The Body Snatcher (1945)

Director:

Robert Wise

Writers:

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

Release Date:

1946 (Turkey)

Genre:

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:

Medical | Doctor | Murder | Cemetery | Medical Student

Awards:

2 nominations

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ted Billings	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Bobby Burns	...	Mourner (uncredited)
Robert Clarke	...	Richardson - Medical Student (uncredited)
Aina Constant	...	Maidservant (uncredited)
Mary Gordon	...	Mrs. Mary McBride (uncredited)
Carl Kent	...	Gilchrist - Medical Student (uncredited)
Milton Kibbee	...	Dan (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Pub Patron (uncredited)
Jim Moran	...	Angus - Horse Trader (uncredited)
Jack Welch	...	Boy (uncredited)
Larry Wheat	...	Salesman (uncredited)
Bill Williams	...	Survis - Medical Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Wise

Writing credits
Robert Louis Stevenson		(short story)
Philip MacDonald		(written for the screen by) and
Val Lewton		(written for the screen by) (as Carlos Keith)

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

Original Music by
Roy Webb

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
J.R. Whittredge

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

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
John Sturtevant		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Renié

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

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

Sound Department
Bailey Fesler	....	recordist
Terry Kellum	....	rerecordist

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

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as R K O Radio Pictures, Inc.)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1945) (USA) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Nostalgia Merchant, The (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• RKO Home Video (video)
• StudioCanal (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• 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:

Australia:PG | Germany:12 (video rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (1998) (1999) | USA:Approved (certificate #10563) | UK:PG (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

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

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:

Referenced in "The Outer Limits: Skin Deep (#6.3)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Huntingtower

A Classy Old 'Horror' Film

As of this writing, I have seen four of the nine Val Lewton DVD Horror Collection films and this one was, by far, the best.

Henry Daniell, Boris Karloff, Edith Atwater,Russell Wade, Sharyn Moffet and Bela Lugosi all acted well. I had forgotten that Karloff was a decent actor, not just some Frankenstein monster who couldn't deliver a line. He had a creepy voice, too, which lent itself nicely to horror films. I just found him fascinating here.

In addition, this movie had a well-known director, Robert Wise, and the story was adaption of a Robert Louis Steevenson. So, you see, this film had good bloodlines, pun intended. This was not some schlocky Ed Wood B-film. This movie is a high class affair.

I found it more of a crime story than anything else as a doctor (Daniell), trying to further his knowledge and needing human specimens (dead) to continue his research, has his graveyard supply cut off to him and then has to have his helper (Karloff) kill people to provide him the bodies. Meanwhile, a young and more moral student of the doctor, gets wind of what's happening and doesn't share his mentor's view that the "ends justify the means."

At any rate, this a keeper. Like the other Lewton films I've seen, it's well- photographed, too. I can only hope a few of the five I haven't seen yet are this good.