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Without a Clue

 Without a Clue
type
TVTItem
 Without a Clue
label
Without a Clue
 Without a Clue
page
WithoutAClue
 Without a Clue
comment
Without a Clue is a 1988 comedy film parodying Sherlock Holmes.The premise is that Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley) created the fictional character Sherlock Holmes so that he could solve crimes incognito. His published case journals were so popular that he was obliged to hire an out-of-work actor, Reginald Kincaid (Michael Caine), to play Holmes. However, Kincaid turns out to be a bumbling, gambling, womanizing drunkard who gladly takes all the undeserved credit for solving crimes, and now their relationship is a very rocky one.Watson is just about ready to ditch Kincaid and strike it out on his own, but no-one will believe that Dr. Watson, the archetypical sidekick, is really a Great Detective, so the two have to get along for long enough to solve one last big case.
 Without a Clue
fetched
2024-01-19T16:46:19Z
 Without a Clue
parsed
2024-01-19T16:46:19Z
 Without a Clue
processingComment
Dropped link to AffectionateParody: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Without a Clue
processingComment
Dropped link to StealthInsult: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Without a Clue
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Without a Clue / int_1086f287
type
Sure, Let's Go with That
 Without a Clue / int_1086f287
comment
Sure, Let's Go with That: After realising they've both completely misunderstood the clue the printer left for them, Watson quietly tells Holmes not to worry; he'll change their deduction for the Strand story on the case.
 Without a Clue / int_1086f287
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_1086f287
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_1086f287
 Without a Clue / int_16d14f03
type
Gratuitous Laboratory Flasks
 Without a Clue / int_16d14f03
comment
Gratuitous Laboratory Flasks: Many adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories both in film and television will fill the background of Holmes' Baker Street flat with chemistry equipment. While this is true to the stories, in which Holmes would sometimes use them, in these adaptations, they're usually little more than set dressing. This tendency to overpopulate the flat with chemistry equipment was parodied here, when Reginald Kincaid (posing as Holmes) actually does do something with the chemicals - with hilariously explosive results.
 Without a Clue / int_16d14f03
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_16d14f03
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_16d14f03
 Without a Clue / int_16fdd774
type
Losing a Shoe in the Struggle
 Without a Clue / int_16fdd774
comment
Losing a Shoe in the Struggle: Happens to a Mook Kincaid fights with.
 Without a Clue / int_16fdd774
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_16fdd774
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_16fdd774
 Without a Clue / int_1972ef89
type
Railing Kill
 Without a Clue / int_1972ef89
comment
Railing Kill: Sebastian sabotages the balcony railing of Holmes' hotel room, causing it to break when Holmes leans on it. Subverted in that he survives the attempt (the plan was actually intended to catch Watson, but he and Holmes switched rooms).
 Without a Clue / int_1972ef89
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Without a Clue / int_1972ef89
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_1972ef89
 Without a Clue / int_1994ba0b
type
Gone Horribly Right
 Without a Clue / int_1994ba0b
comment
Gone Horribly Right: Finally fed up with Kincaid's antics, Watson fires him and offers his services to the police directly. However, he discovers that he's done such a great job building up Holmes as the brilliant detective and himself as just the sidekick that no one will take him seriously and he needs Kincaid to make the act work. Also, when Watson is believed dead, Kincaid realizes the police assume he can solve the crime all by himself and realizes just how much they've bought the act.
 Without a Clue / int_1994ba0b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_1994ba0b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_1994ba0b
 Without a Clue / int_1fe36347
type
Take My Hand!
 Without a Clue / int_1fe36347
comment
Take My Hand!: Watson has to rescue Holmes as he dangles from a sabotaged balcony.
 Without a Clue / int_1fe36347
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_1fe36347
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_1fe36347
 Without a Clue / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 Without a Clue / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: Kincaid's production of The Shadow Of Death allows him to finish the case, although it was for totally the wrong reasons.
