| Author |
Message |
    
Andy Pandy
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Friday, November 26, 2004 - 9:32 pm: | 
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Oh come on. 'Murder by decree' is THE single best film ever of the Ripper Murders. Dark, menacing, heroic and tragic. James Mason complaining about his pea being squashed... what more could you want? I only live a few miles away from where it all happened! I've wandered the streets and seen the places. When I see that film, I feel as if I was there. Never felt the same with any other film. |
Phil Hill
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 - 10:51 am: |
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I too like this film - which is a good Sherlock Holmes story too (much better, in my humble opinion, than From Hell or the Michael Caine film which have the same denoument). I could never understand, though, why Gull becomes Spivvey though.
It was an imaginative way of filming the Knight book, and has loads of atmosphere and a strong cast. That said, a little more effort to get the details right (for instance, the look of the East End) would have been appreciated.
Phil |
Throb
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2005 - 3:26 pm: |
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Maybe Gull became Spivvey for a legal reason or maybe because it made for a good story but the producers did not want to name an actual person so changed the name. |
Robert Clack
Inspector
Username: Rclack
Post Number: 402
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 08, 2005 - 4:47 pm: |
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In the original Shooting script Gull and Netley retained there original names. The most interesting change was that Inspector Foxborough was originally supposed to be Inspector Abberline. The original shooting script is available on the region 1 dvd in pdf format.
Rob |
Holger Haase
Sergeant
Username: Holger
Post Number: 40
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 03, 2005 - 5:56 am: |
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I finally saw that movie yesterday. No idea why I never caught it before although I am both a Holmes and Ripper buff.
It *is* a great movie and deserves all the praise it got over the last two or three decades, however, I did find the name changes quite annoying.
I also hoped that Holmes would be doing some more deducting. Holmes ends up the one following up on psychic leads much to Watson's chagrin. Also: Much maligned as it is, FROM HELL actually makes more sense when it comes to the whole royal child sub plot, something that is shamefully ignored in MURDER BY DECREE, e.g. we never really find out where the child really ended up.
Mind you Plummer and Mason (nice last name given the topic, eh) are giving excellent performances!
Holger |
Gundy Plucker
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 6:06 pm: |
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From Hell is the most accurate film |
Trishymouse
Police Constable
Username: Trishymouse
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 11:21 pm: |
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Probably the most accurate, but I do love MURDER BY DECREE - great show! |
Jane Coram
Chief Inspector
Username: Jcoram
Post Number: 515
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 12:33 pm: |
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I just managed to get Murder By Decree.
Totally loved every moment of it. The acting was superb, Mason and Plummer worked so well together that they made the ludicrous plot almost believable. I agree the name changes were annoying, but I can see perhaps why they did it,
I know the streets scenes were inaccurate, but the whole atmosphere was first rate. There were some genuinely touching and great moments in it. Watson's endearing bumbling was a winner.
Definitely the best Ripper movie. A good few stars for trying so hard to get it right, even though they did fail rather dismally at times.
Highly recommended. |
Stanley D. Reid
Inspector
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 246
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 3:46 pm: |
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Hi all,
Murder by Decree is certainly not the most accurate Ripper film and I've seen most of them including two from the silent era. It might be the best but in a field of the mediocre what's that worth?
Best wishes,
Stan |
Jane Coram
Chief Inspector
Username: Jcoram
Post Number: 516
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 5:22 pm: |
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Hi Stanley,
Sadly that is totally true..........I suppose at the end of it a truly accurate film would not be that entertaining.
The problems in making it hang together would be insurmountable.......and it would probably end up a tangled mass of snapshots.
It would be really interesting though to see someone tackle one that was intent of getting it as close as possible to the reality. I can't see it ever happening though.
I just took Murder By Decree for what it was, a well made, well acted bit of hokum that left me feeling mostly satisfied.
But if anyone had a few million spare and wanted to make a new version I would be happy to design the sets! 
Jane
xxxxxx |
Stanley D. Reid
Inspector
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 249
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 11, 2005 - 5:44 pm: |
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Hi Jane,
I might be an exception but I think I'd be entertained by an "accurate film" and like you I wish someone would at least try it once; who knows!?
If you want to throw accuracy out of the window, I'd rank The Lodger(1926), Die Buchse der Pandora and The Lodger (1944) as my favorites along with Murder by Decree.
All the best,
Stan |
Eddie Derrico
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, September 24, 2005 - 11:08 am: |
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Stanley
I agree. The lodger was a good scary Ripper Movie. The only thing they goofed on was having dancers murdered instead of prostitutes. If my memory serves me well.
Yours Truly
Eddie |
Stanley D. Reid
Inspector
Username: Sreid
Post Number: 402
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 4:51 pm: |
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Hi Eddie,
Yes, like I said, I was throwing accuracy out of the window.
The 1988 film was probably the most accurate, which isn't saying much. It had a very dumb ending in my view.
Best wishes,
Stan |
