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Murder by Decree

  • 1979
  • PG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
Murder by Decree (1979)
Home Video Trailer from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer4:16
1 Video
63 Photos
CrimeMysteryThriller

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.

  • Director
    • Bob Clark
  • Writers
    • Arthur Conan Doyle
    • John Hopkins
    • Elwyn Jones
  • Stars
    • Christopher Plummer
    • James Mason
    • David Hemmings
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    6.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Bob Clark
    • Writers
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
      • John Hopkins
      • Elwyn Jones
    • Stars
      • Christopher Plummer
      • James Mason
      • David Hemmings
    • 115User reviews
    • 76Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Murder by Decree
    Trailer 4:16
    Watch Murder by Decree

    Photos63

    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 Holmes
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Dr. John H. Watson
    David Hemmings
    David Hemmings
    • Inspector Foxborough
    Susan Clark
    Susan Clark
    • Mary Kelly
    Anthony Quayle
    Anthony Quayle
    • Sir Charles Warren
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Prime Minister Lord Salisbury
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Inspector Lestrade
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Robert Lees
    Geneviève Bujold
    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
    June Brown
    • Anne Chapman
    Ken Jones
    • Dock Guard
    Terry Duggan
    • Danny
    • Director
      • Bob Clark
    • Writers
      • Arthur Conan Doyle
      • John Hopkins
      • Elwyn Jones(book "The Ripper File")
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Peter O'Toole was originally cast as Sherlock Holmes, and Sir Laurence Olivier was cast as Dr. Watson. But the two actors had not worked well together in the past, and were unable to overcome their differences for this movie.
    • 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 reviews115

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    very nice
    Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Plummer) and Dr. John Watson (James Mason) with a little help from a phsychic (Donald Sutherland) become embroiled in the Jack-the-ripper case. This intermingling of real and fictional charecters is for the most part intriging and for my money, much more enjoyable than the more recent "From Hell" (But then again, if ANYone can make a valid adaption of anything by Alan Moore, please tell me). However, not the best Serlock Holmes movie I've seen and Plummer, while a fairly good Holmes, is still second to Jeremy Brett. All in all another strong accomplishment by the great Bob Clark (Porky's, A Christmas Story and Black Christmas are classics all) this time working with a John Hopskins script. By the way, I have yet to see "A Study in Terror" and thus can't make any comparisions or any thesis on which is better.

    My Grade: B+

    DVD Extras: Commentary by Bob Clark; poster and stills gallery; Behind-the-scenes still gallery; Talent bios; and theatrical trailer

    DVD-ROM: Screenplay
    helpful•15
    2
    • movieman_kev
    • Aug 17, 2004

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    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

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