F-0153

Title:

Murder by Decree
Sherlock Holmes and Saucy Jack (USA)

Category:

S

Produced:

1979

Country:

UK / Canada

Released:

Film: Feb 1979 (USA)
DVD: Jan 2003
VHS: Oct 1988

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Arthur Conan Doyle (characters); John Hopkins; Elwyn Jones (co-author: book "The Ripper File"); John Lloyd (co-author: book "The Ripper File")

Actors:

Christopher Plummer (Sherlock Holmes); James Mason (Dr. John H. Watson); David Hemmings (Inspector Foxborough); Susan Clark (Mary Kelly); Anthony Quayle (Sir Charles Warren); John Gielgud (Lord Salisbury); Frank Finlay (Inspector Lestrade); Donald Sutherland (Robert Lees); Geneviève Bujold (Annie Crook); Chris Wiggins (Doctor Hardy); Tedde Moore (Mrs. Lees - as Teddi Moore); Peter Jonfield (William Slade); Roy Lansford (Sir Thomas Spivey); Catherine Kessler (Carrie); Ron Pember (Makins)

Description:

Sherlock Holmes investigates London's most infamous case, Jack the Ripper. As he investigates, he finds that the Ripper has friends in high places. (John Vogel)

Sherlock Holmes is drawn into the case of Jack the Ripper who is killing prostitutes in London's East End. Assisted by Dr. Watson, and using information provided by a renowned psychic, Robert Lees, Holmes finds that the murders may have its roots in a Royal indiscretion and that a cover-up is being managed by politicians at the highest level, all of whom happen to be Masons. Homes races to save the life of Annie Crook who has been forcibly incarcerated in an insane asylum and that of her friend Mary Kelly, in whom she has entrusted her secret. (garykmcd)

Murder by Decree has the distinction of being not only one of the best Sherlock Holmes films, but one of the best pastiches (i.e., a Holmes fiction created by someone other than author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) featuring the late-Victorian Era detective. Christopher Plummer is very good as Holmes, and James Mason redeems the many mishandled screen portrayals of Dr. John Watson with a rare, insightful performance. The story may not be unique in post-Doyle Holmes adventures--the private investigator pursues Jack the Ripper during the latter's reign of monstrous murders in foggy London--but the script by John Hopkins (Thunderball) is keenly intelligent, developing concentric circles of power and evil with great subtlety. Before losing himself in Porky's, director Bob Clark did a masterful job of surprising audiences with Murder by Decree, convincing viewers they were watching one kind of drama but then unleashing something very different, very unsettling. (Tom Keogh, Amazon.com)

Language:

English

TT:

124 min

Bach's Music:

Prelude (Mvt. 1) from Partita for solo violin No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006
Played by Holmes

Format:

Film: Color (Metrocolor)
DVD: Anamorphic, Color, Widescreen, NTSC
VHS: Color, NTSC

Company:

Film: Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
DVD: Starz / Anchor Bay
VHS: Embassy/Nelson Ent. - O.B.

Comments:

Watch selections:

Buy movie at:

DVD: Amazon.com
VHS: Amazon.com

Source/Links: IMDB
Contributor: Aryeh Oron (November 2007)