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MURDER BY DECREE

Label: Kino Lorber.

Physical Media Release Date: 01/21/25.

Form of Release: 4K UHD.

MURDER BY DECREE SYNOPSIS:

Sherlock Holmes investigates the murders commited by Jack the Ripper and discovers a conspiracy to protect the killer.

 

Can the genius of Sherlock Holmes stop the terror of Jack the Ripper?

From Bob Clark, the acclaimed director of Dead of Night, Black Christmas, Breaking Point, Porky’s and A Christmas Story, comes this horrifying murder-mystery which pits legendary detective Sherlock Holmes against the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper! When Scotland Yard is unable to stop the gruesome rampage of Jack the Ripper, a citizens’ committee asks Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Plummer, The Silent Partner) and his trusted associate Dr. John H. Watson (James Mason, The Man Between) to investigate.

 

Now the brilliant pair must follow a terrifying trail of clues that includes a frightened psychic (Donald Sutherland, The Great Train Robbery), a suspicious inspector (David Hemmings, Juggernaut), an institutionalized woman (Geneviève Bujold, Coma) and the Prime Minister of England (John Gielgud, Murder on the Orient Express). But even if Holmes and Watson’s remarkable powers of deduction can unmask the maniacal fiend, are they prepared to face the most shocking secret of all? Find out in this masterful suspense thriller that both fans and critics have called the most exciting and original Sherlock Holmes movie ever made! The amazing supporting cast includes Susan Clark (Coogan’s Bluff), Anthony Quayle (The Guns of Navarone) and Frank Finlay (Robbery).

OUR FILM REVIEW

Murder by Decree is yet another exploration of the wide range of projects Bob Clark tackled throughout his legendary career. Horror classics to holiday classics to further adventures with beloved literary characters, Bob Clark hardly ever misses. Kino Lorber Studio Classics brings the film to Ultra HD with a new 4K scan of the original camera negative carried out by StudioCanal, which is presented on a triple-layered BD-100 disc. Comparatively to the Blu-ray release, the upgrade is a major improvement enhancing even the level of visual grain. The film has a much more nuanced and natural look over the previous 2020 release. 

 

The audio delivers an experience of equal quality of the previous iteration, and supplies English SDH subtitles for those (like myself) that require them. An audio commentary with Bob Clark makes the entire purchase worth it to hear from the legend himself break down the project. Critically acclaimed and well received by audiences, this 1979 entry in the Sherlock Holmes canon may not live up to the modern Benedict Cumberbatch portrayal but Christopher Plummer is much more up to par with who the character is known to be from the literature. The story is also assisted with an all-star cast beyond Plummer of Donald Sutherland, David Hemings, Susan Clark and James Mason.  

SPECIAL FEATURES 

  • Audio Commentary by Director Bob Clark

  • Audio Commentary by Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell

  • Theatrical Trailer

MURDER BY DECREE

RT Critic Score (as of 01/21/25)

87%.

RT Audience Score (as of 01/21/25)

65%.

MPAA

PG.

Runtime 

124 minutes.

Original Release 

1979.

Video 

Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Audio

English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)

Subtitles 

English SDH

Discs

4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)

Digital 

N/A

Packaging

Slipcover in Original Pressing

Reversible Cover

Playback

4K Blu-ray: Region free
2K Blu-ray: Region A​​​

OUR VERDICT:

+ First Time on 4K UHD

+ Directed by Legend Bob Clark

A Joy for Holmes Fans

+ Critically Acclaimed

+ x3 Special Features

x2 Audio Commentaries

- NO Digital Code Included

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