MURDER BY DECREE

Canada/UK, 1978, 112 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Anthony Quayle, John Gielgud, Frank Finlay, Donald Sutherland, Genevieve Bujold.
Directed by Bob Clark.

The Sherlock Holmes genre continues its '70s popularity with this elegant and multi-starred (John Gielgud and Genevieve Bujold stand out) Canadian/British production. It has a most genial, feeling Holmes in Christopher Plummer and a pleasantly obtuse British Watson in James Mason. Their quest is Jack the Ripper and John Hopkins' screenplay draws on recent theories linking the murders to royalty, but here we have a political cover up situation and democratic dialogue that echoes the '70s. 19th century London is excellently recreated, the murders are horrible and the web difficult to untangle. However, there is a long explanatory sequence to finish and thriller and Holmes fans should be well satisfied.

1. The appeal of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson? The widespread interest in the '70s? The atmosphere of the 19th and 20th centuries? Sherlock Holmes and Watson embodying the century, England? His work in detection, the popularity of the detective? The imagination exercised over Holmes and his cases? His status, symbolism?

2. The film as a Canadian/British co production? Sets, atmosphere, music? The contribution of the stars?

3. The imaginative screenplay, using Conan Doyle's characters, the blend with Jack the Ripper? Inventiveness and the themes of the '70s? violence, politics and cover-ups, sexuality, integrity?

4. The perennial attraction of Jack the Ripper? Horror, revulsion. fascination? The theories on his identity? The link with royalty and English government? The background of 19th century English repression, violence? Jack the Ripper as an avenging angel and the other theories? Their use here?

5. The initial focus on the Ripper murders, their ugliness and visual impact? The pattern for introducing them in the film? The slum area of London, the dark, the horse and carriage, the prostitutes, the close-ups? The background of the medical skill in the slashings? The two responsible and their madness? Their enjoying the killing? The final confrontation and exposure, the fight with Sherlock Holmes to the death?

6. The explanation of the theory ? the Duke of Clarence, marriage, the illegitimacy of his child, Catholicism. the Masons? The hiring of professional killers? The information given, the explanation at the end? Murder by decree, the cover up?

7. The '70s tone about politics, expediency? The cover-up from polite and elegant English gentlemen? John Gielgud as presenting the Prim Minister and his articulate persuasion? The English settings and the politics? The involvement of the police, the Masons? The knowledge of politicians? whether Queen Victoria knew?

8. Holmes and Watson as portrayed by Christopher Plummer and James Mason - humanity, their skills at detection? Christopher Plummer as humane, not pompous? Cultured., his playing the violin, his skills? His pursuit of criminals, encountering dangers? The clash with Sir Charles? The comparisons with Foxborough? The search for Mary and its dangers? The comparisons with Scotland Yard and Inspector Lestrade? The search for Annie and his being moved with compassion? The sympathy of their encounter? His further motivation for pursuing the investigation even in danger of his life, the final confrontation with Foxborough and his opposition to him.. the fight with the murderers? The explanation by the Prime Minister and Sherlock Holmes giving his pledge to secrecy? Holmes as hero?

9. The support of Watson with his bluff but obtuse loyalty, practical help, theorising, non-comprehension? A chorus for characters and events?

10. Lestrade and Scotland Yard and the ordinary competence of the police? Sir Charles and his power, influence, taking people off cases, the Masonic background and his being tricked by Holmes? The final confrontation of Holmes with the backing of the Prim Minister and the Foreign Secretary?

11. Foxborough as a detective, his helping Holmes, his knowledge of the details of the plot, his revolutionary and egalitarian background? The final hostility towards Holmes? The accident of his death?

12. The presentation of the women - the world of the prostitutes, their talk, their meal together, their attending the funeral? Suspicions? Mary and her co-operation? The chase, her being kidnapped, her fears, the ugly violence of her death? Holmes and the effect on him?

13. Genevieve Bujold's portrayal of Annie, in the asylum, her being imprisoned there unjustly, her insane behaviour, her trying to hold on to her sanity? The flashbacks? Her love for the Duke, the love for her baby? Telling the truth to the women and thus being the cause of their deaths? Her fear in the asylum? The way she had been used by the government? Her being victimised? Her touching the audience and Holmes?

14. The portrayal of the assassins and their madness?

15. How well did the film work as a detective story - the need for a long explanation sequence? The personalising of Sherlock Holmes and his crime detection? A story of England in the 19th. century with social and political background?