The Royal Scandal (original) (raw)

In Muse Entertainment's two previous Sherlock mysteries, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Sign of Four, Holmes is confident from the outset that those mysteries are easy to solve. But in The Royal Scandal, the world-famous detective's demeanour is shaken. This mystery is not straightforward.

"Throughout his investigation, Holmes is never really certain of what is going on," says Rodney Gibbons, the film's director. Gibbons also directed the first two films.

There are two reasons for Holmes's perplexity. The first is a notorious woman. The second is Holmes's own brother. And their minds are as sharp and formidable as his.

The woman is Irene Adler, a renowned beauty, opera star - and master criminal.

"They had crossed swords before, and she came out the winner," says Gibbons. "What makes it a lot worse is that Adler is the only woman Holmes has ever felt passion for. In his mind, she eclipses all other women because of her beauty, talent and intelligence."

Liliana Komorowska who, Gibbons says, "is also beautiful and talented beyond words," plays the role of Irene Adler. Komorowska, who is both a stage and film actress, was most recently seen in

The Art of War. She also played in Screamers and Scanners III.

The story begins when the Crown Prince of Bohemia, who is to become the future Kaiser of the German Empire, hires Holmes to retrieve acutely embarrassing photographs covertly taken of him and Adler in her boudoir. If revealed, these photographs would jeopardize his upcoming marriage to the daughter of the King of Scandinavia. But Holmes suspects that Adler has loftier ambitions. Holmes believes that if Adler is involved, the case is darker, deadlier and much more mysterious.

Holmes's brother, Mycroft, also complicates the detective's work. Mycroft is the British government's Chief of Intelligence. He questions Holmes about the Crown Prince's visit. This makes Holmes suspect that the scandalous photographs are not all that the Crown Prince is after. The British have just developed a submarine that would increase their naval supremacy. The Germans want the plans and sure enough there is a traitor in the naval office who would sell these sensitive documents to them. Holmes finally sees through the charade but is rendered ineffective by his manipulative brother and his past feelings for Miss Adler.