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Murder by Decree

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
John Gielgud, James Mason, Donald Sutherland, Geneviève Bujold, Christopher Plummer, Susan Clark, Frank Finlay, David Hemmings, and Anthony Quayle in Murder by Decree (1979)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer4:16
1 Video
62 Photos
  • Crime
  • Mystery
  • Thriller

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

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Bob Clark
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle(characters)
    • John Hopkins(screenplay)
    • Elwyn Jones(author)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Plummer
    • James Mason
    • David Hemmings
Top credits
  • Director
    • Bob Clark
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle(characters)
    • John Hopkins(screenplay)
    • Elwyn Jones(author)
  • Stars
    • Christopher Plummer
    • James Mason
    • David Hemmings
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 111User reviews
    • 73Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Murder by Decree
    Trailer 4:16
    Murder by Decree

    Photos62

    James Mason, Geneviève Bujold, Christopher Plummer, and Chris Wiggins in Murder by Decree (1979)
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer in Murder by Decree (1979)
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer in Murder by Decree (1979)
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer in Murder by Decree (1979)
    "Murder By Decree" John Gielgud
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer at an event for Murder by Decree (1979)
    Christopher Plummer at an event for Murder by Decree (1979)
    John Gielgud, James Mason, Donald Sutherland, Geneviève Bujold, Christopher Plummer, Susan Clark, Frank Finlay, David Hemmings, and Anthony Quayle in Murder by Decree (1979)
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer in Murder by Decree (1979)
    John Gielgud, James Mason, Donald Sutherland, Geneviève Bujold, Christopher Plummer, Susan Clark, Frank Finlay, David Hemmings, and Anthony Quayle in Murder by Decree (1979)
    Murder by Decree (1979)
    James Mason and Christopher Plummer in Murder by Decree (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Sherlock Holmesas Sherlock Holmes
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Dr. John H. Watsonas Dr. John H. Watson
    David Hemmings
    David Hemmings
    • Inspector Foxboroughas Inspector Foxborough
    Susan Clark
    Susan Clark
    • Mary Kellyas Mary Kelly
    Anthony Quayle
    Anthony Quayle
    • Sir Charles Warrenas Sir Charles Warren
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Prime Minister Lord Salisburyas Prime Minister Lord Salisbury
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Inspector Lestradeas Inspector Lestrade
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Robert Leesas Robert Lees
    Geneviève Bujold
    Geneviève Bujold
    • Annie Crookas Annie Crook
    Chris Wiggins
    • Doctor Hardyas Doctor Hardy
    Tedde Moore
    Tedde Moore
    • Mrs. Leesas Mrs. Lees
    • (as Teddi Moore)
    Peter Jonfield
    • William Sladeas William Slade
    Roy Lansford
    • Sir Thomas Spiveyas Sir Thomas Spivey
    Catherine Kessler
    • Carrieas Carrie
    Ron Pember
    • Makinsas Makins
    June Brown
    June Brown
    • Anne Chapmanas Anne Chapman
    Ken Jones
    • Dock Guardas Dock Guard
    Terry Duggan
    • Dannyas Danny
    • Director
      • Bob Clark
    • Writers
      • Arthur Conan Doyle(characters)
      • John Hopkins(screenplay)
      • Elwyn Jones(author) (book "The Ripper File")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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 <jlvogel@comcast.net>
    • jack-the-ripper
    • conspiracy
    • london england
    • sherlock holmes character
    • three word title
    • 76 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Sherlock Holmes unveils the secrecy of Jack the Ripper - clue by clue - murder by murder.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      One of the last actors cast was James Mason. Director Bob Clark had to travel to Spain, where Mason was shooting another movie, to meet with him. Mason agreed to play Watson if he could make him a serious character, not the "silly ass" buffoon character which was the rule. Mason re-wrote two scenes, including the famous "pea scene".
    • Goofs
      Holmes refers to the cab that ran him over as a "hansom." Those were two-wheeled vehicles, and Holmes was attacked by a four-wheeler.
    • Quotes

      Prime Minister Lord Salisbury: You have my word.

      Sherlock Holmes: [Acidly] I would prefer some more reliable authority.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Hair/Murder By Decree/A Perfect Couple/The Champ/Buck Rogers in the 25th Century/Love at First Bite/In Search of Dracula (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      God Save the Queen
      (uncredited)
      Traditional
      Arranged by Ivor Slaney
      De Wolfe Music Ltd
      Played at the opera

    User reviews111

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Superbly atmospheric, produced but flawed...
    "Murder by Decree" could have been one of THE great Sherlock Holmes films but suffers from problematic scenes that need to be edited or cut altogether. Outstanding art direction and recreation of London in 1888 help to salvage it. It also features winning interpretations of Holmes and Watson by Christopher Plummer and James Mason (my favorite Dr. Watson), and fine performances by a strong supprting cast. It also features one of the scariest moments I've ever seen in a film, when the black eyes of the killer appears in a tight close-up. Scary! Overall: sluggish at time, but entertaining.
    helpful•18
    7
    • Poirot-3
    • Dec 7, 1998

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 9, 1979 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sherlock Holmes and Saucy Jack
    • Filming locations
      • Oakley Court, Windsor Road, Oakley Green, Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
      • Famous Players
      • Highlight
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • CA$5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Murder By Decree coming to Blu-ray this June with new restoration
    Murder By Decree coming to Blu-ray this June with new restoration
    May 27Flickeringmyth
    Christopher Plummer: An Impishly Irascible, Velvet-Voiced Actor Who Touched Something Timeless
    Christopher Plummer: An Impishly Irascible, Velvet-Voiced Actor Who Touched Something Timeless
    Feb 6Variety Film + TV

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    John Gielgud, James Mason, Donald Sutherland, Geneviève Bujold, Christopher Plummer, Susan Clark, Frank Finlay, David Hemmings, and Anthony Quayle in Murder by Decree (1979)
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