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Simply A Masterpiece

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Well crafted mystery / thriller film, co-produced by the U.K. and Canada, which brings the literary world of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous characters: Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson, plus the Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard and Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of the house 221B Baker Street, in which Holmes lives, to the real life case of the infamous serial- killer, Jack the Ripper who terrorized Whitechapel in 1888 (featuring the same premise, but ultimately, with way different results from the previous, 'Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper' film: "A Study in Terror", released in 1965)."Murder by Decree" is largely influenced by the book, "Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution" by Stephen Knight and "The Ripper File" by Elwyn Jones and John Lloyd, which connected the hideous murders to a Masonic plot involving the Royal British Family, especially the grandson of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert Victor, who secretly married a catholic girl from the working class, Annie Crook, and their newborn baby that could be a threat for the throne of Britain.Bob Clark's direction, filming the John Hopkins' imaginative screenplay, is way vivid (even if some scenes staged, had more of a look and feel from a "made for TV" film) and the production design is astonishing for the 5 millions budget: the invocation of the Victorian Era is top notch, kudos to the art direction, set decoration and costume design, especially in the exterior shots, which the camera captured it wonderfully, giving to this Gothic tale a sense of eeriness and grotesque.Christopher Plummer is a great actor and is always a pleasure to watch him and his portray of Sherlock Holmes here, it's one of the most human and sympathetic renditions of the character ever put on-screen. Not only he's less arrogant and picky, but also way more emotional and sensitive, with a social and political conscience, making him more charming and self aware. His laid-back sense of humor is notorious, too. James Mason is fantastic as his faithful partner, and probably the best (or maybe the 2nd best, only behind André Morell in the excellent "The Hound of Baskervilles", released by Hammer Films in '59) Dr. Watson from the last 5 decades. His rendition of Watson is more a valuable asset, au pair with the way the character was written in the original stories: more concerned, instinctive and sober and less buffoon (like Nigel Bruce played him in the early Sherlock Holmes' movie adaptations starring Basil Rathbone as the title character), but at the same time, maintaining the humorous & witty side of the old Watson. The supporting cast is full of veterans, from Anthony Quayle as the bad-tempered Sir Charles Warren, Frank Finlay as Lestrade (a role he had previously played in the similar, "A Study in Terror"), David Hemmings, Susan Clark, to Sir John Gielgud in a commanding cameo as the Prime Minister and head of the Freemasons, but the highlights in the performances goes to Donald Sutherland (still in "The Invasion of Body Snatchers" creepy mode) as the medium Robert Lees and to the underrated Canadian actress, Geneviève Bujold who offers a tragic / haunting performance as the ill-fated Annie Crook. Her only speaking scene with Christopher Plummer in the Mental Ward, showing her naivety and desperation, was probably the best acted scene in the whole movie and perhaps, where Meg Tilly got part of her inspiration to play her Oscar Nominated role in "Agnes of God" ('85).In short, "Murder by Decree" is a visually engaging film and a winner in terms of storytelling, a genuine product of inspired craftsmanship in every department and a good piece of entertainment cinema, which fully works as a mystery thrilling film without being too obtuse.Highly recommended !!

A serial killer is on the loose in the Whitechapel area of London. Leaders of the community come to Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Plummer) and his assistant Dr. Watson (James Mason) for help. Psychic Robert Lees (Donald Sutherland) tells them about his visions of Jack the Ripper. Commissioner Sir Charles Warren puts up roadblocks. Holmes discovers that Sir Charles is a Freemason and referenced in a message from the Ripper about Juwes. Holmes tracks down Mary Kelly. She tells him about a baby and is then kidnapped. This leads to the disturbed Annie Crook (Geneviève Bujold). Inspector Foxborough (David Hemmings) seems to be helpful. Holmes confronts Prime Minister Lord Salisbury (John Gielgud) about the conspiracy.Holmes and Watson are colleagues and sincere investigators. This Watson is not a bumbling fool. The production value is pretty good considering the cost. The actors are all very high quality. Christopher Plummer is a very effective Holmes. It's a lot of foggy murders but not a lot of action. The plot was reused for the movie "From Hell". It's a pretty good crime investigation.

What more could you ask for in a film: Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Anthony Quayle, John Gielgud, Frank Finlay, Donald Sutherland, and Geneviève Bujold, and a great supporting cast? That's two Oscar winners and four nominees; a great cast!The film features warfare between the classes, clashing political programs, and widespread confusion abut sex and insanity. It touches on Freemasons and parapsychology, too. Plummer is excellent as Holmes, and Sutherland is really creepy as a medium.A thrilling tale of murder and politics.

Bob Clark's "Murder by Decree" (1979) is an interesting movie. You could almost describe it as Sherlock meets Jack the Ripper. Christopher Plummer does a decent job in the main role as Sherlock. Dr Watson is a fussy James Mason. There's also a decent performance by a guy called David Hemmings. Oh yeah, also a real young Donald Sutherland as the medium, he does a fine job and has the best scenes the in the whole movie. Jack the Ripper is also pretty ugly and scary. The murders in the movie can rival any horror that comes out these days. It's pretty scary and gory. There is one murder scene in the beginning on the London streets where he kills a prostitute that blew my mind. Another scene by the docks where a guy gets stabbed in the chest made me jump. The problem is the pace is a little too slow, which is too bad. The movie is well made, I just wish it moved at a more brisk pace so that I could have enjoyed it more. 7 from 10.