 Without a Clue / int_22cf536c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_22cf536c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_22cf536c
 Without a Clue / int_26bccc6e
type
Ash Face
 Without a Clue / int_26bccc6e
comment
Ash Face: this happens to Holmes as a result of tinkering with Watson's experiment.
 Without a Clue / int_26bccc6e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_26bccc6e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_26bccc6e
 Without a Clue / int_26eb6287
type
Funny Background Event
 Without a Clue / int_26eb6287
comment
Funny Background Event: Watson is explaining how Moriarty's thugs came to wear the imported Italian shoes, noting that as men of no moral character, they would have helped themselves to the crates of shoes. Meanwhile, Kincaid his trying on some of the shoes from the crates, obviously hoping to pilfer some for his own use. While Lestrade is explaining the case to Watson, "Holmes" is in his room digging through his closet for a bottle of booze he stashed. We just see, through the open door, articles of clothing and item items being thrown around wildly like in a cartoon, thoroughly mystifying Lord Smithwick who is trying to pay attention to what Lestrade is saying.
 Without a Clue / int_26eb6287
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_26eb6287
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_26eb6287
 Without a Clue / int_28f852ea
type
Wholesome Crossdresser
 Without a Clue / int_28f852ea
comment
Wholesome Crossdresser: The real Leslie Giles.
 Without a Clue / int_28f852ea
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_28f852ea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_28f852ea
 Without a Clue / int_2ad2a2c8
type
Diagonal Cut
 Without a Clue / int_2ad2a2c8
comment
Diagonal Cut: Played for Laughs: Kincaid takes a swing at some candles and seems to miss. However, their tops fall off later.
 Without a Clue / int_2ad2a2c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_2ad2a2c8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_2ad2a2c8
 Without a Clue / int_2ae29c0d
type
The Dreaded
 Without a Clue / int_2ae29c0d
comment
The Dreaded: The news that Professor Moriarty is involved prompts Reginald to stop the train and try to run away as soon as Watson confirms who they're dealing with.
 Without a Clue / int_2ae29c0d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_2ae29c0d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_2ae29c0d
 Without a Clue / int_2d409194
type
Unsettling Gender-Reveal
 Without a Clue / int_2d409194
comment
Unsettling Gender-Reveal
 Without a Clue / int_2d409194
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_2d409194
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_2d409194
 Without a Clue / int_2dc0d2bf
type
Hidden Depths
 Without a Clue / int_2dc0d2bf
comment
Hidden Depths: After messing up for most of the movie, Holmes proves to be quite skilled at fencing at the showdown, holding his own against Moriarty.
 Without a Clue / int_2dc0d2bf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_2dc0d2bf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_2dc0d2bf
 Without a Clue / int_3104d34
type
Suicide as Comedy
 Without a Clue / int_3104d34
comment
Suicide as Comedy: After believing that Watson is dead, Kincaid tries to hang himself, and of course bungles it.
 Without a Clue / int_3104d34
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_3104d34
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_3104d34
 Without a Clue / int_3cb1d38d
type
Bad Boss
 Without a Clue / int_3cb1d38d
comment
Bad Boss: Moriarty abandons Sebastian to be arrested at the end.
 Without a Clue / int_3cb1d38d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_3cb1d38d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_3cb1d38d
 Without a Clue / int_3ec18c6f
type
Sherlock Scan
 Without a Clue / int_3ec18c6f
comment
Sherlock Scan: Played with in so many ways. Even Reginald pulls one off, leading to the right conclusion if not via the intended deduction.
 Without a Clue / int_3ec18c6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_3ec18c6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_3ec18c6f
 Without a Clue / int_3ed23024
type
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome
 Without a Clue / int_3ed23024
comment
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: When Watson is gone and presumed dead, Kincaid as "Holmes" decides to take detective work seriously by piecing together the clues available. The best his powers of deduction can come up with is concluding that Moriarty's real name is "Arty Morty." Averted later when Kinkaid does find Moriarty's whereabouts from clues left on half-printed banknotes, albeit for the completely wrong reason.
