Movie · 1979
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...”
Released 1 February 1979 124 min Crime / Mystery / Thriller More from 1979 → IMDb ↗ · Letterboxd ↗ · TMDB ↗
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.
FR·01
How old were they?
John Gielgud
as Prime Minister
James Mason
as Dr. Watson
Anthony Quayle
as Sir Charles Warren
Peggy Ann Clifford
as Lees' Housekeeper
Frank Finlay
as Inspector Lestrade
June Brown
as Annie Chapman
Roy Lansford
as Sir Thomas Spivey
Christopher Plummer
as Sherlock Holmes
Chris Wiggins
as Dr. Hardy
Ken Jones
as Dock Guard
Terry Duggan
as Danny
Donald Sutherland
as Robert Lees
Peter Dean
as Police Constable (uncredited)
David Hemmings
as Inspector Foxborough
Geneviève Bujold
as Annie Crook
Susan Clark
as Mary Kelly
Tedde Moore
as Mrs. Lees
Peter Jonfield
as William Slade
Catherine Kessler
as Carrie
FR·02
The numbers
41years between the oldest and youngest billed
74John Gielgud — oldest on the call sheet
33Peter Jonfield — youngest billed
48average age of the credited cast