A Reel Retro Review: MURDER BY DECREE (1979)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

After the passing of the late great Christopher Plummer (HERE), Reel Speak blogged on the best films the actor has appeared in (HERE). One of those films was Plummer’s 1979 turn as Sherlock Holmes in Bob Clark’s MURDER BY DECREE. 

 

The world-famous detective Sherlock Holmes (Plummer), and his partner Dr. John Watson (James Mason), take on the case of Jack the Ripper; a serial killer murdering prostitutes all over the Whitechapel district of London. 

 

Directed by Bob Clark and not based any writings of Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, MURDER BY DECREE follows Holmes and Watson as they journey into London’s underground in search of the killer that has so far baffled police. The odds are against them, as Holmes is often thwarted by a Sir Charles (Anthony Quayle), the head of the investigation on the police-side who wants nothing to do with outside-help…despite Holmes’ extensive history of solving un-solvable crimes. 

 

The film is an early battle of Holmes’ un-traditional methods of problem-solving vs. the establishments’ idea of police-work (antiquated even for its time), and while we do see Holmes practicing his expected talents of observation and deduction, MURDER BY DECREE does go into some unexpected territory, which includes a medium (Donald Sutherland), who has had visions of the murders, a woman (Genevieve Bujold), locked up in a mental institution, and a grand conspiracy leading all the way to the highest authorities in London. It’s a complicated road-map to follow, but by the time Holmes does his big reveal at the end, it all comes together nicely 

 

Director Bob Clark makes the London of old look like a scary place, most especially the impoverished areas. The film is shot and cut tightly, and even the places that drag a little still remain interesting. The biggest surprise is the portrayal of Holmes. Where nearly every version of the character on the screen shows the man as cold and robotic, Christopher Plummer plays him closer to a human being; prone to emotional outbursts in fits of joy or even rage. James Mason is excellent at Watson, and Donald Sutherland’s turn as the psychic medium is one of his oddest film appearances. 

 

Sherlock Holmes in cinema has had many forms to choose from. The most well-regarded are the Basil Rathbone films that ran from 1939 to 1946, and the worst being the Guy Ritchie-directed abominations from 2009 to 2011. MURDER BY DECREE falls somewhere in-between in terms of quality. It is a treat to see Holmes as a human being, and Plummer is perfect in the role. It’s plot may be a bit too complicated, but those who hang around with it will be rewarded. 

 

BOTTOM LINE:  See it 

 

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Reel Facts: Director Bob Clark would go on to direct A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983). Actress Tedde Moore, who would appear as Miss Shields (Ralphie’s teacher) in that film, appears in MURDER BY DECREE as the psychic’s wife. This was actually Christopher Plummer’s second appearance as Sherlock Holmes, with the first being the 1977 British/Canadian TV-film SILVER BLAZE.