The Body Snatcher (1945)

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

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (short story), Philip MacDonald (written for the screen by),

Stars:

Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Henry Daniell

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Boris Karloff	...	Cabman John Gray
Bela Lugosi	...	Joseph
Henry Daniell	...	Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane
Edith Atwater	...	Meg Cameron
Russell Wade	...	Donald Fettes
Rita Corday	...	Mrs. Marsh
Sharyn Moffett	...	Georgina Marsh
Donna Lee	...	Street Singer

Storyline

In Edinburgh in 1831, Dr. Wolfe MacFarlane runs a medical school where Donald Fettes is a student. Fettes is interested in helping a young girl who has lost the use of her legs. He is certain that MacFarlane's surgical skills could be put to great use but he is reluctant to do so. The good Dr. MacFarlane has a secret that soon becomes all too obvious to young Fettes, who has only recently been promoted as his assistant: he has been paying a local cabbie, John Gray, to supply him with dead bodies for anatomical research. Gray constantly harasses MacFarlane and clearly has a hold over him dating to a famous trial many years before where Gray refused to identify the man for whom he was robbing graves. Fettes isn't aware of any of this but soon realizes exactly how Gray obtains the bodies they use in their anatomy classes.

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Plot Keywords:

medical | doctor | murder | cemetery | medical student | 

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Taglines:

Foul Fingers Crimson with Dead Men's Blood!

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1946 (Turkey)

Also Known As:

Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Body Snatcher'

Filming Locations:

RKO Ranch, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

77 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stock footage that opens the film does not actually depict Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Goofs

When Gray kills Joseph, the latter's right arm is stretched out from his shoulder at a 90 degree angle and Gray reaches over to shoo away his cat who begins to nuzzle Joseph's right hand. In the next shot, the right arm of the dead Joseph has suddenly moved to a position where it lies parallel to his body.

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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.

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Connections

Featured in We Who Wait: The Adverts & TV Smith (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Huntingtower"
("When Ye Gang Awa, Jamie")
(Traditional Scottish folk song)
sung by Donna Lee

User Reviews

What can you say about Boris Karloff?

What can you say about Boris Karloff? He attacks this role with evil zest. I have not seen a lot of his work, but I was extremely impressed with his portrayal of Cabman Gray, the medical school's grave robber. (among other things) The modern horror genre simply focuses on gore, and doesn't allow characters like Gray, or actors like Karloff flourish, and that's too bad.