 Without a Clue / int_3ed23024
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Without a Clue / int_3ed23024
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_3ed23024
 Without a Clue / int_4192763e
type
Malaproper
 Without a Clue / int_4192763e
comment
Malaproper: Due to his lack of general knowledge, Kincaid often botches the lines Watson writes for him, referring to a venomous snake as a "mambo" and stating that a murder victim was beaten to death with a "blunt excrement."
 Without a Clue / int_4192763e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_4192763e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_4192763e
 Without a Clue / int_43a46119
type
Surrounded by Idiots
 Without a Clue / int_43a46119
comment
Surrounded by Idiots: Professor Moriarty has a very low opinion of pretty much everyone around him.
 Without a Clue / int_43a46119
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_43a46119
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_43a46119
 Without a Clue / int_4435aa66
type
Attractive Bent-Gender
 Without a Clue / int_4435aa66
comment
Attractive Bent-Gender: Lestrade is shown exchanging flirtatious comments with the real Leslie Giles, unaware that 'she' is just a female impersonator.
 Without a Clue / int_4435aa66
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_4435aa66
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_4435aa66
 Without a Clue / int_44606d14
type
Becoming the Mask
 Without a Clue / int_44606d14
comment
Becoming the Mask: Reginald has to learn how to be at least somewhat of a detective to help save the day.
 Without a Clue / int_44606d14
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_44606d14
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_44606d14
 Without a Clue / int_46e53efd
type
Screams Like a Little Girl
 Without a Clue / int_46e53efd
comment
Screams Like a Little Girl: Holmes and Watson running away as the theater is about to explode.
 Without a Clue / int_46e53efd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_46e53efd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_46e53efd
 Without a Clue / int_4efc4fae
type
Good Scars, Evil Scars
 Without a Clue / int_4efc4fae
comment
Good Scars, Evil Scars: Sebastian has a knife scar down one side of his face.
 Without a Clue / int_4efc4fae
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_4efc4fae
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_4efc4fae
 Without a Clue / int_53f5119f
type
The Dragon
 Without a Clue / int_53f5119f
comment
The Dragon: Sebastian.
 Without a Clue / int_53f5119f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_53f5119f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_53f5119f
 Without a Clue / int_54adb6a3
type
Staircase Tumble
 Without a Clue / int_54adb6a3
comment
Staircase Tumble: Kincaid and one of Moriarty's Mooks while fighting in the Giles house.
 Without a Clue / int_54adb6a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_54adb6a3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_54adb6a3
 Without a Clue / int_56ff2e35
type
Bat Deduction
 Without a Clue / int_56ff2e35
comment
Bat Deduction: A mysterious number is given, and Sherlock Holmes uses a few long and complicated leaps of logic to deduce that it means a specific old theatre. At the end Holmes and Watson explain to the person who left the clue how they figured it out, and then the victim reveals that the number was simply the address of the building he was being held at.
 Without a Clue / int_56ff2e35
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_56ff2e35
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_56ff2e35
 Without a Clue / int_59907e4f
type
Police Are Useless
 Without a Clue / int_59907e4f
comment
Police Are Useless: Lestrade is mostly incompetent and Scotland Yard is often only able to identify and apprehend criminals with the help of "Sherlock Holmes".
 Without a Clue / int_59907e4f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_59907e4f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_59907e4f
 Without a Clue / int_60492b98
type
Have You Told Anyone Else?
 Without a Clue / int_60492b98
comment
Have You Told Anyone Else?: After Watson admits to his publisher (who is afraid the truth will hurt sales) that Holmes is a fictional character, the publisher asks if anyone else knows about this. Watson denies it, but after getting a raised eyebrow, admits his housekeeper and informants know the truth. Unusually, the publisher plans to threaten to sue Watson rather than harm him to keep the secret.
