty is a math teacher from Sherlock and Mycroft’s past, and not necessarily the criminal mastermind Holmes makes him out to be. Instead, the drug addiction Sherlock Holmes is under has dulled not only some of his senses, but created monsters where there are none.
Much of the plot for The Seven Per-Cent Solution deals with the addiction, with Watson and Mycroft coming up with a plan for Sherlock to meet up with one of the foremost authorities in Europe for withdrawal – Sigmund Freud. Along the way a new mystery is uncovered which also has originated with Sigmund Freud’s work regarding addiction, and much of the second half of the film might be more recognizable to those looking for more “traditional” Holmes fare.
Alan Arkin portrays Sigmund Freud, and does so in a manner that proves a great intellect, one that nearly equals that of the famous detective. Nicol Williamson portrays Holmes, and does so very well. Here we get a great mind that is obviously rattled by drug addiction, but then begins to break free and by the end of the film we see a much more familiar figure. Robert Duval portrays Watson, and his role is pretty small, very much the sidekick. What is important is the shift in presentation. Many of the earlier films and television series portrayed Watson as an almost buffoonish character, but Meyer instead wrote him closer to how he was originally written by Doyle, as an ex-military man, and while he doesn’t have the same intellect as Holmes, he is still able to hold his own and be an equal partner.
Moriarty is portrayed by the fantastic Sir Laurence Olivier, and we get a very different take than what we usually see. Then there is the appearance of Charles Gray as Mycroft, Sherlock’s older brother. Again we get a man that has an intellect equal to his brother’s but a very different outlet for it. These two minor characters are given great treatment in the story, and their portrayal by a couple of acting heavyweights points to the fact this was more than a simple big screen treatment of a fan-penned Holmes story.
Shout Factory now has the film available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack that fans of the great detective will certainly want to consider purchasing. Not only do we get a great story, but it provides the best non-Coyle variation of the classic Victorian-era detective. There have been a few great modern adaptations, but those are adaptations, not meant to fit in with the regular literary canon as Nicholas Meyer attempted to do, and largely succeeded. A nearly 20 minute interview is also provided with Nicholas Meyer which fans will certainly want to take the time to check out. He weighs in on such things as how the project came to be, casting decisions, and more.
I’m a Sherlock Holmes fan. While the books are a joy to read, there are possibilities with the character that are being explored elsewhere. What we get here fits in nicely with what already exists. Even as a stand-alone story, The Seven Per-Cent Solution is a solid Holmes tale that lifts the curtain a little to see some of the inner workings of the man.