Murder by Decree

Feb 1, 1979

2h 4m

★ 6.4

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...

Overview

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.

Genres

Crime

Mystery

Thriller

Production Companies

Canadian Film Development Corporation

Famous Players

Murder by Decree Trailers

Cast

Sherlock Holmes

Christopher Plummer

Dr. Watson

James Mason

Inspector Foxborough

David Hemmings

Mary Kelly

Susan Clark

Sir Charles Warren

Anthony Quayle

Prime Minister

John Gielgud

Inspector Lestrade

Frank Finlay

Robert Lees

Donald Sutherland

Annie Crook

Geneviève Bujold

Dr. Hardy

Chris Wiggins

Mrs. Lees

Tedde Moore

Carrie

Catherine Kessler

Two street girls are slain on consecutive nights, their murders echoing a sinister pattern. When a third victim — an amateur model — turns up dead, panic spreads through the city, and whispers of a modern “Jack the Ripper” begin. Detective Jones, recently divorced and battling his own demons, is forced to chase the killer through a spiral of violence where each night brings a new victim… and darker surprises.

8.0

Murder Rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes

Jan 5, 2000

Arthur Conan Doyle reveals the story behind Sherlock Holmes and his mysteries by telling about Dr. Joseph Bell, from whom he drew his inspiration, after meeting him as a medical student in Edinburgh. This TV movie served as the pilot for the later released minisseries Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes produced by the BBC. The series then picks up with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's time as a general practitioner in Southsea, solving mysteries with the help of his mentor, Dr Joseph Bell, who is still based in Edinburgh.

7.2

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Eccentric consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson battle to bring down a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy England.

6.5

The Lodger

Jan 19, 1944

In Victorian era London, the inhabitants of a family home with rented rooms upstairs fear the new lodger is Jack the Ripper.

5.4

The Masks of Death

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Sherlock Holmes has retired. But when MacDonald asks him to take on another case, he says yes. There have been some mysterious murders, and there are no visible causes for the deaths. At the same time Holmes gets this case, Graf Udo Von Felseck gives him another case: find a young and missing prince to prevent war between Germany and England. But Von Felseck is not as honest as he seems...

6.2

The Seven-Per-Cent Solution

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Concerned about his friend's cocaine use, Dr. Watson tricks Sherlock Holmes into travelling to Vienna, where Holmes enters the care of Sigmund Freud. Freud attempts to solve the mysteries of Holmes' subconscious, while Holmes devotes himself to solving a mystery involving the kidnapping of Lola Deveraux.

6.5

Mr. Holmes

Jun 19, 2015

In 1947, long-retired and near the end of his life, Sherlock Holmes grapples with an unreliable memory and must rely on his housekeeper's son as he revisits the still-unsolved case that led to his retirement.

6.0

The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother

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After spending decades living in the shadow of his more famous and successful sibling, Consulting Detective Sigerson Holmes is called upon to help solve a crucial case that leads him on a hilarious trail of false identities, stolen documents, secret codes... and exposed backsides.

6.7

From Hell

Feb 8, 2001

Frederick Abberline is an opium-huffing inspector from Scotland Yard who falls for one of Jack the Ripper's prostitute targets in this Hughes brothers adaption of a graphic novel that posits the Ripper's true identity.

6.8

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When a bored Sherlock eagerly takes the case of Gabrielle Valladon following an attempt on her life, the search for her missing husband leads to Loch Ness and the legendary monster.

6.7

Without a Clue

May 5, 1988

Sherlock Holmes is as dashing as ever, but with a little secret: Dr. Watson is the brains behind the operation. When Reginald Kincaid, the actor he has hired to play Holmes becomes insufferable, Watson fires him and tries to go out on his own, but finds that he has done too good a job building Holmes up in the public's mind.

6.8

Time After Time

Sep 28, 1979

Writer H. G. Wells pursues Jack the Ripper to modern day San Francisco after the infamous serial killer steals his time machine to escape the 19th century.

6.0

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Oct 28, 2000

The mysterious death of Sir Charles Baskerville is blamed on a longstanding curse that has followed the Baskerville family for two hundred years. Enigmatic sleuth Sherlock Holmes is on the case to uncover the truth about a monstrous, supernatural hound who roams the moors, waiting to attack the latest heir to the Baskerville estate. Written by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

7.0

The Spider Woman

Dec 10, 1943

Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of so-called "pajama suicides". He knows the female villain behind them is as cunning as Moriarty and as venomous as a spider.

7.1

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog

Feb 14, 1927

London. A mysterious serial killer brutally murders young blond women by stalking them in the night fog. One foggy, sinister night, a young man who claims his name is Jonathan Drew arrives at the guest house run by the Bunting family and rents a room.

7.0

They Might Be Giants

Jun 9, 1971

After the death of his wife, retired judge Justin Playfair creates a fantasy world for himself in which he is the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, even dressing like the character. Out of concern for Justin's money more than his health, his brother Blevins puts him under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Mildred Watson. As Dr. Watson grows fond of Justin, she begins to play along with his theories, eventually becoming an assistant in his investigations.

6.8

Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars

Mar 25, 2007

A gang of sharp witted street kids save Sherlock Holmes from an accusation of murder and to help foil an audacious robbery.

0.0

The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Mar 25, 1949

Sherlock Holmes gets the clues he needs to solve a murder, and to prevent another one from occurring, when he finds out that a doctor owns a poisonous snake--the deadly swamp adder. Filmed on the expensive sets leftover from the movie Joan of Arc at Hal Roach Studios in Culver City and produced for the "Your Show Time" series, the short has been released as a solo feature on many DVDs that chronicle classic Sherlock Holmes films..

6.1

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Dec 26, 2002

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are called in to unravel a mysterious curse that has plagued the Baskerville family for generations. When Sir Charles Baskerville is found dead, his heir, Sir Henry, begs Holmes to save him from the terrifying supernatural hound that has brought fear and death to his household.

8.0

Silent Sherlock: Three Classic Cases

Dec 12, 2025

Eille Norwood stars as the Great Detective in three episodes from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia, wherein Holmes falls for ‘the woman’; The Golden Pince-Nez, which features Holmes’ deductive powers at work; and The Final Problem, featuring the sinister Professor Moriarty. The episodes are accompanied by newly commissioned scores by Joanna MacGregor, Neil Brand and Joseph Havlat.