Customer Reviews
Read the Reviews, and Believe Them 
2007-09-25
What can be added to the top rating this movie is given? Perhaps one of the funniest subtle sequences in movies: The "Pea Scene" between Plummer and Mason.
Review of the DVD itself. 2007-01-23
Since everyone with any sense knows this is a great film, I will just give my thoughts on the actual DVD.
The transfer is wonderful. Sharp, but still giving you that slightly understated sense of color vibrance you expect from English films reflecting this time period.
The sound is in mono, but there are hardly any scenes that would warrant any great speaker seperation. Yet the sound is pretty good. There were times in the outdoor scenes where the actors' lines were partially obscured, but it was forgivable.
The commentary is great. It has somewhat large gaps, but I found it insightful about the production of the film, as well as Jack the Ripper and Holmes lore.
The production stills are a nice touch, but the feature I found cool beyond anything I expected was that the script is provided on the disc in the form of a PDF file you can access on your computer. Very cool, indeed.
Holmes vs. Ripper yarn 
2007-01-10
Cool story. Well acted by good cast. Doyle fans will enjoy this treatment of the obvious "missing" story from the Holmes Canon.
As a standard-length movie, the characters aren't quite as well developed as the much longer Michael Caine Ripper mini-series done by the Beeb, but it's well worth a look.
One of those movies you take to the deserted island with you. 2006-12-17
This is my favorite Sherlock Holmes movie ever. It is about Sherlock Holmes investigating the Jack the Ripper murders. Christopher Plummer and James Mason are outstanding as Holmes and Watson; their relationship is just as you would expect two old friends. Sometimes some minor squabbling but always there for each other when the chips are down. When both have been bloodied by the bad guys, they're passing their one gun back and forth between them is both amusing and very touching. Watson is the epitome of the decent citizen who staunchly supports Queen and country. Holmes is less gung ho but the movie turns when he too is caught in the riptide of social change and conspiracies. The dream cast is like a who's who of the 70s; Anthony Quayle, David Hemmings, Frank Finlay, Genevieve Bujold, Susan Clark, Donald Sutherland and even John Gielgud shows up at the end. The plot is deliciously complicated and the production wonderfully atmospheric, a Victorian England come to life. Bob Clark does a great job of directing this cast of thoroughbreds and the showdown between Holmes and the bad guy is edge of your seat stuff. I highly recommend this movie - you won't be sorry.
fantastic little known movie! 2006-11-13
I saw this flick in the theater when it first came out. I was greatly surprised that it became such a little known sleeper. Plummer was great as Holmes. So much so I hoped that he would team up with Mason again for another adventure. Speaking of Mason, I, like many of the others reviewing this movie feel that Mason was masterful as Watson. In some ways he upstages Plummer. Another great actor contributing within this movie is Donald Sutherland.
It seems in this day and age where modern day murderers have much out done Jack the Ripper, the public is still intrigued by him. That the case was never solved and he may have been the first well publicized serial killer may have something to do with that.
This movie merges several of the most popular theories as to who the Ripper was and his possible motives into one. The names and characters were real. The story teller offers this as what could have been. Fiction yes, but good fiction based on actual events with actual persons at the time of the case.
As I stated, this movie is not well known and if you own it you will be able to share an excellent thriller with friends that never knew it existed. Lastly, I am not sure how it got rated PG but it is at times graphic and I would view this before allowing younger viewers.
Murder most splendid 2008-05-28
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" 2007-12-17
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 
2007-12-03
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 2007-12-02
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! 2007-10-06
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.
