Murder by Decree

Sherlock Holmes

Dr. John H. Watson

Inspector Foxborough

Mary Kelly

Sir Charles Warren

Prime Minister Lord Salisbury

Inspector Lestrade

Robert Lees

Annie Crook

Doctor Hardy

Mrs. Lees (as Teddi Moore)

William Slade

Sir Thomas Spivey

Carrie

Makins

Anne Chapman

Dock Guard

Catherine Eddowes

Lanier

Mrs. Dobson

Elizabeth Stride

Home Secretary Henry Matthews

Lees' Housekeeper

Jane

Molly

Ellen (as Elaine Ives Cameron)

Betty

Emily

Carroll

Prince of Wales

Princess Alexandra

Duke of Clarence

Doctor (as Richard Pescuid)

Nurse

Constable Long

Constable Watkins

Police Constable (uncredited)

Distinguished gentleman (uncredited)

Policeman (uncredited)

Frank Finlay also played Inspector Lestrade in A Study in Terror (1965), another film that pitted Sherlock Holmes against Jack the Ripper. Anthony Quayle, who plays Sir Charles Warren in this movie, also appeared in the earlier film, as Dr. Murray.

Alien (1979) was shooting concurrently with Murder by Decree (1979) at Shepperton Studios.

The Masonic signs Holmes makes to the Chief Inspector are: the Duegard of the Entered Apprentice (right hand palm down over left hand palm up), the Sign of the Entered Apprentice (drawing the right hand from left to right across the throat), a variation of the Real Grip of a Master Mason(the handshake with the thumb and little finger extended), and finally the Sign of a Fellow Craft (drawing the right hand across the body from the left breast to the right hip). The Signs all refer to the penalties associated with the divulging of the Order's secrets to outsiders, i.e., having the throat slit and the chest opened and the heart torn out. The Duegard refers to the gesture of holding the Bible during the initiation ritual in the left hand, with the right resting upon it.

Gaetano Donizetti's name is misspelled with two N's on the opera house poster.

In a wide shot of London, Westminister Bridge, St Pauls etc in the mist, a light-colored motor vehicle is seen on the bridge moving toward WM.

Near the end of the movie Sherlock Holmes is in a Hansom cab going over Westminster Bridge. There is scaffolding on one of the Houses of Parliament towers and a modern yellow line (indicating parking restrictions) painted by the kerb.

Dr. John H. Watson: [Offended by the booing of the Prince of Wales by the theater gallery] It's a damn disgrace!

Sherlock Holmes: You create allegiance above your sworn allegiance to protect humanity. You shall not care for them, or acknowledge their pain. There lies the madness.

Sherlock Holmes: [Reacting to the tardiness of the Prince of Wales] I suppose since, after all, he's only the Prince of Wales, we should not expect the same degree of courtesy.