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Dr. Crippen (1964)The real-life story of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged in London in 1910 for poisoning his wife so he could be with his young lover. But was he truly guilty of murder? Director:Robert LynnWriter:Leigh Vance |
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Title: Dr. Crippen (1964)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Donald Pleasence | ... | ||
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Coral Browne | ... | |
| Samantha Eggar | ... | ||
| Donald Wolfit | ... |
R.D. Muir
(as Sir Donald Wolfit)
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| James Robertson Justice | ... |
Captain McKenzie
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John Arnatt | ... |
Chief Inspector Dew
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Oliver Johnston | ... |
Lord Chief Justice
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John Lee | ... |
Harry
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Olga Lindo | ... |
Mrs. Arditti
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Elspeth March | ... |
Mrs. Jackson
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Geoffrey Toone | ... |
Mr. Tobin
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Edward Underdown | ... |
The Governor
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Douglas Bradley-Smith | ... |
Dr. Pepper
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Hamilton Dyce | ... |
Dr. Rogers
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Basil Henson | ... |
Mr. Arditti
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
A dramatization of Britain's notorious Crippen murder case. American-born Hawley Harvey Crippen (nicknamed "Peter"), a mild-mannered, middle-aged doctor who made his living in London selling quack remedies, was convicted and hanged in 1910 for poisoning his wife, Belle, dismembering her body and burying the remains in the coal cellar of their home before fleeing England with his mistress, Ethel Le Neve, only to be arrested aboard ship while en route to North America. The movie opens with the start of Crippen's trial in the Old Bailey; flashbacks provide a look at the misery of Crippen's marriage to the overbearing Belle, a failed music-hall performer with an eye for younger men, and how Crippen found true love in the person of his young secretary, until events reached their dreadful climax. That Crippen caused his wife's death, there is little doubt, but this movie wonders: Was it a deliberate act? Written by Eugene Kim <genekim@concentric.net>
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If you want to remember your wife, send flowers. If you want to dismember her... see DR. CRIPPEN See more »Parents Guide:
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Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
3 June 1966 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
Doctor Crippen See more »Company Credits
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Brits complain about Americans stealing our inventions, yet we've been quite happy to claim two Americans, a quack doctor and a failed burlesque singer for our own. Casting 'Donald Pleasence'(qv) as the Doctor and Anglicised Aussie 'Coral Browne' (qv) as his insufferable wife not only seemed right but produced wonderfully atmospheric performances. I've only seen a TV version so it may be TV editing rather than the low budget that missed out, for example, Ethel wearing Mrs Crippens furs & jewellery to events. It would have helped see why the Doctor fell under suspicion. Made at a time when abolishing capital punishment and miscarriages of justices were under discussion in the UK it is not surprising the film suggests that the murder wasn't premeditated. In the light of his subsequent actions, you can decide yourself.
The real `other woman' Ethel Le Neve, changed her name and died in Dulwich, SE London, in 1967 aged 89. If she saw this movie what did she think?