Holmes: A master of mysteries

In the late 1880's, a solitary, black clothed, mysterious and vicious figure haunted London's East-End in a working-class slum known as Whitechapel. This predator who preyed on prostitutes is recognized as the world's most famous serial killer and would become known popularly as Jack the Ripper. \nAnd what happens when you mix the world's most famous serial killer with the world's most famous consulting detective -- you get the 1978 Sherlock Holmes murder mystery flick called "Murder By Decree."\nStarring Christopher Plummer and the affable James Mason, Holmes becomes a predator after his prey -- Jack the Ripper. The hunt begins after elders from the Whitechapel Citizens Committee comes calling at 221B Baker Street. And as soon as the crime fighting duo hear of the latest killing of a London hooker, off they go to the working-class slums to help the dutiful, but not so bright, Inspector Lestrade.\nHolmes is the master of observation, cold cunning, poignant perception and a daring intellect propelling him through the quagmire of justice 19th century style. Dr. Watson is the one who gives Holmes a helping hand in his research by talking with witnesses and suspects, and he often stumbles on information Holmes might not have otherwise gotten. Watson, true to Doyle's own pen, comes across as being sharp as a bowling ball and perhaps a bit of a bumbler.\nEarly on Holmes (Plummer) speaks of his initial thoughts of his latest case. But Watson (Mason) is more interested in getting the last pea on his plate cornered. Holmes then derails Watson's want of the perfectly whole pea, by squashing it with his fork. Watson then speaks for a handful of seconds about how much he wished Holmes would not have done that.\nMason plays Watson as a man with a serious demeanor, but is balanced out with charm and a good sense of humor. As well as the Patriotic fervor he served the Empire in India when he stopped a fast moving piece of lead with his shoulder. \nIn the beginning of the film, Holmes and Watson are attending a Royal Performance of Lucrezia Borga at a London theater. When His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, who would become George IV, king of England, arrives in his box, a group of rebellious street urchins start booing him.\nWatson then yells "God Save His Royal Highness," and saves the day. \nMason's acting capability is unique in that he can convey meaning with conservative body movements, but also with excellent control over his melodic, rhythmic voice. His inflection is so near perfection, that no matter what the scene -- complaining about a pea, cheering a future monarch or bashing some scoundrel with his walking stick -- he never has to raise his voice above conversation volume. It is sheer pleasure to watch Mason's portrayal of Dr. Watson. He is perhaps the most believable and honest actor to play Watson in a film version.\nChristopher Plummer's portrayal of Holmes is also unique.\nDoyle's original analytical, almost cold-hearted and impersonable Holmes was played quite the opposite by Plummer. Plummer played Holmes with the normal attributes of great observation, analytical skills and dogged pursuit of justice. But he also played the role with a sense of humanity that really isn't seen much. He played Holmes with a sense of humor -- he and Watson laughed together about Watson's ability to get himself into trouble, over the pea, in the theatre as Watson carried the day in defense of England's monarchical realm. There is one scene where Holmes is greatly disturbed that he can do nothing for a damsel in distress and shows an intense anger and even sheds tears. \nUntrue to Doyle, yes, but a good way to freshen up the staleness.\nSir John Gielgud also makes a cameo as the Prime Minister in one of the last scenes of the film and plays the part with the dignity and pomposity one would expect from a Victorian era politician of the highest ranking persuasion.\nHistorically, this film does a nice job because it ties in real-life theories of the identity of Jack the Ripper. Those theories indicating a link between government sanctions towards the killings, as well as the Royal Family. Freemasons, a secret society, come into play at various points throughout the film.\nI also found it interesting that two clues pointing to Jack the Ripper in this film (grape stems and a black carriage) were also used in two later films. One called "Jack the Ripper" starring Michael Caine as the famed Inspector Aberline (Lestrade substituted for Aberline in this film), and the recent "From Hell" starring Johnny Depp and Robby Coltraine. \nMy research hasn't led me to believe the grape stem and carriage were clues revealed during the original investigation, though I am inclined to think they were. But I can certainly say that if they weren't the two later films borrowed the idea from "Murder by Decree."\nIf you are interested even minutely in the madness of Jack the Ripper and enjoy Sherlock Holmes mysteries, this is a good film for you..