The New York Ripper (1982)

A burned-out New York police detective teams up with a college psychoanalyst to track down a vicious serial killer randomly stalking and killing various young women around the city.

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Gianfranco Clerici (story), Vincenzo Mannino (story)

Stars:

Jack Hedley, Almanta Suska, Howard Ross

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Hedley	...	Lt. Fred Williams
Almanta Suska	...	Fay Majors (as Almanta Keller)
Howard Ross	...	Mickey Scellenda
Andrea Occhipinti	...	Peter Bunch (as Andrew Painter)
Alexandra Delli Colli	...	Jane Forrester Lodge
Paolo Malco	...	Dr. Paul Davis
Cinzia de Ponti	...	Rosie - Ferry victim
Cosimo Cinieri	...	Dr. Lodge (as Laurence Welles)
Daniela Doria	...	Kitty
Babette New	...	Mrs. Weissburger
Zora Kerova	...	Eva - Sex show performer (as Zora Kerowa)
Paul E. Guskin	...	Desk Sergeant (as Paul Guskin)
Antone Pagán	...	Morales (as Anthon Kagan)
Josh Cruze	...	Chico (as Johs Cruze)
Marsha MacBride	...	Policewoman

Storyline

Killer who talks like a duck wanders around New York City killing women by various means including slicing an eyeball with a razorblade. Detective Jack Headly is hot on his trail.

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Plot Keywords:

giallo | serial killer | psychopathic killer | live sex show | detective | 

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Taglines:

Slashing Up Women Was His Pleasure!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian Spanish

Release Date:

31 July 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

New York Ripper

Filming Locations:

Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fulvia Film, Silent Warrior Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 93 min (director's cut) 80 min (cut) (1989) (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jack Hedley's voice is dubbed by another actor in the English-language version. It is quite reasonable for having a British actor to play a North American character.

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Goofs

When the prostitute gives the phone to the main character, her breasts are covered by blanket. In the very next shot where she is giving him the phone, her breasts are visible.

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Quotes

Lt. Fred Williams: It wasn't Mickey Scellenda. He was dead for four days before Kitty's murder. So, I guess we're back to square one. Right?
Dr. Paul Davis: Well, we are... and we're not. By wiping out Scellenda as a suspect, who was really just a procurer and a peeper, brings us back to my original idea. It's a person who blames the rest of the society for their troubles. Let's say that it's a woman. She randomly chooses her victims because they're prettier, more attractive, and a lot more sophisticated.
Lt. Fred Williams: And if it's a man?
Dr. Paul Davis: If ...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

The German DVD version titled Manhattan Ripper is cut by 11 minutes, the cuts include:

• Rosie's death is completely cut out of the film, including the finding of her body and when the surgeon is examining her body.
• The scene at the porn club is almost completely cut, the sight of the hooker going down over the Latino is missing as well of the rest of the scene, including Jane masturbating.
• The scene where the hooker is killed by a broken bottle only shows the bottle coming out of the curtain and the aftermath.
• The foot-fucking scene at the bar misses the shots of the Latino pleasuring Jane.
• The young girls nightmare where she is butchered by the killer removes all violence.
• When Lt. Williams drives away from the psychologist lacks the shot of him looking after Williams.
• The scene with the Greek touching Jane's private section and belly is removed.
• The killing of Jane is completely missing.
• A scene at the psychologists office is missing.
• A scene at the killer's hideout has been removed.
• The scene with the razor is completely missing and the finding of the victim.
• The scene where Peter is stabbed in the belly is missing as well as the scene where his under jaw is blown off.
• The scene in the taxi is removed and where Peter's daughter is calling him.

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Connections

References An American Werewolf in London (1981)

User Reviews

a real video nasty

Lt. Fred Williams a new york cop is investigating a number of disturbing killings where the women are to say the least butchered. His first clue is that the killer speaks like Donald Duck, and soon the killer is calling and taunting Williams, so he calls in the help of a local Professor of Psychology to help profile the killer. There are plenty of gruesome killings and seedy set pieces to keep any sleaze fan happy ie.A Latino *beep* a woman with his foot, the same woman masturbating in a live sex porno theatre and taping it to pleasure her husband with later,a girl being butchered with a razor blade ripping open her face right down through her eyeball…pretty gruesome….but wholly enjoyable as only Fulci can do. The dubbed dialogue is poor at times but it didn't take away from my enjoyment…a real video nasty