Murder by Decree (1979)

Director:

Bob Clark

Writers:

Arthur Conan Doyle (characters)
John Hopkins (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

9 February 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Sherlock Holmes unveils the secrecy of Jack the Ripper - clue by clue - murder by murder.

Plot:

Sherlock Holmes investigates the murders commited by Jack the Ripper and discovers a conspiracy to protect the killer.

Plot Keywords:

Sherlock Holmes | Jack The Ripper | Murder | Psychic | Conspiracy

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

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	...	Prime Minister 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
June Brown	...	Anne Chapman
Ken Jones	...	Dock Guard
Terry Duggan	...	Danny
Hilary Sesta	...	Catherine Eddowes
Anthony May	...	Lanier
Betty Woolfe	...	Mrs. Dobson
Iris Fry	...	Elizabeth Stride
Geoffrey Russell	...	Home Secretary Henry Matthews
Peggy Ann Clifford	...	Lees' Housekeeper
Ann Mitchell	...	Jane
Katherine Stark	...	Molly
Elaine Ives-Cameron	...	Ellen (as Elaine Ives Cameron)
Stella Courtney	...	Betty
Judy Wilson	...	Emily
Roy Pattison	...	Carroll
Victor Langley	...	Prince of Wales
Pamela Abbott	...	Princess Alexandra
Robin Marchall	...	Duke of Clarence 'Eddy'
Richard Pescud	...	Doctor (as Richard Pescuid)
Pat Brackenbury	...	Nurse
Dan Long	...	Constable Long
Michael Cashman	...	Constable Watkins
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Peter Dean	...	Police Constable (uncredited)
Norman Gay	...	Distinguished gentleman (uncredited)
Jim McManus	...	Policeman (uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Clark

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Arthur Conan Doyle		characters
John Hopkins		screenplay
Elwyn Jones		co-author (book "The Ripper File")
John Lloyd		co-author (book "The Ripper File")

Produced by
Bob Clark	....	producer
René Dupont	....	producer
Robert A. Goldston	....	producer
Len Herberman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Paul Zaza
Carl Zittrer

Cinematography by
Reginald H. Morris

Film Editing by
Stan Cole

Casting by
Karen Hazzard

Production Design by
Harry Pottle

Art Direction by
Peter Childs

Set Decoration by
Denise Exshaw

Costume Design by
Judy Moorcroft

Makeup Department
Peter Robb-King	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Peter Davis	....	production manager: UK
Ted Rouse	....	production manager: Canada

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Dodds	....	third assistant director
Ariel Levy	....	assistant director
Ken Roch	....	second assistant director
Guy Travers	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Percy Godbold	....	production buyer
Jock Kay	....	scenic artist
Adrian Start	....	art stand-by

Sound Department
David Appleby	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Appleby)
Dennis Drummond	....	sound editor
Patrick Drummond	....	sound editor
Wayne Griffin	....	sound editor
Joe Grimaldi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kenneth Heeley-Ray	....	supervising sound editor (as Ken Heeley Ray)
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist (as John Mitchell)
Don White	....	foley recording mixer

Special Effects by
Michael Albrechtsen	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Cliff Culley	....	visual effects supervisor

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Blanshard	....	still photographer
Maurice Gillett	....	gaffer
Jimmy Turrell	....	camera operator (as James Turrell)
David Wynn-Jones	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Beck	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Ian McBride	....	assistant editor
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Frank Morrone	....	music engineer

Transportation Department
Howard Pugh	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Andy Birmingham	....	production accountant
Marilyn Clarke	....	production coordinator
S.C. Dacy	....	publicist
Robert A. Goldston	....	presenter
Bob Halliday	....	police liaison
Marjorie Lavelly	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC) (produced with the assistance of)
• Famous Players (produced with the assistance of)
• Highlight
• Murder by Decree Productions

Distributors

• Ambassador Film Distributors (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
• AVCO Embassy Pictures (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (19??) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Savoy Filmi (1983) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• BMG Video (UK) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Globo Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Interglobal Home Video (198?) (Canada) (VHS)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Magnetic Video (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Nordic Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Studio Canal (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• VL-Musiikki (2012) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  lighting
• MGM Laboratories  release prints
• Medallion Labs  answer print
• Pathé Sound and Post Production Center  post-production facilities
• Rank Film Laboratories  processing

Also Known As:

"Sherlock Holmes and Saucy Jack" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

124 min | Sweden:110 min

Country:

UK | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (original rating) | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:16 | Iceland:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Trivia:

The lavish funeral given Catherine Eddowes in 'Murder by Decree' seems to contradict the extreme poverty in which she lived. The cathedral is filled and a long procession of mourners files in to the services. Bagpipers in uniform play and a very expensive hearse is seen covered with flowers. Although neither Eddowes nor John Kelly, her common-law husband of seven years, had any resources, the funeral expenses were paid by Mr. G. Hawke, an undertaker, for reasons that are not clear.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: The piper at Catherine Eddowes's funeral is not playing any notes on the chanter and in one sequence and has both hands totally still whilst a musical sequence is played.

Quotes:

Prime Minister Lord Salisbury:You have us at a disadvantage, Mr. Holes. I think it might be better if you tell us your story in your own way and permit me to be the judge of whether it is true or not.
Sherlock Holmes:[Assertively] You may take it to be true, sir!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Oi pio diavoitoi dolofonoi: Alithines istories!" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Flowers of the Forest

Expansively produced, wonderfully atmospheric, credibly acted Ripper yarn.

This isn't the first time Holmes has met Jack the Ripper in the movies, but this particular encounter leaves all others for dead. Handsomely photographed and produced, this notable addition to the Holmes cycle not only presents a credible yet intriguing Sherlock in Christopher Plummer, but just as importantly a Doctor Watson more akin to Conan Doyle's creation than the silly ass usually presented on the screen by Nigel Bruce and his successors. Full marks to James Mason.

The support cast is also top-notch, though some false beards were a trifle obvious. Another minor complaint lies in the poorly conceived, tacked-on ending in which Holmes is examined by John Gielgud's unyielding Prime Minister.

Otherwise this is a remarkably handsome film that transports the viewer right back to a teemingly authentic Sherlock Holmes London.