 Without a Clue / int_60492b98
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_60492b98
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_60492b98
 Without a Clue / int_665d24fb
type
Did You Die?
 Without a Clue / int_665d24fb
comment
Did You Die?: Reginald does a variation where he folds it into his own telling.
 Without a Clue / int_665d24fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_665d24fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_665d24fb
 Without a Clue / int_669c4caa
type
Produce Pelting
 Without a Clue / int_669c4caa
comment
Produce Pelting: Reginald played the lead in King Lear once, but all we know is that he has "memories of rotten fruit".
 Without a Clue / int_669c4caa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_669c4caa
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_669c4caa
 Without a Clue / int_694da243
type
At the Opera Tonight
 Without a Clue / int_694da243
comment
At the Opera Tonight: The final showdown takes place in a theatre.
 Without a Clue / int_694da243
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_694da243
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_694da243
 Without a Clue / int_737a65f4
type
The Watson
 Without a Clue / int_737a65f4
comment
The Watson: Holmes again. At least, for most of the movie. Explicitly not Watson.
 Without a Clue / int_737a65f4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_737a65f4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_737a65f4
 Without a Clue / int_771c0474
type
Intergenerational Friendship
 Without a Clue / int_771c0474
comment
Inter Generational Friendship: Watson is very warm and trusting to the young Baker Street Irregulars, praising their hard work and fondly rubbing Wiggins' head at one point. They're clearly just as fond of him.
 Without a Clue / int_771c0474
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_771c0474
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_771c0474
 Without a Clue / int_7b8ee2f5
type
I Remember Because...
 Without a Clue / int_7b8ee2f5
comment
I Remember Because...: Kincaid asks a dockworker why he specifically remembers Giles renting a boat and is told that Giles (or rather the man impersonating him) had a suitcase chained to his wrist and kept complaining about the weight. This turns out to have been done to make a deliberate impression for a Death Faked for You gambit.
 Without a Clue / int_7b8ee2f5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_7b8ee2f5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_7b8ee2f5
 Without a Clue / int_7eebe99c
type
The Alcoholic
 Without a Clue / int_7eebe99c
comment
The Alcoholic: Kincaid always keeps bottles of liquor hidden around the house and drinks away most of his money at the local pub.
 Without a Clue / int_7eebe99c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_7eebe99c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_7eebe99c
 Without a Clue / int_83cef301
type
Right for the Wrong Reasons
 Without a Clue / int_83cef301
comment
Right for the Wrong Reasons: Reginald and Watson see a number on a note, and think it's referring to a bible quote. It leads them to the right place, but that number was the address of that very place.
 Without a Clue / int_83cef301
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_83cef301
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_83cef301
 Without a Clue / int_8797239c
type
Bait-and-Switch
 Without a Clue / int_8797239c
comment
Bait-and-Switch: The opening scenes with Holmes and Watson foiling the gallery robbery appear as though we're watching a standard Sherlock Holmes story, with Holmes as the brilliant detective. In the next scene, Watson calls Holmes an idiot for not keeping his lines and story straight, revealing the role of "Holmes" as a front and figurehead for Watson, the real crime-solver.
 Without a Clue / int_8797239c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_8797239c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_8797239c
 Without a Clue / int_8a23f244
type
Useful Book
 Without a Clue / int_8a23f244
comment
Useful Book:
 Without a Clue / int_8a23f244
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_8a23f244
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_8a23f244
 Without a Clue / int_8d0785d5
type
Didn't Think This Through
 Without a Clue / int_8d0785d5
comment
Didn't Think This Through: Kincaid, after falling onto the barge containing the villains' counterfeit money, pours alcohol from a lamp and threatens that there will be "an impromptu roasting" unless they surrender... without realizing that if he sets it ablaze, he'll catch fire, too. Lampshaded by Moriarty.
