Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsSXSW Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Der Leichendieb

Original title: The Body Snatcher
  • 1945
  • 12
  • 1h 18m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Boris Karloff in Der Leichendieb (1945)
Home Video Trailer from RKO
Play trailer1:40
1 Video
99+ Photos
HorrorThriller

A ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers.A ruthless doctor and his young prize student find themselves continually harassed by their murderous supplier of illegal cadavers.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
    • Philip MacDonald
    • Val Lewton
  • Stars
    • Boris Karloff
    • Bela Lugosi
    • Henry Daniell
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Robert Louis Stevenson
      • Philip MacDonald
      • Val Lewton
    • Stars
      • Boris Karloff
      • Bela Lugosi
      • Henry Daniell
    • 122User reviews
    • 83Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos1

    The Body Snatcher
    Trailer 1:40
    Watch The Body Snatcher

    Photos107

    Boris Karloff, Henry Daniell, Milton Kibbee, and Russell Wade in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    "Body Snatcher, The" Boris Karloff 1945 RKO **I.V.
    Bela Lugosi in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Boris Karloff and Russell Wade in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Boris Karloff and Russell Wade in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Henry Daniell in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Der Leichendieb (1945)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Boris Karloff
    Boris Karloff
    • Cabman John Gray
    Bela Lugosi
    Bela Lugosi
    • Joseph
    Henry Daniell
    Henry Daniell
    • Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane
    Edith Atwater
    Edith Atwater
    • Meg Cameron
    Russell Wade
    Russell Wade
    • Donald Fettes
    Paula Corday
    Paula Corday
    • Mrs. Marsh
    • (as Rita Corday)
    Sharyn Moffett
    Sharyn Moffett
    • Georgina Marsh
    Donna Lee
    • Street Singer
    Ted Billings
    • Townsman
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Burns
    Bobby Burns
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Clarke
    Robert Clarke
    • Richardson - Medical Student
    • (uncredited)
    Aina Constant
    • Maidservant
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Gordon
    Mary Gordon
    • Mrs. Mary McBride
    • (uncredited)
    Carl Kent
    Carl Kent
    • Gilchrist - Medical Student
    • (uncredited)
    Milton Kibbee
    Milton Kibbee
    • Dan
    • (uncredited)
    Ethan Laidlaw
    Ethan Laidlaw
    • Pub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Jim Moran
    • Angus - Horse Trader
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Welch
    • Boy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Wise
    • Writers
      • Robert Louis Stevenson
      • Philip MacDonald
      • Val Lewton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film featured the 8th and last on-screen teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Filming took place October 25-November 17 1944, delaying the completion of Karloff's Isle of the Dead (1945).
    • Goofs
      At the very beginning, they show a castle during the credits, then "In Edinburgh In 1831-" then show a closer up of the same castle and a horse and carriage, and you can clearly see two or three automobiles parked next to the castle.
    • Quotes

      Cabman John Gray: I am a small man, a humble man. Being poor I have had to do much that I did not want to do. But so long as the great Dr McFarlane comes to my whistle, that long am I a man. If I have not that then I have nothing. Then I am only a cabman and a grave robber. You'll never get rid of me, Toddy.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: In Edinburgh, in 1831-
    • Alternate versions
      Five cuts were made by the British censors on its initial release, mainly references to Burke and Hare, the original bodysnatchers. This cut print has been the only one available in the UK until 1998, when a complete version appeared on the budget video label 4-Front.
    • Connections
      Edited into Mondo Lugosi - A Vampire's Scrapbook (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Huntingtower
      (uncredited)

      ("When Ye Gang Awa, Jamie")

      (Traditional Scottish folk song)

      sung by Donna Lee

    User reviews122

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Good terror movie with with excellent dark and light atmosphere creating an eerie and creepy scenario
    This interesting story is adapted from a novel by Robert Louis Stevenson . It concerns John Gray (Boris Karloff) , he's a cabman who provides dead bodies for illegal medical research in charge of Dr. MacFarland (Henry Daniell) . Then Gray is blackmailed by MacFarland's servant (Bela Lugosi) . Meanwhile , his doctor assistant Donald (Russell Wade) tries to help a mother and her paralytic daughter , and for experiments , he asks for help John Gray in order to get corpses.

    This is a fine , suspenseful and intriguing terror movie based on the actual characters of the nasty gravediggers Burke and Hare that have been adapted a number of times . Tension , horror, thriller appear lurking , menacing in graveyard , dark slums , home stairs , rooms and cementery . The film gets the expressionist German atmosphere , thanks to cameraman Robert De Grasse . He along with photographers Nicholas Musuruka and John Alton are the main artificers of noir cinema atmosphere . Casting is frankly outstanding . Terrific Boris Karloff as a sinister graverobber , he creates authentic frightening and panic , impressive Bela Lugosi , both of whom share the last creepy scenes together and Henry Daniell does an equally compelling turn . Usual musician RKO , Roy Webb , composes an adequate musical score with habitual musical director Bakaleinikoff . Exciting screenplay by Philip McDonald and Val Lewton -under pseudonym Carlos Keith- . The motion picture was well directed by Robert Wise and magnificently produced by Val Lewton . RKO's Lewton is a great producer of horror classics , such as : ¨Cat people¨, ¨Leopard man¨, ¨I walked with a Zombi¨,¨Ghost ship¨, among others . Rating : Better than average , well worth checking out. The tale will appeal to Boris Karloff fans and cinema classics buffs.
    helpful•6
    0
    • ma-cortes
    • Jul 23, 2008

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is The Body Snatcher?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 25, 1945 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Robert Louis Stevenson's Der Leichendieb
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $125,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 18 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Boris Karloff in Der Leichendieb (1945)
    Top Gap
    What is the French language plot outline for Der Leichendieb (1945)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Production art
    Photos
    Actors in Their Early Roles
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    Stunning New Posters
    See the gallery
    Production art
    List
    What We're Watching: Time Travel and Anime
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.