The Body Snatcher (1945)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (short story "The Body Snatcher")
Philip MacDonald (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1946 (Turkey)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

INVADED!...the sanctuary of the Dead!...by the Hero of Horror!...and the Master of Menace!

Plot:

A ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers.

Plot Keywords:

Cemetery | Medical Student | Doctor | Medical | Murder

Awards:

2 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ted Billings	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Bobby Burns	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Robert Clarke	...	Richardson (uncredited)
Aina Constant	...	Maidservant (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Mary McBride (uncredited)
Carl Kent	...	Gilchrist (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Dan (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Pub patron (uncredited)
Jim Moran	...	Angus, the horse trader (uncredited)
Jack Welch	...	Boy (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Bill Williams	...	Service (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Wise

Writing credits
Robert Louis Stevenson		(short story "The Body Snatcher")
Philip MacDonald		(written by) and
Val Lewton		(written by) (as Carlos Keith)

Produced by
Jack J. Gross	....	executive producer
Val Lewton	....	producer

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse

Film Editing by
J.R. Whittredge

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Walter E. Keller

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
John Sturtevant

Costume Design by
Renié

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Scott	....	assistant director
Nate Levinson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bailey Fesler	....	sound recordist
Terry Kellum	....	sound re-recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Burke	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Media Home Entertainment (198?) (USA) (VHS) (as Nostalgia Merchant)
• RKO Home Video (video)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Body Snatcher' (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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:

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

This film the last on-screen teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi.

Goofs:

Continuity: The scene in the pub right after it's announced that MacFarlane sold Gray's horse and buggy for a mere four pounds and the new owner is embarrassed into buying him a drink. Right after the barmaid goes to fetch him one, Fettes enters the pub to talk to the Doctor. When the barmaid returns, she has two drinks. Yet she had no indication that MacFarlane was meeting anyone, and the doctor didn't know Fettes was looking for him.

Quotes:

Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane: If you've any regard for your neck, you'll leave now and stay away from my house, from my school, and from me.
Cabman John Gray: Well, I've no wish for a rope cravat. I never like the small of hemp. So I'll bid you good night, Dr McFarlane.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007) (TV)

Never Get Rid Of Me!

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.