Murder by Decree (1979)
No offense to Christopher Plummer, but the most memorable part of this Sherlock Holmes movie is James Mason’s adorable, disappointed pout as he laments, “You squashed my pea!” It’s so cute; I’m sure everyone who sees it wants to rush out and cook him a new side of peas just to make him smile. James Mason is one of the lucky actors who, when he aged, was still handsome and charming enough to show audiences the extremely handsome man he used to be. Even if Murder by Decree is the first of his movies you’ve seen, you’ll probably surprise yourself by taking a fancy to an “old man”.
But let’s get to the plot: Christopher Plummer plays Sherlock Holmes, and as the character is always written and played, he’s eccentric, rude, and a jerk. It’s not his fault that he’s so unlikable, and if you happen to like mean guys, you might develop a little crush on Chris, since this is the era of his prime in the looks department. The bad guy in Murder by Decree is Jack the Ripper, and the supporting cast includes John Gielgud, Genevieve Bujold, Donald Sutherland, Frank Finlay, Anthony Quayle, Susan Clark, and David Hemmings.
I’m not a fan of the modern Sherlock Holmes reboots, so if you are, my recommendation might not be relevant. I really like Murder by Decree because of the lovely yet creepy surroundings and production values. There’s humor in the script, but when the scenes turn scary, there’s very good reason to hide behind your pillow. As usual, the actor who plays Holmes isn’t likable and the actor who plays Watson adds class, but just like the original Hercule Poirot movies in the 1970s, there’s something special about this one. It feels like the filmmakers really had respect for the story and characters, instead of just wanting to feel important by redoing them and placing a new spin on things.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru. And thanks "john S" for posting!
More James Mason movies here!
But let’s get to the plot: Christopher Plummer plays Sherlock Holmes, and as the character is always written and played, he’s eccentric, rude, and a jerk. It’s not his fault that he’s so unlikable, and if you happen to like mean guys, you might develop a little crush on Chris, since this is the era of his prime in the looks department. The bad guy in Murder by Decree is Jack the Ripper, and the supporting cast includes John Gielgud, Genevieve Bujold, Donald Sutherland, Frank Finlay, Anthony Quayle, Susan Clark, and David Hemmings.
I’m not a fan of the modern Sherlock Holmes reboots, so if you are, my recommendation might not be relevant. I really like Murder by Decree because of the lovely yet creepy surroundings and production values. There’s humor in the script, but when the scenes turn scary, there’s very good reason to hide behind your pillow. As usual, the actor who plays Holmes isn’t likable and the actor who plays Watson adds class, but just like the original Hercule Poirot movies in the 1970s, there’s something special about this one. It feels like the filmmakers really had respect for the story and characters, instead of just wanting to feel important by redoing them and placing a new spin on things.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru. And thanks "john S" for posting!
More James Mason movies here!