Meurtre par décret

Perfectly made and acted, but it could have worked better. And one purely personal (and also spoilery) complaint: I don’t like it very much when the ending of a film about a psycho killer reveals that the murders were the plan of a powerful organisation, it ruins the emotions. (22/01/2010)

A superb thriller with an excellent Christopher Plummer as the most famous detective in history, who needs no firearm to defend himself. However, the main role here is played by the dirty and scary streets of London at night, shrouded in such a thick fog that from the opening shots I started to get a chill down my spine. The pace may slack a bit in places, but the duo Holmes-Watson was extremely likeable, the atmosphere quite chilling, and Bob Clark has nothing to be ashamed of for his contribution to the long line of film adaptations of master Doyle. (25/05/2012)

"When people are afraid, they turn to God. When He doesn't help, they seek the devil." The book "Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution" by journalist Stephen Knight may have been heavily discredited, but the premise that a conspiracy of higher circles was behind the famous murders of the Whitechapel working girls—who had more bodily openings than teeth—is undeniably alluring. Studio docks and various shop signs in fog-filled, grimy alleys bring the perfect atmosphere of Victorian England. The duo of Christopher Plummer and James Mason, along with the musical score in dramatic moments, maintains a high standard throughout, with the detective's natural modesty on display (Watson: "Oh, you're amazing!" Holmes: "I know.") and the talented violinist from Baker Street surprising even modern audiences with his conscience and empathy. All in all, a top-tier crime story with an appealing mysterious-conspiratorial flair. The word "conspiracy" will always sound better than "syphilis." (02/04/2019)

A quality picture that perfectly combines the best of Stephen Knight’s theory about Jack the Ripper (the same that Moore’s From Hell is based on) with characters from the pen of Arthur Conan Doyle. Although Plummer doesn’t make the best Holmes ever, the same as Mason isn’t the best Watson, but the strength of this duo is in mutual chemistry. Which is absolutely perfect, even making up for the fact that no deduction takes place. (21/07/2009)