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They Might Be Giants

Play trailer Poster for They Might Be Giants G 1971 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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61% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
After the death of his wife, wealthy retiree Justin Playfair (George C. Scott) creates a fantasy world for himself in which he is the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, even dressing like the character. Out of concern for Justin's money more than his health, his brother Blevins puts him under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward). As Dr. Watson grows fond of Justin, she begins to play along with his theories, eventually becoming an assistant in his investigations.
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They Might Be Giants

Critics Reviews

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Alexander Walker London Evening Standard 10/24/2023
The acting works more enjoyably than the allegory... Its individual pieces are highly entertaining, however, and Scott is such a good Holmes I hope he'll play the part for real some day. Go to Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian 10/24/2023
It is at least a friendly and humane film. Nevertheless, I hardly like to judge it in this cut about condition, save to assure Miss Woodward that my own embarrassment was kept well within bounds. Go to Full Review Stefan Kanfer TIME Magazine 02/08/2018
The pretense cannot mask the film's pusillanimous ideas. Go to Full Review Michael Billington Birmingham Post 10/25/2023
The film has been rather brutally cut by Universal so that some of it doesn't even make sense. But I can't believe it would ever have been anything more than a piece of precious whimsy. Go to Full Review Arthur Thirkell Daily Mirror (UK) 10/24/2023
The plot, in gathering too many nuts into the maze, eventually gets lost in a welter of symbolism. Go to Full Review George Melly Observer (UK) 10/24/2023
George Scott and Joanne Woodward are excellent as the Baker Street duo and there are many genuinely funny moments but, alas, the symbolism and the attendant whimsy get them in the end. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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bao s @RT77741678 01/13/2025 George C Scott and Joanne Woodward offer up excellent performances. It's a bit Harvey and a mix of all the early 70s movies that come off as a hangover from the excess of the sixties. An interesting and somewhat suspenseful watch. See more Steve D @RT35616104 08/01/2023 Far more depressing than amusing. See more jon c 06/09/2021 George C. Scott and Joanne Woodard Justin has somewhat lost his sanity after his wife died, so he's taken on the persona of Sherlock Holmes even taking actual detective cases Justin's brother wants to have him committed and take all the finances But Dr. Mildred Watson under his care starts to take an interest in his persona even solving these investigations together But how far can she go along with this delusion? Can Justin ever come back to who he once was? This was pretty average I found Nothing that special even though it looks closely at what insanity actually is opposed to being sick or certifiably unwell See more 08/14/2020 lots of plus comments on this, but i was underwhelmed. everybody did a good job, but the story was dull. See more 05/13/2020 quirky and lovable as Holmes battles it out with Moriarty helped by his faithful Watson and an army of helpers. See more 09/24/2018 Odd but fun tale. The ending is very much "early 1970s" See more Read all reviews
They Might Be Giants

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Cast & Crew

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Anthony Harvey

Director

George C. Scott

Justin Playfair

Joanne Woodward

Dr. Mildred Watson

Jack Gilford

Wilbur Peabody

Lester Rawlins

Blevins Playfair

Al Lewis

Messenger

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They Might Be Giants

They Might Be Giants (1971) They Might Be Giants (1971) They Might Be Giants (1971) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After the death of his wife, wealthy retiree Justin Playfair (George C. Scott) creates a fantasy world for himself in which he is the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, even dressing like the character. Out of concern for Justin's money more than his health, his brother Blevins puts him under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Mildred Watson (Joanne Woodward). As Dr. Watson grows fond of Justin, she begins to play along with his theories, eventually becoming an assistant in his investigations.
Director
Anthony Harvey
Producer
John Foreman, Jennings Lang, Paul Newman
Screenwriter
James Goldman
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Newman-Foreman Company
Rating
G
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 9, 1971, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 15, 2016
Runtime
1h 31m