A Study in Terror/Murder by Decree

[Timmy_Lea]

Which is best of the two Sherlock Holmes v Jack the Ripper movies?

[billy farmer]

Both A Study In Terror and Murder By Decree are great Sherlock Holmes films, they are both among my favourite Sherlock Holmes Movies.

[batman]

Both films are great entertainment IMHO. If I had to choose it would be Murder By Decree, simply because it is more atmospheric and creepy.

[Tigon Man]

Both films are enjoyable in their own right but I agree with you Bat's, I prefer Murder By Decree for the reasons you mentioned.

[didi-5]

I agree that both are entertaining Sherlock Holmes films but I prefer A Study in Terror and wish we had seen John Neville play the great detective on more than one occasion.

[jaycad]

I prefer 'A Study in Terror'-I think Black&White lends more to the gaslit,smoggy atmosphere and the film stirred my interest in the 'Jack the Ripper' case.

[billy farmer]

I prefer 'A Study in Terror'-I think Black&White lends more to the gaslit,smoggy atmosphere and the film stirred my interest in the 'Jack the Ripper' case.

A Study In Terror was in Colour, i still can't make my mind up between A Study In Terror and Murder By Decree, i like both films very much.

[dpgmel]

Both films are great entertainment IMHO. If I had to choose it would be Murder By Decree, simply because it is more atmospheric and creepy.

Yep I'd concur with that assessment Also I think it contains one of Christopher Plummer's best screen performances.

[jaycad]

A Study In Terror was in Colour, i still can't make my mind up between A Study In Terror and Murder By Decree, i like both films very much.

Oops-I'm getting mixed up with 'Jack the Ripper'! I haven't watched 'A Study in Terror' for years so cannot remember as much as I can with 'Murder by Decree' so will have to change my vote! 'Murder by Decree' is ok but i'm not keen on the freemason conspiract theory.

[cumberbatches_woman]

i prefer Murder by Decree out of the two, Chris Plummer is a very different Sherlock to the usual, the scene where he visits Annie Crook played by Genevi'eve Bujold is heart wrenching, as he begs Watson to set her free, the look on Sherlocks face as he leaves her is haunting.

[Timmy_Lea]

i prefer Murder by Decree out of the two, Chris Plummer is a very different Sherlock to the usual, the scene where he visits Annie Crook played by Genevi'eve Bujold is heart wrenching, as he begs Watson to set her free, the look on Sherlocks face as he leaves her is haunting.

I agree. Plummer & Mason may look too old for the roles but are both on fine form, Plummer in particular. His Holmes is far more emotional than any other I can recall, far more human.

[Gerald Lovell]

Apparently, the producers of Murder by Decree didn't know about A Study in Terror until Frank Finlay (who played an excellent Inspector Lestrade in both) informed them!

In a film where costume design and detail were very well done, it has always disappointed me that in Murder by Decree Holmes is seen wearing deerstalker and checked Inverness cape to the opera. In the strict dress code of the Victorian times, and from the original Strand illustrations, this surely the "real" Holmes would never have done.

[moonfleet]

I very much prefered A Study in Terror because of its atmosphere, the colourful photography and some amazing scenes and second characters (whom actors I mostly didn't know ), the scene in the pub and when the (suspected) surgeon makes a public speach about the need of a more social medical practice
Adding that Robert Morley is a savourous Mycroft
Also IMO James Mason is an insipid Watson in Murder by Decree, but I like this film too, as someone said the scene with Geneviève Bujold at the asylum is very moving, due to the great talent of Mrs Bujold , the end with John Gielgud...

Director Bob Clark made two excellent horror: Dead of Night and Black Christmas

[Brett Sinclair]

Murder by Decree gets my vote. It's a darker film and IMO covers a wider range of feeling from the audiences perspective than A Study in Terror. That said, both are highly enjoyable and anything with Robert Morley in is always worth a punt.

[CaptainWaggett]

I very much prefered A Study in Terror because of its atmosphere, the colourful photography and some amazing scenes and second characters (whom actors I mostly didn't know ), the scene in the pub and when the (suspected) surgeon makes a public speach about the need of a more social medical practice
Adding that Robert Morley is a savourous Mycroft

And with Cecil Parker as the Prime Minister I'm amazed that there needs to be a debate about which one is best

[moonfleet]

And with Cecil Parker as the Prime Minister I'm amazed that there needs to be a debate about which one is best

Yes, I regognized Cecil Parker too, great actor

And after looking on the IMDb list, "have seen that face before" Anthony Quayle is very good too as the surgeon

About the two Sherlocks, as I saw few films with both John Neville or Christopher Plummer ( I realised he was playing Kipling in The Man Who Would Be King after, at least, the 10th view ) Saying that I liked a lot John Neville in T.Gilliam's Munshausen

[CaptainWaggett]

Plus with A Study in Terror you get to compare two Lord Alfred Douglases. Which is always going to be fun

[woody123]

Murder By Decree gets my vote

[mrs_emma_peel]

Two superb films … but for me, Murder By Decree just edges it. The screenplay is based upon the book Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution by Stephen Knight ... and the Elwyn Jones book Jack the Ripper ... the original script used the real name of Queen’s Physician Sir William Gull and coach driver John Netley ... the real names were used in the excellent Michael Caine ... Jack the Ripper television film (1988) and in From Hell - Johnny Depp (2001) ... but were replaced for Murder by Decree (1979) by the names Thomas Spivy (Gull) and William Slade (Netley).

The scene where Christopher Plummer’s Holmes discovers Spivy 'at work' murdering Mary Kelly (very well played by Susan Clark as the fearful Mary) is truly chilling. Murder By Decree is compelling, very moving with a very sharp, intelligent script ... and a beautiful music score by Paul Zaza and Carl Zittrer.

The screenplay of Murder By Decree was written by John Hopkins (Smiley’s People – Alec Guinness 1982 version) and Elwyn Jones (creator of Softly, Softly).

A Study in Terror (1965) is also a very fine atmospheric film ... directed with pace and verve by James Hill (Born Free, The Avengers – A Touch of Brimstone, The Saint) with a splendid performance by John Neville as Holmes. Anthony Quayle was in both A Study in Terror and Murder By Decree.

However, I think the superb Michael Caine/Lewis Collins made for television film Jack the Ripper
is the equal of Murder By Decree.

I would choose Murder By Decree over A Study in Terror ... but only just.
Excellent thread, my dear Watson
Emma

[billy farmer]

Very interesting post Emma, you have helped me to make my mind up about which is the best film between A Study In Terror and Murder By Decree, i agree with you that Murder By Decree just edges it over A Study In Terror, i also very much like the 2 part TV-Mini Series Jack The Ripper (which was first shown in 1988, the centenary year of the Ripper Murders) which starred Michael Caine as Inspector Abberline and Lewis Collins as Sergeant Godley.