 Without a Clue / int_8d0785d5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_8d0785d5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_8d0785d5
 Without a Clue / int_90b66e22
type
Femme Fatale
 Without a Clue / int_90b66e22
comment
Femme Fatale: The fake Lesley Giles manages to hold much of the police at gunpoint.
 Without a Clue / int_90b66e22
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_90b66e22
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_90b66e22
 Without a Clue / int_9bcd82c0
type
Took a Level in Badass
 Without a Clue / int_9bcd82c0
comment
Took a Level in Badass: Kincaid was not only incompetent but cowardly for most of the story, but after Watson disappears and is presumed dead, Kincaid as "Holmes" shows remarkable persistence, courage and even aptitude when pursuing Moriarty.
 Without a Clue / int_9bcd82c0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_9bcd82c0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_9bcd82c0
 Without a Clue / int_9c955048
type
Someone's Touching My Butt
 Without a Clue / int_9c955048
comment
Someone's Touching My Butt: Holmes is able to deduce the identity of the groper, because he did it. Then he does it again.
 Without a Clue / int_9c955048
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_9c955048
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_9c955048
 Without a Clue / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Without a Clue / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: The Unsettling Gender-Reveal is foreshadowed very early on when one of Peter Giles' coworkers comments about how Leslie is pretty in an "odd sort of way" and that the religious Mr. Giles had a rather odd reaction when he said so.
 Without a Clue / int_9d12bbc1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_9d12bbc1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_9d12bbc1
 Without a Clue / int_9f970427
type
Secret-Keeper
 Without a Clue / int_9f970427
comment
Secret-Keeper: Mrs. Hudson and the Baker Street Irregulars know that "Sherlock Holmes" is just an actor and Dr. Watson is the real detective. Watson also tells his editor eventually, letting the audience hear the background behind the original deception. The only person who's figured it out on their own seems to be Professor Moriarty.
 Without a Clue / int_9f970427
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_9f970427
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_9f970427
 Without a Clue / int_a0a5e00
type
Improvisational Ingenuity
 Without a Clue / int_a0a5e00
comment
Improvisational Ingenuity: Watson does this more than once to compensate for Kincaid's bungling. When Kincaid comes charging into Baker Street basically dressed as a hobo, Watson pretends that Holmes was dressing that way for a case and bungles him into the bedroom to change back, simultaneously instructing Kincaid in the deductions he had previously made about their current visitors.
 Without a Clue / int_a0a5e00
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_a0a5e00
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_a0a5e00
 Without a Clue / int_a4c37cbe
type
Mood Whiplash
 Without a Clue / int_a4c37cbe
comment
Mood Whiplash: Occasionally. In particular, the rather gruesome murder of the dockworker who catches Moriarty's Mooks in the act, and the grisly discovery of Donald Ayers' body in the lake.
 Without a Clue / int_a4c37cbe
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_a4c37cbe
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_a4c37cbe
 Without a Clue / int_a9de87d2
type
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass
 Without a Clue / int_a9de87d2
comment
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Kincaid is a drunken fraud and Know-Nothing Know-It-All, but he also boldly faces down a thug pointing a crossbow at him in the opening scene, boldly fires at Moriarty during the dock shootout (although he misses by a mile), and leaps into the river to try and rescue Watson after he's apparently shot while swimming away from Moriarty. Finally, he's shown to be a decent fencer in the climax.
 Without a Clue / int_a9de87d2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_a9de87d2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_a9de87d2
 Without a Clue / int_acecb17d
type
Chekhov's Skill
 Without a Clue / int_acecb17d
comment
Chekhov's Skill: Kincaid was trained in swordplay as a part of his acting career, a skill he gets to use with an impressive flourish against Moriarty. Even Watson, who isn't shy about sharing what he thinks about him, is genuinely impressed.
