Shame about this movie. From the start, it was clear it wasn't anywhere close to character-accurate (which was, of course, Wodehouse's chief complaint in his quite understandable vitriol against this film), but that wouldn't necessarily have ruined it. The Rathbone/Bruce Sherlock Holmes movies, which came out a few years after this, aren't accurate to the original book characterizations of Holmes and Watson, but the chemistry and dynamic is still a great deal of fun. And when Niven and Treacher play off each other here, it's often a delight! They're talented actors with solid and charming chemistry! It's just. It's just the rest of the movie. The rest of the movie which, though its incomprehensible plot would not necessarily be a complete sin were the character interactions carrying us through, is plagued with a great deal of racism and an even greater deal of sexual harassment - the latter being both a significant plot point and something Bertie (who, while not free of misogyny, would certainly never treat a woman this way) is rewarded for in the end! I'm aware this is an old movie, and old movies have prejudices, but it's especially awful in this one - and what enjoyable bits of this movie there are certainly aren't enough to be worth the 57-minute ride.

It started akin to the Jeeves & Wooster from the PBS series in the US but alas, it quickly deteriorated by the addition of the so-called comic relief British movies are so famous for. In this case it relieved the movie of any sensibility.

PGW did not write the dialog, nor probably the story. boilerplate car-chase, melee in the dungeon, spy story Bertie incompetent, the girl forgives him. pah!