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The Doctor and the Devils

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • History
In Victorian England, two grave robbers supply a wealthy doctor with bodies to research anatomy on, but greed causes them to look for a more simple way to get the job done. Based on the horr... Read allIn Victorian England, two grave robbers supply a wealthy doctor with bodies to research anatomy on, but greed causes them to look for a more simple way to get the job done. Based on the horrifying Burke and Hare case.In Victorian England, two grave robbers supply a wealthy doctor with bodies to research anatomy on, but greed causes them to look for a more simple way to get the job done. Based on the horrifying Burke and Hare case.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Freddie Francis
  • Writers
    • Dylan Thomas(earlier screenplay)
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Timothy Dalton
    • Jonathan Pryce
    • Twiggy
Top credits
  • Director
    • Freddie Francis
  • Writers
    • Dylan Thomas(earlier screenplay)
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Timothy Dalton
    • Jonathan Pryce
    • Twiggy
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 30User reviews
    • 36Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos33

    The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Phyllis Logan in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Siân Phillips in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Siân Phillips in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Twiggy and Nichola McAuliffe in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Paul Curran in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Julian Sands in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Timothy Dalton in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Jonathan Pryce and Stephen Rea in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Stephen Rea in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    Timothy Dalton in The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
    The Doctor and the Devils (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Timothy Dalton
    Timothy Dalton
    • Doctor Thomas Rockas Doctor Thomas Rock
    Jonathan Pryce
    Jonathan Pryce
    • Robert Fallonas Robert Fallon
    Twiggy
    Twiggy
    • Jennie Baileyas Jennie Bailey
    Julian Sands
    Julian Sands
    • Dr. Murrayas Dr. Murray
    Stephen Rea
    Stephen Rea
    • Timothy Broomas Timothy Broom
    Phyllis Logan
    Phyllis Logan
    • Elizabeth Rockas Elizabeth Rock
    Lewis Fiander
    Lewis Fiander
    • Dr. Thorntonas Dr. Thornton
    Beryl Reid
    Beryl Reid
    • Mrs. Flynnas Mrs. Flynn
    T.P. McKenna
    T.P. McKenna
    • O'Connoras O'Connor
    Patrick Stewart
    Patrick Stewart
    • Prof. Macklinas Prof. Macklin
    Siân Phillips
    Siân Phillips
    • Annabella Rockas Annabella Rock
    Phil Davis
    Phil Davis
    • Billy Bedlamas Billy Bedlam
    • (as Philip Davis)
    Philip Jackson
    Philip Jackson
    • Andrew Merry-Leesas Andrew Merry-Lees
    Danny Schiller
    • Praying Howardas Praying Howard
    Bruce Green
    • Moleas Mole
    Toni Palmer
    • Rosieas Rosie
    David Bamber
    David Bamber
    • Croninas Cronin
    Nichola McAuliffe
    Nichola McAuliffe
    • Aliceas Alice
    • Director
      • Freddie Francis
    • Writers
      • Dylan Thomas(earlier screenplay)
      • Ronald Harwood
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In the nineteenth century, the renowned professor of anatomy Dr. Thomas Rock gives classes to neophyte medicine students at the local university. Dr. Rock uses his assistant Dr. Murray to buy corpses for his experiments from body snatchers paying a little fortune for the cadavers. When the alcoholic scum Robert Fallon and Timothy Broom overhear the conversation of grave-robbers about Dr. Rock, they decide to supply fresher corpses that are worth more to the doctor, killing the poor inhabitants. Dr. Murray has unrequited feelings for the cockney whore Jennie Bailey that usually hangs around with the prostitute Alice. When Dr. Murray discovers that Fallon has just sold the corpse of Alice, he seeks out the worthless Fallon and Broom to stop them from murdering Jennie. Will he arrive in time to save Jennie? —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • true horror
    • corpse
    • doctor
    • grave robber
    • lecture
    • 29 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A man of medicine...A pair of murderers...An unholy alliance.
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • History
      • Horror
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At thirty-two years, this holds the world record for the longest delay between the completion of the script, and the making of the movie.
    • Goofs
      The song Jennie sings in the tavern ("Whisper and I Shall Hear") was not written until 1891, while the Burke and Hare murders on which the film is based took place in 1828.
    • Quotes

      Doctor Thomas Rock: I don't need any friends, I prefer enemies. They're better company and their feelings towards you are always genuine.

    • Alternate versions
      UK versions are cut by 9 secs to remove a cockfight.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Children of Times Square (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      TAINTED HANDS
      Written and Performed by In Tua Nua

    User reviews30

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Cushing and Pleasence did it better.
    The Doctor and The Devils is, ostensibly, a remake of the The Flesh and The Fiends (1960), which told of the nefarious true-life activities of infamous bodysnatchers and murderers Burke and Hare in the year 1828. In this telling of the story, the names have been changed, but the crimes remain the same: realising that good money can be made from supplying fresh cadavers to anatomical lecturers at a local medical school, a pair of wretched low-lifes turn to murder.

    The pair of villains in this instance are Robert Fallon (Jonathan Pryce) and Timothy Broom (Stephen Rea), and the doctor who asks no questions about the origin of his corpses is Thomas Rock (Timothy Dalton). Julian Sands plays Rock's loyal assistant Dr. Murray, who falls for local prostitute Jennie Bailey (Twiggy). When Fallon brings the body of Jennie's close friend Alice to the school, the young doctor fears that Jennie is to be Fallon's next victim and rushes to her rescue.

    The penultimate film from horror director Freddie Francis, The Doctor and The Devils is very much like a Hammer movie in look and feel, and will definitely appeal to fans of the 'studio that dripped blood'. However, despite plenty of atmosphere, good production values, an impressive roster of actors (which also includes Beryl Reid and Patrick Stewart), and a screenplay by noted Welsh writer/poet Dylan Thomas, the film is no match for The Flesh and The Fiends.

    The pacing is off, with much of the film feeling like padding until such time as Murray is ready to leap to the rescue of Jennie, and, despite a fine cast, no-one is able to rival the brilliance of Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasence, whose memorable turns gave the earlier film such a wonderful, darkly humorous edge. Dalton and company are all fine actors, but even they have their off days, and there are some really dodgy accents on display in this film (Reid is particularly bad and I was glad when her character was finally silenced).

    That said, the film is worth a shot for fans of historical horror and those particularly interested in the crimes of Burke and Hare, although I highly recommend seeing The Flesh and The Fiends first.
    helpful•2
    0
    • BA_Harrison
    • Jun 13, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1985 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Doktorn och djävulen
    • Filming locations
      • Lee International Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Brooksfilms
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $147,070
    • Gross worldwide
      • $147,070
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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