 Without a Clue / int_acecb17d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_acecb17d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_acecb17d
 Without a Clue / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Without a Clue / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Watson, almost in every conversation with Kincaid. For instance:
 Without a Clue / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_ae3d6438
 Without a Clue / int_bdbc35e7
type
Blade Enthusiast
 Without a Clue / int_bdbc35e7
comment
Blade Enthusiast: Sebastian's preferred weapons are switchblades and throwing knives.
 Without a Clue / int_bdbc35e7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_bdbc35e7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_bdbc35e7
 Without a Clue / int_c3478f1d
type
Badass Bookworm
 Without a Clue / int_c3478f1d
comment
Badass Bookworm: Watson is a medical doctor and a man of science. He's also quite fearless as a crime-solver, risking his life on many occasions, such as his shoot-outs with Moriarty's thugs and his effort to track Moriarty to his hide-out by clinging to the hull of the getaway boat.
 Without a Clue / int_c3478f1d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_c3478f1d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_c3478f1d
 Without a Clue / int_ca87e3ec
type
No Name Given
 Without a Clue / int_ca87e3ec
comment
No Name Given: Lysette Anthony's character masquerades as Leslie Giles for most of the movie, but her real name is never revealed. The credits list her simply as Fake Leslie.
 Without a Clue / int_ca87e3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_ca87e3ec
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_ca87e3ec
 Without a Clue / int_cdd676a3
type
Hyper-Competent Sidekick
 Without a Clue / int_cdd676a3
comment
Hypercompetent Sidekick: Watson, since Sherlock Holmes is actually an incompetent stooge that fronts for Watson, the true detective.
 Without a Clue / int_cdd676a3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_cdd676a3
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_cdd676a3
 Without a Clue / int_d259fea2
type
Speak Ill of the Dead
 Without a Clue / int_d259fea2
comment
Speak Ill of the Dead: When Watson is assumed dead, Lestrade condescendingly says that he wasn't a real detective and that Holmes/Kincaid shouldn't feel obliged to solve the case by the timeline Watson mentioned. Kincaid's gaze turns cold and he says that Watson was not wrong and he will solve the case by then.
 Without a Clue / int_d259fea2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_d259fea2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_d259fea2
 Without a Clue / int_d308cbb0
type
Character Catchphrase
 Without a Clue / int_d308cbb0
comment
Character Catchphrase: Or rather catch-word in the case of Lord Smithwick, who exclaims "Amazing!" at every sentence Kincaid (as "Holmes") utters, even if it's a trivially obvious observation or a verbatim repeat of what Watson had just said.
 Without a Clue / int_d308cbb0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_d308cbb0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_d308cbb0
 Without a Clue / int_d9cf40fa
type
Screw This, I'm Outta Here
 Without a Clue / int_d9cf40fa
comment
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Moriarty's Mooks prove entirely unwilling to die for their boss in the burning theater, and promptly exit stage left.
 Without a Clue / int_d9cf40fa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_d9cf40fa
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_d9cf40fa
 Without a Clue / int_da3043c5
type
Fake Ultimate Hero
 Without a Clue / int_da3043c5
comment
Fake Ultimate Hero: Reginald is just pretending to be a great detective, but is in reality an actor who just repeats the lines Watson gives him.
 Without a Clue / int_da3043c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_da3043c5
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_da3043c5
 Without a Clue / int_dbca2c99
type
Red Herring
 Without a Clue / int_dbca2c99
comment
Red Herring: The Windermere events.
 Without a Clue / int_dbca2c99
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_dbca2c99
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_dbca2c99
 Without a Clue / int_e2d457
type
The Ditz
 Without a Clue / int_e2d457
comment
The Ditz: Holmes. Also Lestrade.
 Without a Clue / int_e2d457
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_e2d457
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_e2d457
 Without a Clue / int_e43b42ea
type
We Need a Distraction
 Without a Clue / int_e43b42ea
comment
We Need a Distraction: The film opens with Holmes and Watson thwarting a robbery at the Bank of England, but Watson soon realises that this was just a distraction to draw attention away from the destruction of a paper mill in another part of town.
