Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper Films

A Study In Terror (1965 / 1966)

C – 95m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper, Fog
Characters By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Loosely Adapted From The Novel: A Study In Terror by Ellery Queen (Daniel Nathan / Fredric Dannay and Emanuel Benjamin Lepofsky / Manfred Bennington Lee) 
Original Story By: Jim O’Connolly
Screenplay By: Donald Ford and Derek Ford
Dir.: James Hill
Starring: John Neville, Donald Houston, John Fraser, Anthony Quayle, Barbara Windsor, Adrienne Corri, Frank Finlay, Judi Dench, Cecil Parker, Georgia Brown, Barry Jones, Robert Morley, Peter Carsten, Christiane Maybach and Patrick Newell. 

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John H. Watson join the hunt for the notorious serial killer, Jack The Ripper. Slick loose adaption of the Ellery Queen classic novel features an interesting take on The Ripper story. The novel it is loosely adapted from has the Holmes story framed by armchair detective / writer Ellery Queen reading the manuscript by Dr. John H. Watson. This film is simply the Holmes Vs. The Ripper story that Queen was, “reading”… For what it was at the time the film does a swift job of telling the story, though there are many loose ends not so well tied up. Still, it is of interest for Ripperphiles and should be screened with Murder By Decree (1979).   

Trivia: The close of the film, set a Baker Street eludes to The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Frank Finlay also plays Inspector Lestrade in: Murder By Decree (1979). Anthony Quayle appears in both films as well. John Neville reprised his role as Sherlock Holmes on Broadway in the 1970’s. Robert Stephens was the first choice to play Sherlock Holmes here; he would go on to do so in 1970 and Thorley Walters was the first choice for Dr. Watson. Jim O’Connolly was at first attached to direct the film. Mary Anne Nichols, The Ripper’s first victim, bought a hat that she was proud of the night she was murdered. This bit of info was given to his third victim in this film: “Long Liz” – Elizabeth Stride. The final victim, Mary Jane Kelly’s one room flat was historically located on the first floor.

Out Of Print on VHS but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Murder By Decree (1979)

C – 124m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Sherlock Holmes: Murder By Decree, Sherlock Holmes And Saucy Jack
Characters By: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Book: The Ripper File by Elwyn Jones, Stephen Knight and John Lloyd
Screenplay By: John Hopkins
Novelization By: Robert Weverka
Prod. – Dir.: Bob Clark
Starring: Christopher Plummer, James Mason, David Hemmings, Susan Clark, Anthony Quayle, John Gielgud, Frank Finlay, Donald Sutherland, Genevieve Bujold, June Brown, Hilary Sesta, Anthony May, Ann Mitchell and Iris Fry.

Sherlock Holmes investigates the murders committed by Jack The Ripper and discovers a conspiracy to protect the killer. Sherlock Holmes Vs. Jack The Ripper once again – basic but fun. The ending feels a tad rushed but the film is entertaining. For a shoe–string budget film, this is quite impressive. Worth a look and should be on a double bill with A Study In Terror (1965). 

Trivia: Alien (1979) was filming concurrently with this film, Murder By Decree (1979). Peter O’Toole was originally cast as Sherlock Holmes with Sir Laurence Olivier as Dr. Watson. Director Bob Clark had to research to see if the word, “fart,” existed in 1888, it was. According to Bob Clark the film’s budget was less than $4 million. Christopher Plumber, who plays Sherlock Holmes here, was a cousin of Nigel Bruce, who played Dr. Watson to Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes from 1939 – 1946. Plummer previously played Holmes in the tele-movie: The Sunday Drama: The Silver Blaze (1977). Frank Finlay also played Inspector Lestrade in A Study In Terror (1965). Anthony Quayle also was in that film. This was the first Ripper film released in 1979. The other was: Time After Time (1979).

Rated: [PG]
Out Of Print on VHS but Available on DVD & Digital Copy 

From Hell (2001)

C – 122m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Jack
Graphic Novel By: Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
Screenplay By: Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias
Exec. Prod.s – Dir.s: Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes
Starring: Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Sir Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Sir Ian Richardson, Jason Flemyng, Katrin Cartlidge, Terence Howard, Susan Lynch, Lesley Sharp, Annabelle Apsion, Joanna Page, Mark Dexter, Sophia Myles, Donald Douglas, John Owens, Ian McNeice, Vincent Franklin, Anthony Parker, James Greene, Dominic Cooper and Carey Thring.

In Victorian Era London, a troubled clairvoyant police detective investigates the murders of Jack The Ripper. Other critics and film historians panned this film thoroughly. This reviewer on the other hand loves this film. The period detail is fairly good, the CGI and makeup are great and the story is basically Sherlock Holmes, as a clairvoyant, chasing Jack The Ripper, as previously depicted in A Study In Terror (1965/1966) and Murder By Decree (1979). The cast plays this to the hilt and it has some wonderful visuals – the red London skyline and the drugged visions of the streets including The Elephant Man – Joseph Carey Merrick ( incorrectly called: “John Merrick”). There is also great attention paid to the details of The Ripper’s crimes. A must!  

