HorrorThriller

The Body Snatcher

- GRAVES RAIDED! COFFINS ROBBED! CORPSES CARVED! MIDNIGHT MURDER! BODY BLACKMAIL! STALKING GHOULS! Mad Thrills of Terror And Macabre Mystery... –and don't blame us if you stay awake all night!

Edinburgh, 1831. Among those who undertake the illegal trade of grave robbery is Gray, ostensibly a cab driver. Formerly a medical student convicted of grave robbery, Gray holds a grudge against Dr. MacFarlane who had escaped detection and punishment.

Release Date : 1945-05-25

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : RKO Radio Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : John Gray

Original Name : Boris Karloff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joseph

Original Name : Bela Lugosi

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane

Original Name : Henry Daniell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Meg Camden

Original Name : Edith Atwater

Gender : Female

Character Name : Donald Fettes

Original Name : Russell Wade

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Marsh

Original Name : Rita Corday

Gender : Female

Character Name : Georgina Marsh

Original Name : Sharyn Moffett

Gender : Female

Character Name : Street Singer

Original Name : Donna Lee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Billings

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richardson a Medical Student (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Clarke

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mary McBride (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Gordon

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dan (uncredited)

Original Name : Milton Kibbee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Survis, Medical Student

Original Name : Bill Williams

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Bobby Burns

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Aina Constant

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Carl Kent

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Ethan Laidlaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Angus - Horse Trader (uncredited)

Original Name : Jim Moran

Gender : Male

Character Name :

Original Name : Larry Wheat

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Grave robbing is one thing, but murder is quite another. Dr. MacFarlane and John Gray share a murky past, but just what is this hold that the lurching Gray has over the eminent Doctor?. Based on a Robert Louis Stevenson short story, The Body Snatcher contains tight direction from Mr Versatile, Robert Wise - all the classy Gothicism one comes to expect from producer Val Lewton - and a stunningly effective performance from Boris Karloff. The piece neatly puts itself out as a kind of sequel to the infamous story of Burke & Hare, where here our main protagonists are clouded over by a link to the dastardly duo who purloined cadavers for cash in the 1820s. What stands out with this picture is the wonderful pacing, nothing is rushed to try and jolt fear into the viewer, it's sedate and framed in a marvellous Gothic texture by the makers. The core story line is of course one of great distaste, but this is a medical quandary in the name of research that makes for a thought provoking narrative. We are put into a position very early on where we so want to see a young girl cured of her ills, and thus this axis of the film is neatly surrounded by the lurking horror that begins to unfold. You have to suggest that this is great writing from Stevenson, Lewton & MacDonald. Boris Karloff is Gray, a large shuffling man who is the body snatcher of the title, he be a smirking and well spoken Gent, which really shouldn't be scary, and yet Karloff manages to chill the blood in every scene that he is in. Henry Daniell is MacFarlane, a very emotive performance as the character is twisted by his pursuit of medical achievements whilst having Gray's looming presence constantly hovering over him. Rounding out the cast with thespian effect is Russell Wade as protégé in waiting, Donald Fettes, Bela Lugosi (a classic horror fans dream comes real in one great sequence with Karloff) as Joseph, and Edith Atwater as loyal love interest Meg Camden. However, the actors all play second fiddle to the makers' work here. Gloomy cobbled streets come shining to the fore, Gray's hovel like abode is cloaked in dark shadows with the odd flicker of fire light, while the stone surrounds come across as monolithic structures. Some great sequences as well, a particular one uses the characters' shadows to tell the story under the watchful gaze of Gray's cat, and then the final reel, which is mood personified and perfectly puts closure on this fine piece of fevered Gothic work. Highly recommended. 8/10