Review of Murder by Decree (1979) by Matthew D — 27 Oct 2018

As close to a From Hell adaptation as we'll ever get.

Sherlock Holmes comes to life in the darkest telling of Jack the Ripper's Whitechapel killings ever captured on film. Murder by Decree (1979) is a chilling recreation of the Jack the Ripper murders alongside an imagined detective mystery solved by Sherlock Holmes. It is dark, cold, foggy, and haunting. The brutal murders range from quick and shocking to the single most ghastly murder I have ever seen in a movie. The detective work is solid, but without much evidence. But, you are engaged by Holmes and Watson on the case all the same!

Bob Clark directed Murder by Decree with an eye for the ghostly London setting, fog induced atmosphere, shadowy silhouettes, women screaming, and long panning sequences for scary enactments. The story is told quite quickly, but to great effect. You are entertained by every joke and held in suspense for every dire situation.

The highlight of Murder by Decree is certainly the outstanding cast. Christopher Plummer is a confident and kind Sherlock Holmes. By the end, you will be stunned by Plummer's empathetic powerhouse performance. On the other hand, James Mason is a very funny and likable Dr. Watson. His fussy nature and casual statements of the obvious are as classic as Watson on screen gets. Donald Sutherland is present for another strange mystic character in his legendary 1970's run of roles. Even John Gielgud makes a late appearance as the Prime Minister to great presence and stature. Lastly, I must mention Geneviève Bujold as Annie Crook. She plays insanity and heartbreak so classy and sad that you sense her sorrow. It is a rough scene and Plummer is likewise phenomenal in it.

If you want a detailed account of police work that could have occurred during the investigations into Jack the Ripper's killings, then watch Murder by Decree with the utmost haste!