Murder by Decree

1979 124 min ★ 6.3 Crime, Mystery, Thriller

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 their 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.

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Cast

Christopher Plummer

Sherlock Holmes

James Mason

Dr. Watson

David Hemmings

Inspector Foxborough

Susan Clark

Mary Kelly

Anthony Quayle

Sir Charles Warren

John Gielgud

Prime Minister

Frank Finlay

Inspector Lestrade

Donald Sutherland

Robert Lees

Geneviève Bujold

Annie Crook

Chris Wiggins

Dr. Hardy

Details

Director

Bob Clark

Screenplay

John Hopkins

Tagline

"The Jack the Ripper Murders. Sherlock Holmes lifts the veil of secrecy, corruption and terror at the heart of the throne of England itself. Clue by clue... Murder by murder..."

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Production

Canadian Film Development Corporation, Famous Players

Reviews

J

John Chard

May 8, 2015

★ 9/10

Elementary my dear Ripper! Murder by Decree is directed by Bob Clark and adapted to screenplay by John Hopkins from the novel The Ripper File written by Elwyn Jones and John Lloyd. It stars Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Frank Finlay, Anthony Quayle, Donald Sutherland, Geneviève Bujold & John Gielgud. Film pitches Sherlock Holmes (Plummer) and Dr. Watson (Maso...

C

CinemaSerf

March 26, 2023

★ 6/10

Christopher Plummer dons the famous deerstalker in this well produced and stylish looking outing for "Sherlock Holmes". Here, together with stalwart colleague "Dr. Watson" (James Mason) they find themselves drawn into the mysterious investigation of a series of gruesome Whitechapel murders. What is being locally described as the "Jack the Ripper" crimes is baffling "Lestrade" (Frank Finlay) to the...

W

Wuchak

June 17, 2026

★ 6/10

**_What if Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson took on the 1888 Jack the Ripper case?_** This isn’t as colorful as “A Study in Terror” or the Hammer versions; nor is it as sordid & gory as Klaus Kinski’s 1976 rendition or Anthony Perkins’ future “Edge of Sanity,” nor as entertaining as the future “From Hell.” You could call it a respectable version of The Ripper case that’s dialogue-driven and eschews...