Hands of the Ripper
| Hands of the Ripper | |
|---|---|
 Promotional movie poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Peter Sasdy |
| Produced by | Aida Young |
| Written by |
L.W. Davidson Edward Spencer Shew |
| Starring |
Eric Porter Angharad Rees Jane Merrow Keith Bell Derek Godfrey |
| Music by | Christopher Gunning |
| Cinematography | Kenneth Talbot |
| Edited by | Chris Barnes |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release dates | 3 October 1971 (UK) |
Running time | 85 min. |
| Language | English |
Hands of the Ripper is a 1971 British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy for Hammer Film Productions. It was written by L. W. Davidson from a story by Edward Spencer Shew, and produced by Aida Young.
Plot
The infant daughter of Jack the Ripper is witness to the brutal murder of her mother by her father. Fifteen years later she is a troubled young woman who is seemingly possessed by the spirit of her late father. While in a trance she continues his murderous killing spree but has no recollection of the events afterwards. A sympathetic psychiatrist takes her in and is convinced he can cure her condition. However, he soon regrets his decision...
Cast
- Eric Porter as Dr. John Pritchard
- Angharad Rees as Anna
- Jane Merrow as Laura
- Keith Bell as Michael Pritchard
- Derek Godfrey as Mr. Dysart
- Dora Bryan as Mrs. "Granny" Golding
- Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs. Bryant
- Lynda Baron as Long Liz
- Marjie Lawrence as Dolly, the maid
- Margaret Rawlings as Madame Bullard
- Elizabeth MacLennan as Mrs. Wilson
- Barry Lowe as Mr. Wilson
- April Wilding as Catherine
Production
The film featured veteran British actor Eric Porter as the doctor and also stars Jane Merrow, Keith Bell and Derek Godfrey. The film had an early starring role for Angharad Rees. Later in the 1970s, she appeared with Robin Ellis, Ralph Bates and an all star cast in the BBC TV costume drama Poldark.
It was filmed at Pinewood Studios, with some location work at St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
Critical reception
Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 80%, based on 5 reviews, with a rating average of 7.1/10. However audience reviews were mixed with and approval rating of 50% based on 137 reviews, with a rating average of 3.2/5.[1]
Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the film 2 1/2 out of a possible 4 stars. In his review he stated that the film had "[a] good atmosphere and solid performances, but after a good start, dissolves into a series of bloody murders."[2] The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films wrote that the film "expertly mixes the sophistication expect of Hammer's films with the gore its new audiences demanded."[3] Andy Boot considers the film "flawed, and so close to the fag end of Gothic that it could almost be a parody," but that it is " nonetheless a film well worth watching". He opines that Peter Sasdy "atoned for his appalling Countess Dracula with a much pacier handling of this story." [4] Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 80%, based on 5 reviews, with a rating average of 7.1/10. However audience reviews were mixed with and approval rating of 50% based on 137 reviews, with a rating average of 3.2/5.[1]
References
- 1 2 "Hands of the Ripper (1971) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ↑ Maltin, Leonard; Carson, Darwyn; Sader, Luke. Leonard Maltin's 2014 Movie Guide. Penguin Press. p. 582. ISBN 978-0-451-41810-4.
- ↑ Hearn & Barnes 2007, p. 147.
- ↑ Andy Boot. Fragments of Fear : An Illustrated History of British Horror Films. London: Creation Books, 1996, pp 117-19.
- Sources
- Hearn, Marcus; Barnes, Alan (September 2007). "Hands of the Ripper". The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films (limited ed.). Titan Books. ISBN 1 84576 185 5.