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Murder by Decree | 
 enlarge | Director: Bob Clark (iii)
Actors: Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Anthony Quayle
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.79
You Save: $5.19 (52%)
New (32) Used (7) Collectible (1) from $3.93
Avg. Customer Rating:  45 reviews
Sales Rank: 6797
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 124
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: D12133D
UPC: 013131213393
EAN: 0013131213393
ASIN: B00007AJED
Theatrical Release Date: February 9, 1979
Release Date: January 21, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: 5 Star Seller! >>Always IN STOCK
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 40 more reviews...
Murder most splendid May 28, 2008
Perhaps a bit dated by today's special effects standards, but this 1979 film is a wonderfully scripted Jack the Ripper tale with all sorts of clever twists and turns. Good acting by all with Christopher Plummer taking the spotlight as Sherlock Holmes on the trail of the madman at the behest of a group of Whitechapel business owners. More of a "why" than "who is Jack" type movie, it cleverly lays out a theory that is now widely embraced by folks who have studied the crimes. Great cinematography, convincing performances and a credible end. Four stars all around.
"Forget it, Sherlock. It's Whitechapel" December 17, 2007
This was the first Jack the Ripper movie to get the details of the crimes correct. A great cast, but given the sophisticated script this could have been even better, instead it looks more like a TV movie than a Victorian "Chinatown." Still, Mason's bufoonish Watson is one of the funniest and Bujuld's scene still packs a wallop as does Plummer's summing up at the end. (As was noted on the commentary track for "The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes", it's an amusing gaffe that Holmes wears his deerstalker everywhere -- including the opera!)
 Mediocre by Decree December 3, 2007
1 out of 5 found this review helpful
In the long line of Sherlock Movies and TV shows, this is a decent attempt at one of the stories that seems something like "Jack the Ripper". Plummer and Mason are certainly good actors and the sets are fairly decent. The mystery of illicit women being abducted and murdered seems to be swept under the carpet by the government and police. Sherlock Holmes will find out why with his able assistent Dr. Watson. The atmosphere is mainly dark and brooding throughout. Perhaps if I hadn't seen the masterful British series with Jeremy Brett I might be a little more forgiving of this movie today, but I'm afraid it just seemed to drag in parts, and so I give it a good but not great rating. When I first saw this I must admit I was more impressed. But considering what all is available now, it has held up reasonably well. Nothing special about the DVD quality or extras. A good rental for most and purchase for the hardcore Holmes fans.
Should have been better December 2, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper. An outstanding cast. The director of Black Christmas. It shouldn't miss, right?
Murder by Decree misses the bulls eye but there are good things here. Christopher Plummer and James Mason excel as Holmes and Watson and their relationship is joy to watch. The recreating of 1888 London is wonderful and the atmospheric direction by Bob Clark is good. The supporting cast, David Hemmings, Donald Sutherland, Genevive Bujold and Sir John Gielgud do their thing very well.
In the end the story isn't all that interesting. It's fairly devoid of any real suspense and the (completely) overlong conclusion kills all the momentum after a fairly exctiting climax with the Ripper himself. I have to say also that Holmes doesn't look like the mastermind he's supposed to be, with all the clues hand fed to him. Hell, I'd even come to the same conclusion.
Murder by Decree could, and should have, been great with all the talent on board but in the end it's an agreeable time waster. Not much more.
 Wonderfully cast! October 6, 2007
A thousand blessings on whoever decided to take Dr. Watson seriously and cast James Mason in this movie. He is a treasure in the role.
Apart from that, Christopher Plummer is excellent as Holmes; not as quirky as I personally like to see him but outstanding none the less, and a good physical type for Holmes as a plus. Donald Sutherland and the woman who plays Annie were also noteworthy--in fact the whole cast is just superb.
I would have liked to see a more gripping climax to the story, and there was a detail or two that I thought could maybe have been tied up better. The only other complaint I have to make about this movie is about the hairstyles given to some of the characters. Definitely not period appropriate! But that's an amusing flaw more than an annoying one, fortunately.
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