Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Sherlock Holmes Thriller...
Review: Christopher Plummer is Sherlock Holmes. James Mason is Dr.Watson.
A battle-array of nefarious,murdering "aristocrats"is JACK THE RIPPER in perhaps the greatest non-Conan Doyle Holmes adventure yet conceived. MURDER BY DECREE posits a grand Masonic conspiracy to "protect" the throne of Victorian England. Did the Royal Prince, Duke Albert Edward Victor, Heir Presumptive, sire a child...out of wedlock with a Catholic "commoner"? Did potential explosiveness of scandal for the future "Defender of the Anglican Church" and legitimacy of the Monarchy itself breed the most monstrous serial killer in English history and folk lore?The all-star cast includes Sir John Gielgud, Anthony Quayle, David Hemmings, Donald Sutherland and Genevieve Bujold. The film combines superb pacing, art direction and atmospherics to produce a SHERLOCK HOLMES THRILLER that is anything but elementary...
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies I've seen - ever!
Review: I first saw this movie back in 1979, and have loved it ever since. Yeah, the usual stuff: a fabulous cast (who can beat Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Donald Sutherland, Sir John Gielgud?), a convincing portrait of late 19th-century London, a haunting and beautiful musical score, excellent direction, etc. -- but unlike so many technically excellent movies, this one has a wonderful story behind it, complex, sophisticated, challenging, sometimes disturbing, but also deeply moving, particularly the final scene in which all is brought to light. I was especially impressed with Christopher Plummer's performance in this movie; possibly his best film role ever. For years I sought a copy of this movie, only to discover that it had been taken "out of print;" I ended up buying scratchy used copies (through Amazon.com auctions)at high prices. So I was delighted when the DVD came out, and plan to share it now with many friends. For anyone who likes Sherlock Holmes, or who just likes movies, this would be a great gift. I was a bit disappointed with the technical quality of the DVD -- I expect more and hope that this can be remedied in the future. But the movie itself is so superb that I think anyone can live with this issue. I would have to include this film among my top ten favorite movies -- and it is arguably at the top of that list.
Rating:
Summary: The very best "Ripper" movie
Review: I have been waiting for this excellent movie to come out on DVD for so long! I am a huge "Ripper movie" fan,and have seen them all,new and old.This one is my favorite,not because I necessarily believe in this particular explanation as to the identity of the Ripper,but because of the wonderful acting of Christopher Plummer as Holmes,and James Mason as Watson.Everyone in the cast is so good,and I especially like the humanity that Holmes shows,and the wonderful feistiness and loyalty of Watson.I cannot recommend this movie enough.If you love a good,scary movie,tempered with wit,intelligence,some heartache and soul,you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best movies ever made!
Review: I love Sherlock Holmes movies in their many incarnations, especially Robert Stephens version in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (PLEASE RELEASE ON DVD in Billy Wilder's original LONG FORM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!). However, I must think Christopher Plummer is the best Sherlock ever. He brings so many textures and depth to his Sherlock, for once, making him a living, breathing man. In Private Life...Robert Stephens gives you a brilliant, heart-wrenching performance - at the point he realises he was been betrayed, and with no words he conveys SO MUCH it nearly tears you apart. Plummer gives you a similar heart-shredder, as he find Annie Crook in Bedlam, tortured, no longer sane, having retreated from the horrors around her and inflicted upon her, and in the following scene on the train ride back to London. In a masterpiece of blocking, you don't even see Holmes, you just his reflection in the train window while he talks about Annie. Compelling, heartbreaking, utterly BRILLIANT, demonstrating Plummer is one of the BEST actors ever to grace the screen. The story line of Sherlock Holmes meeting Jack the Ripper was first explored by Ellery Queen novel. In it, Holmes identified the wrong person as the Ripper, hence the one Holmes story never published. It is brought to Queen and he must solved the 100 year old case. In Study in Scarlet, with John Neville as Holmes (another superior version, but cannot compare to Decree) the Ellery Queen beginning and end was dropped and the middle part of Holmes chasing Jack was turned into the movie in the 1960s. Neville is a marvellous actor, but pales by comparison to the virtuoso performance of Plummer. This version of the Ripper vs Holmes, follows the Stephen Knight book exposing the Annie Crook connection. Lots of super support from a dream cast, such as Genevieve Bujold as Annie Crook, James Mason as Watson, David Hemmings as Foxborough, Susan Clark (Sister of producer/director Bob Clark - YES, people it is HARD TO BELIEVE the man who brought you Porkies create this masterpiece) as Mary Kelly, Frank Finlay as Lestrade, Donald Sutherland as Robert Lees the psychic, Anthony Quayle as Sir Charles Warren and John Giegud as Lord Sailsbury. I cannot say how delighted I am this is finally out on DVD!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing mystery
Review: I never saw this movie until after running across it in a video store. I had seen "From Hell" and read about this film, and I could tell that the two were similar. Of course, in "Murder By Decree" the characters are more familiar to audiences, and therefore more relatable. Evidently, both of these films were both based on the book "The Final Solution" written years ago. "Murder By Decree" is by far superior in more ways than one. "From Hell", whose only real attribute was that it showed in a more realistic manner the seedy side of Victorian life, was made with the modern generation (read: teenagers) in mind. It focused more on being as graphic as possible (though the real Ripper killings were horrific, they could have implied the details, as in this other film) and big-name stars. By contrast, "Murder By Decree" is an intelligent thriller that foregoes the effects to delve more into conspiracy theories and national intrigue. This is a film that you will want to watch more than once.
