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The Body Snatcher (1945)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
1946 (Turkey)
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Tagline:
INVADED!...the sanctuary of the Dead!...by the Hero of Horror!...and the Master of Menace! more
Plot:
A ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Adam Marcus Helming Rko 'I Walked With A Zombie' Remake!
(From Icons of Fright. 16 March 2009, 12:53 PM, PDT)
Updated: Exclusive: Director Andy Fickman on Remaking Val Lewton's Horror Classics!
(From FEARnet. 16 March 2009, 7:33 AM, PDT)
(From Icons of Fright. 16 March 2009, 12:53 PM, PDT)
Updated: Exclusive: Director Andy Fickman on Remaking Val Lewton's Horror Classics!
(From FEARnet. 16 March 2009, 7:33 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Never Get Rid Of Me!
more (69 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| Boris Karloff | ... | Cabman John Gray | |
| Bela Lugosi | ... | Joseph | |
| Henry Daniell | ... | Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane | |
| Edith Atwater | ... | Meg Camden | |
| Russell Wade | ... | Donald Fettes | |
| Rita Corday | ... | Mrs. Marsh | |
| Sharyn Moffett | ... | Georgina Marsh | |
| Donna Lee | ... | Street singer |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Body Snatcher' (USA) (complete title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
77 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (certificate #10563) |
Australia:PG |
Germany:12 (video rating) |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:(Banned) |
UK:A (original rating) |
UK:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Although based on a fictional short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the author came up with the idea from actual events occurring in 19th century England and Scotland, particularly those of grave robbers Burke and Hare.
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Goofs:
Continuity: When John Gray puts the blade into the bread, it moves dramatically over the next few shots.
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Quotes:
Joseph:
I know you kill people to sell bodies.
Cabman John Gray: You say you came here of your own account. No-one sent you, no-one knows you're here?
Joseph: Give me money or I tell the police that you murder the subjects.
Cabman John Gray: Well, Joseph, you shall have money, why should you not? I don't suppose the great Dr MacFarlane is over lavish with his pay?
Joseph: No.
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Cabman John Gray: You say you came here of your own account. No-one sent you, no-one knows you're here?
Joseph: Give me money or I tell the police that you murder the subjects.
Cabman John Gray: Well, Joseph, you shall have money, why should you not? I don't suppose the great Dr MacFarlane is over lavish with his pay?
Joseph: No.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Middleman: The Vampiric Puppet Lamentation (#1.10)" (2008)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (69 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Body Snatcher (1945)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Nickname Toddy? | carehm |
| Is this Karloff's best performance? | A_Roode |
| About Gray.. | Freku |
| Henry Daniell | norm_gillespie |
| The Ending (spoilers) | PigeonPanic |
| classic! | ciaran122-1 |
Recommendations
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A later Val Lewton film, from his costume picture period, The Body Snatcher, from a Robert Louis Stevenson story, directed by Robert Wise, is a fine if somewhat moralistic and sentimental horror tale. It lacks the alogical, almost surreal qualities of Lewton's earlier movies, where much is left unexplained, even inexplicable, and a great deal happens off-screen; and even then one can't be sure of what really occurred, as events are often related anecdotally, or merely suggested. In his first few horror exercises Lewton cared as much for gentility as fright, often basing his stories on legends and superstitions, as much of their power came from the vagueness of reality, and the capacity our imaginations have for creating and even shaping our experiences.
By the time The Body Snatcher came around Lewton was moving somewhat closer to mainstream horror. Legends still matter, and the feeling of the dead hand of the past on the present as a Lewton theme is very much alive. In this film it is the notorious case of the grave-robbing Burke and Hare of 19th century Edinburgh, and their effect on a distinguished physician who has continued to do business with one of their former confederates. As the decent-minded but less than morally fastidious doctor, Henry Daniell is outstanding, and surprisingly sympathetic; and he has here perhaps his longest and most sustained role in a movie. He certainly has more screen time than in any other picture I've seen him in. Top-billed Boris Karloff gives Dr. Daniell more than a run for his money as the grave robbing, yet intelligent, observant and not altogether evil cab-man Gray. Karloff's performance is physical as much as anything else, as he uses his body here more eloquently than in any other part outside the Frankenstein series. He knows how and where to stand in relation to others, managing, as always, to look taller than he really is. With his big hat, scarf and long coat, he seems to have walked out of a Dickens novel. Karloff's performance reminds me of how much acting has as much to do with body language as anything else; and that there is a degree of posing,--not fakery--but standing still and letting a character project from the way an actor holds himself as from speech or facial expression.
The movie itself falls just a bit short of being great by it less than brilliant script and the enforced sentimentality of the subplot about a crippled girl. I agree that this was a good idea, and could have made the film all the more powerful, but the scenes around her are stilted, and the actress who plays the girl is none too convincing. It was a good try, though, and almost works, especially in her last scene, but the writing and staging were a little off. I can't help but respect Lewton and Wise's intentions, but they overreached themselves, and I feel bad about it. The climax in the carriage with the corpse, however, and the ghostly repetition of "never get rid of me!" is still impressive, and saves the film in the end.