 Without a Clue / int_e43b42ea
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_e43b42ea
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_e43b42ea
 Without a Clue / int_e545d293
type
Narm
 Without a Clue / int_e545d293
comment
Narm: In-Universe, the reaction to Kincaid in The Shadow of Death.
 Without a Clue / int_e545d293
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_e545d293
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_e545d293
 Without a Clue / int_e5e6640b
type
Flanderization
 Without a Clue / int_e5e6640b
comment
Flanderization: Subverted with respect to Dr. Watson. In Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, Watson is an intelligent and competent man who lacks Holmes' genius. In many film and TV adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories (particularly The Baker Street Dozen films with Basil Rathbone as Holmes and Nigel Bruce as Watson), this difference in ability is inflated to the point where Watson is portrayed as an incompetent, bumbling idiot and a comic foil to Holmes. This movie inverts the trope with a brilliant Watson and a ridiculous and (until the final scenes) useless "Holmes".
 Without a Clue / int_e5e6640b
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Without a Clue / int_e5e6640b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_e5e6640b
 Without a Clue / int_eb81c601
type
Big Damn Heroes
 Without a Clue / int_eb81c601
comment
Big Damn Heroes: Lestrade and his men try nobly at the end, but end up failing miserably and having to dive for cover when the fake Leslie pulls a gun on them.
 Without a Clue / int_eb81c601
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_eb81c601
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_eb81c601
 Without a Clue / int_f9876f7e
type
Faking the Dead
 Without a Clue / int_f9876f7e
comment
Faking the Dead: Watson.
 Without a Clue / int_f9876f7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_f9876f7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_f9876f7e
 Without a Clue / int_fbd285b7
type
Comically Missing the Point
 Without a Clue / int_fbd285b7
comment
Comically Missing the Point: Kincaid most of the time.Kincaid's "Holmes" usually fails to understand Watson's chain of reasoning in every case. Additionally, Kincaid fails to realize that the review of his most recent stage performance ("as comical relief") was meant as ridicule rather than high praise. Similarly, most of Watson's insults (even blatant ones) serve as Stealth Insults to Kincaid, as they go over his head:
 Without a Clue / int_fbd285b7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_fbd285b7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_fbd285b7
 Without a Clue / int_fe0330fb
type
Brick Joke
 Without a Clue / int_fe0330fb
comment
Brick Joke: During Watson's argument with his editor Norman Greenhough, Wiggins bumps into the guy. The argument continues until Watson and Wiggins leaving. After they're gone, Greenhough realizes he can't find his pocketwatch. Cut to Watson and Wiggins at the paper mill. When Watson asks what time it burned down, Wiggins takes out Greenhough's watch and says it burned down at 4:00.
 Without a Clue / int_fe0330fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_fe0330fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_fe0330fb
 Without a Clue / int_name
type
ItemName
 Without a Clue / int_name
comment
 Without a Clue / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Without a Clue / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Without a Clue / int_name
 Without a Clue / int_name
itemName
Without a Clue

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Bat Deduction / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Brake Angrily / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Complexity Addiction / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Did You Die? / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Dueling-Stars Movie / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
External Retcon / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Have You Told Anyone Else? / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
"Help! Help! Trapped in Title Factory!" / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
I Know Mortal Kombat / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
I Remember Because... / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Losing a Shoe in the Struggle / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Railing Kill / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Reverse Relationship Reveal / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Secret-Keeper / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Sherlock Scan / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Someone's Touching My Butt / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Suicide as Comedy / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
The Book Cipher / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Unsettling Gender-Reveal / int_b60c14c
 Without a Clue
hasFeature
Useful Book / int_b60c14c
 Without A Clue
seeAlso
Without a Clue