Leofwine_draca This engaging Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper movie is a great little film, with a plot twisting and turning as our intrepid heroes uncover clues and yet still staying simple enough to be easy viewing. The Victorian setting is portrayed well as a brutal, violent time and the sleazy aspects of living in Whitechapel (the filth, the grime, the homeless, the prostitutes) are dealt with unflinchingly. Indeed these times are a lot more realistic than the glossy look of the later television movie JACK THE RIPPER with Michael Caine, as they truly reflect the squalor of one of London's most notorious quarters.The mystery elements move along nicely with a new clue dropping into the case about every ten minutes; things never get boring. Thankfully the murders are dealt with in a sensationalist manner, and the horror of the situation is played to the hilt. There's even a gruesome throat slitting that wouldn't be out of place in a sleazy Italian giallo. Ignore the critics, these scenes make the film better. The producers were obviously going for a mainstream audience and so included a couple of exciting fight scenes in as an extra bonus, and the climax takes place in a burning room, with Holmes and the Ripper battling it out while timber collapses around them. It's definitely a lot of fun.What the film benefits most from is an impressive cast which contains loads of familiar faces from British stage, television and film. Every major role is played by a notable actor, such as Frank Finlay who makes a weasely Inspector Lestrade (he looks the part, but is far less obnoxious than his literary counterpart - he actually helps Holmes here!). Donald Houston is a good Watson, and there's far less of the buffoon in him here than in other portrayals. His banter with Holmes is kept light and so we get plenty of much-needed comic relief into the situation. John Neville is well-cast as the great detective himself, and puts in a highly accurate performance, even if he isn't particularly charismatic; he conveys Holmes' genius and mannerisms excellent. Robert Morley enjoys himself in a light role as Mycroft Holmes, while the prostitutes who get the sharp end of a knife are played by such popular actresses as Adrienne Corri, Barbara Windsor (thankfully dying an early death), and Judi Dench.A STUDY IN TERROR may not be a masterpiece, but it's a film well above average for the genre and manages to mix and match (successfully might I add) plenty of different components which come together in a pleasing brew. From me, it definitely gets the thumbs up.

Scott LeBrun Here, the legendary fictional detective Sherlock Holmes (John Neville) is on the case of the infamous real life murderer Jack the Ripper, brutally murdering Whitechapel prostitutes in Victorian London in this exceptionally good looking and twist-laden, nicely written movie. Without my spoiling things too much, Holmes learns that a well to do family is caught up in the drama.The idea of pitting Holmes against The Ripper is a clever one, and would be visited again 14 years later in "Murder by Decree". It's also a pleasure to see a cast full of esteemed British acting talent, beginning with Neville, whose Holmes is not only blessed with that intelligence and incredible deductive ability but true charisma as well. Donald Houston is a genial Dr. Watson. Notable is that two of the cast members here, Frank Finlay and Anthony Quayle, are also in "Murder by Decree". Finlay plays Inspector Lestrade in both movies while Quayle plays different roles.Wonderful atmosphere and production & costume design mix with efficient direction by James Hill ("Born Free", "Black Beauty" '71) and a story that is detailed but never too hard to follow. While some viewers may be able to figure out the identity of the killer, they may not anticipate just how Holmes is able to crack the case, which becomes one of the most interesting elements here. Sex and violence are accented here to a degree, with an eyeful of some of the ladies' bosoms and a little dose of the red stuff.The excellent cast also includes a young Dame Judi Dench, in one of her earliest movie roles, as well as John Fraser, Adrienne Corri, Charles Regnier, Cecil Parker, Peter Carsten, John Cairney, Edina Ronay, and Avis Bunnage.The movie is by turns suspenseful, exciting, creepy, and funny, with the two stars sharing a marvellous chemistry. And, speaking of exciting, the ending is a true corker, and will have viewers on the edge of their seats. The pacing is consistently strong and the sense of danger created right from the start. It would indeed be amusing to compare and contrast "A Study in Terror" and "Murder by Decree" and have a solid double feature of Holmes vs. The Ripper mysteries.Executive produced by Herman Cohen.Eight out of 10.

quim-scd This is a wonderful, entertaining film, with one great cast (Donald Houston makes a superb Watson) and a nice plot although a bit Holmes-centered, which will please some people even more anyway, victorian-like dialogues being quite exceptional. The density of the story is acceptable, even if it lacks some psychological details. One thing, though, has been somewhat of a let down - the overdubbed sounds and music. This is one movie that could benefit enormously from sound revamping, original soundtrack included. It would certainly rank quite higher in movie History if that were to be done (Can it?). All things considered, it is nevertheless a must, not just for Sherlock Holmes or ripper fans, but for anyone who is looking for a good movie, in general.

Martin Bradley Another guilty pleasure and a surprisingly enjoyable one. Here we have Sherlock Holmes investigating the Jack the Ripper movies in a beautifully evoked Victorian London shot in considerably garish, and sometimes lurid, colours; (all credit to Art Director Alex Vetchinsky and Cinematographer Desmond Dickinson).John Neville is a dapper, (and ever so slightly camp), Holmes and Donald Houston is excellent as a buffoonish, generous-hearted Watson. The script isn't at all bad and there is an outstanding supporting cast that includes Anthony Quayle, Robert Morley, Cecil Parker, Adrienne Corri and Kay Walsh. There is also an attractive young lady by the name of Judi Dench in what was only her third film. The atmospheric direction is by James Hill who, despite winning an Oscar for the short "Giuseppina", seemed relegated mostly to TV work. A movie that just might be deserving of cult status.