Trivia: Heather Graham almost went into softcore pornography until she got her role in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), then, subsequently made this film where she plays a prostitute. Real photos of The Ripper’s victims were pinned to the walls of the police station set. The directors did this to unnerve the actors in order to get better performances out of them. Commissioner of Police Sir Charles Warren never really visited the site of the fifth ripper victim as he was relieved of his duties, forced resignation, prior to the final victim’s murder. Daniel Day–Lewis, Sir Sean Connery, Jude Law and Brad Pitt were all either, considered, wanted or interviewed for the role that went to Johnny Depp. Sir Nigel Hawthorne was set to play Sir William Gull, played here by Sir Ian Holm, but had to drop out due to being terminally ill with cancer. As noted Sir Ian Holm replaced him. Sir Nigel Hawthorne died in 2001. Around the time of this film William Friedkin was trying to set up The Diary Of Jack The Ripper as a film with Sir Anthony Hopkins. This was the film debut of Dominic Cooper and the final film of Katrin Cartlidge who died from food poisoning at the age of 41 on September 7, 2002.  

Rated: [R] – Strong Violence / Gore, Sexuality, Language & Dug Content
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Murder On The Orient Express (1974 & 2017)

Murder On The Orient Express (1974)

C. – 128m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 – Widescreen
Dir.: Sidney Lumet.

Starring: Albert Finney, Lauren Bacall, Ingrid Bergman, Martin Balsam, Jacqueline Bisset, Jean–Pierre Cassel, Sean Connery, John Gielud, Wendy Hiller, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and Michael York.

Detective Hercule Poirot must solve a murder that occurred on the train that he is traveling on. As with most film or television adaptions of Agatha Christie’s works, the film is better than the book in this reviewer’s opinion. A great cast with stalwart performances and richly decorated sets make this a must. Slight complaint though: The pacing could have been quickened a bit.    

Trivia: Agatha Christie, 84 years old at the time, attended the premier. It was the only film that was adapted from her works that she liked, though she was note pleased with Hercule’s moustache. Sadly it was her last public appearance. She died 14 months later on January 12, 1976. Ingrid Bergman won an Oscar for her performance in this film. The basis for the win was from a nearly five minute long interrogation she had from Hercule (Finney). Director Sidney Lumet thought that if he signed the biggest star first, the rest would follow. At the time it was Sean Connery. Lumet and Connery previously teamed on three films: The Hill (1965), The Anderson Tapes (1971) and The Office (1973). Sean Connery was in two films that feature murders on The Orient Express: From Russia With Love (1963) and this one. Richard Widmark agreed to do the film just so he could meet the other actors. As in Psycho (1960), Anthony Perkins plays a man who lost his mother and has issues with trying to have a relationship with women. And finally: The final scene required multiple takes to get all the close-ups of the actors, since the set only made it possible for one camera to be set up in the space. 

Rated: [PG]

Out Of Print on VHS & Laserdisc but Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy. 

Murder On The Orient Express (2017)

C. – 114m.
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
Dir.: Sir Kenneth Branagh. Book By: Agatha Christie.
Starring: Sir Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Josh Gad, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dame Judi Dench.

Detective Hercule Poirot must solve a murder on the train he is traveling on. While the cast is just as good as the original’s cast, this adaption of the Agatha Christie novel suffers quite a bit. The makeup isn’t believable, the hair colors on Branagh and Pfeiffer lack continuity, and why is no one breathing clouds of steam while they breath in a cold setting? This showed a lot of promise in the trailers but ultimately comes up muddled. If one considers this a chance to watch a game cast in an expensive play and can look past the aforementioned issues, and then some, one may stand a chance of liking this film. Even the C.G.I. is obvious! It is never dull, but not something recommended in place of the original. 

Trivia: This was Sir Kenneth Branagh’s second film to be shot on 65mm film. The first was Hamlet (1996). While this was shot on 65mm film, it played in theaters on 70mm film and it was the forth film since 2010 to do so. The Master (2012), The Hateful Eight (2015) and Dunkirk (2017) were the others. That is Michelle Pfeiffer singing “Never Forget” over the end credits. The song was written by Patrick Doyle and Kenneth Branagh. Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron were originally in line for Pfeiffer’s role but ultimately Pfeiffer got it. And finally: Both Johnny Depp and Dame Judi Dench were in films about the Jack The Ripper murders. Dench was Sally in the Sherlock Holmes VS Jack The Ripper film: A Study In Terror (1965), while Depp was in From Hell (2001).

Rated: [PG–13] – Violence & Thematic Elements.

Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.