Murder by Decree
“The Jack the Ripper Murders. Sherlock Holmes lifts the veil of secrecy, corruption and terror at the heart of the throne of England itself. Clue by clue... Murder by murder...”
Synopsis
Sherlock Holmes is drawn into the case of Jack the Ripper, who is killing prostitutes in London's East End. Assisted by Dr. Watson, and using information provided by a renowned psychic, Robert Lees, Holmes finds that the murders may have their roots in a Royal indiscretion and that a cover-up is being managed by politicians at the highest level, all of whom happen to be Masons.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Murder by Decree • 1979 • Theatrical Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2023-10-27
Top Cast
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Christopher Plummer
Sherlock Holmes
James Mason
Dr. Watson
David Hemmings
Inspector Foxborough
Susan Clark
Mary Kelly
Anthony Quayle
Sir Charles Warren
John Gielgud
Prime Minister
Frank Finlay
Inspector Lestrade
Donald Sutherland
Robert Lees
Geneviève Bujold
Annie Crook
Chris Wiggins
Dr. Hardy
Tedde Moore
Mrs. Lees
Catherine Kessler
Carrie
Terry Duggan
Danny
Peter Jonfield
William Slade
Roy Lansford
Sir Thomas Spivey
Ron Pember
Makins
Ken Jones
Dock Guard
June Brown
Annie Chapman
Release History & Theatrical Window
February 9, 1979
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 11, 2009
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Bob Clark
- Screenplay & Story
- John Hopkins
- Original Score
- Carl Zittrer, Paul Zaza
- Original Title
- Murder by Decree
- Country of Origin
- Canada, United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English, French
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Production Studios
- Canadian Film Development Corporation, Famous Players
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Bob Clark
John Hopkins, Elwyn Jones, John Lloyd, Arthur Conan Doyle
Carl Zittrer, Paul Zaza
Reginald H. Morris
Stan Cole
Bob Clark, Len Herberman, Robert A. Goldston, René Dupont
Department Leadership Roster
Bob Clark
Director
John Hopkins
Screenplay
Bob Clark
Producer
Judy Moorcroft
Costume Design
Harry Pottle
Production Design
Robert A. Goldston
Producer
René Dupont
Producer
Stan Cole
Editor
Reginald H. Morris
Director of Photography
Carl Zittrer
Original Music Composer
Paul Zaza
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Murder by Decree.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Murder by Decree.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Murder by Decree
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Murder by Decree about?
Sherlock Holmes is drawn into the case of Jack the Ripper, who is killing prostitutes in London's East End. Assisted by Dr. Watson, and using information provided by a renowned psychic, Robert Lees, Holmes finds that the murders may have their roots in a Royal indiscretion and that a cover-up is being managed by politicians at the highest level, all of whom happen to be Masons.
Who directed Murder by Decree?
Murder by Decree was directed by Bob Clark.
Who stars in Murder by Decree?
The principal cast of Murder by Decree includes Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Anthony Quayle.
When was Murder by Decree released and how long is it?
Murder by Decree was released in 1979 with a total runtime of 2h 4m.
Who composed the musical score for Murder by Decree?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Murder by Decree was composed by Carl Zittrer, Paul Zaza.
Is Murder by Decree based on a book or true story?
Murder by Decree is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Elwyn Jones", Novel: "John Lloyd", Characters: "Arthur Conan Doyle".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Murder by Decree?
Murder by Decree holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).