Rating: 
Summary: Murder By Decree
Review: I saw this movie when it was first released, and loved it. Being a Sherlock Holmes fan it is one of the best of the genre. Christopher Plummer's portral of Holmes is, dare I say it, the best Holmes since Basil Rathbone. The story weaves a gripping tale worthy of Sir Aurthur's pen, though this tale was not one of his stories. If you like the genre, you will not be disappointed.
Unfortunately, my VHS copy of this movie is not captioned, which for me renders it useless, as I recently lost my hearing. I'd like to purchase this DVD, but don't know if it is captioned. Can anyone who has this DVD let me know if it is captioned for hearing impaired.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite Ripper movie
Review: I saw this when it came out,and it quickly became a favorite.I especially love the pairing of Christopher Plummer as Holmes,and James Mason as Watson.Both play off each other very well,and Mason provides some sorely needed humor to a very sad and terrifying tale of the Ripper.Sir John Gielgud is his usual haughty,snobby(only in the movie,of course)self.This particular telling of the Ripper tale is very touching,and also very scary,and atmospheric.If you are a fan of the various Ripper theories,and love good acting,you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Len Herberman wrong choice as producer of film.
Review: I was at the first screening when this film came out. It is a frustrating picture to watch-the DVD version is uneven. First: the acting: James Mason is incredible-the finest Dr.Watson in movie history. Although I do prefer Basil Rathbone. Imagine if Basil Rathbone and James Mason were together in this film! The production: not top notch. First,Len Herberman is the wrong choice for the producer. The film needed someone like Julian Roffmann. Second: the sound: quite dreadful. The sound needed some genius like Orson Welles!! The camera work-dark,poor. The music-nothing special. Bob Clark,who directed the cult stiff film,Porkys,is way out of his element here-now if Erich Von Stroheim,Julian Roffmann,or Orson Welles had directed this stiff,then,the results would have been a classic!! Len Herberman is a stiff as well. In fact,Len Herberman reminds me of Sammy Glick. Now if Stone Cold Steve Austin were to "Stun" Len Herberman,and if Len Herberman were to eat some of my special dinner: Soup:Cream Of Jimsonweed. Salad:Pokeweed+Ajax. Dinner:Roasted Loin Of Lion,in Arsenic,Olive Oil,and Tabasco Sauce. I know Len Herberman: he stinks to high heaven!!@!!@!
Rating:
Summary: Len Herberman wrong choice as producer of film.
Review: I was at the first screening when this film came out. It is a frustrating picture to watch-the DVD version is uneven. First: the acting: James Mason is incredible-the finest Dr.Watson in movie history. Although I do prefer Basil Rathbone. Imagine if Basil Rathbone and James Mason were together in this film! The production: not top notch. First,Len Herberman is the wrong choice for the producer. The film needed someone like Julian Roffmann. Second: the sound: quite dreadful. The sound needed some genius like Orson Welles!! The camera work-dark,poor. The music-nothing special. Bob Clark,who directed the cult stiff film,Porkys,is way out of his element here-now if Erich Von Stroheim,Julian Roffmann,or Orson Welles had directed this stiff,then,the results would have been a classic!! Len Herberman is a stiff as well. In fact,Len Herberman reminds me of Sammy Glick. Now if Stone Cold Steve Austin were to "Stun" Len Herberman,and if Len Herberman were to eat some of my special dinner: Soup:Cream Of Jimsonweed. Salad:Pokeweed+Ajax. Dinner:Roasted Loin Of Lion,in Arsenic,Olive Oil,and Tabasco Sauce. I know Len Herberman: he stinks to high heaven!!@!!@!
Rating:
Summary: A comment on the DVD quality
Review: In a 3 February 2003 review below, a Mr Richard A. Young complains about the disc quality of this movie and blames manufacturers for making many faulty discs ("10%"). He claims that there is a three second delay between chapters 14 and 15. What Mr Young doesn't seem to realize is that many DVDs are dual-layered discs. In the transistion between layers, there is often a slight pause or blip. The length of the pause or the severity of the blip depends partly on your DVD player. My player did pause for less than a second between chapters 14 and 15 of this movie. Mr Young may want to upgrade his player if these transitions are as noticable and as bothersome as he claims. This slight pause did not ruin my enjoyment of the movie, and certainly did not prompt me to run about town renting different copies. I guess some people have a lot of time on their hands. The transfer is clean, colourful and well-detailed. The anamorphic picture looks nice on my 16x9 TV, so those of you with similar TVs can order this disc knowing that the presentation is truly anamorphic and not letter-boxed.
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