Hands of the Ripper
Hands of the Ripper | |
---|---|
Directed by | Peter Sasdy |
Written by | L.W. Davidson Edward Spencer Shew |
Produced by | Aida Young |
Starring | Eric Porter Angharad Rees Jane Merrow Keith Bell Derek Godfrey |
Cinematography | Kenneth Talbot |
Edited by | Chris Barnes |
Music by | Christopher Gunning |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors (U.K.) Universal Pictures (U.S.) |
Release date | 3 October 1971 (U.K.) |
Running time | 85 minutes |
Language | English |
Hands of the Ripper is a 1971 British horror film directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Eric Porter, Angharad Rees and Jane Merrow.[1] It was produced by Aida Young for Hammer Film Productions, and written by L. W. Davidson from a story by Edward Spencer Shew. The film was released in the U.S. as a double feature with Twins of Evil (1971).
Plot
This article needs an improved plot summary. (March 2021) |
As a three-year-old, the 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 girl who is seemingly possessed by the spirit of her late father. While in a psychotic trance she continues his murderous 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
- Douglas Chippendale as Jack the Ripper
Production
It was filmed at
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Disappointingly routine Hammer offering, with the usual virtues of good performances and period authenticity, but all the faults as well – a weakly developed plot, rhubarbing extras, and a basic appeal to sadism rather than imagination in the horror sequences. ... Peter Sasdy does his best with the traumas (flickering light on Anna's face, slow zoom-in intercut with flash shots from the early murder scene), but the bloodlust turns into a parade of picturesque variations on the theme of impalement (poker, hat pins, broadsword – even lorgnettes). The traditional Hammer formula – bizarre atrocities erupting in a soberly recreated past – fails here because the rift is too great: the atrocities are not so much bizarre as outlandish, and the period recreation has taken on the stuffed, solemnly expensive look of a BBC costume serial."[2]
Variety wrote: "Here Hammer breaks away from its vampires and monster formula and gives a highly intriguing twist to the Jack the Ripper murders which shook London back in the 90s and have fascinated writers and filmmakers. Weil-directed by Peter Sasdy, the tension is skillfully developed. Murders are particularly gruesome and there are shocks that will have the most hardened filmgoer sitting up."[4]
Boxoffice wrote: "This Hammer production has the usual virtues of this genre: good performances, fine sets, and period authenticity. ... It follows the traditional Hammer formula: bizarre atrocities erupting in a psychologically recreated past. The final sequence is especially well done. This film will interest general audiences and intrigue horror film buffs.''[5]
Critic Leonard Maltin gave the film 2.5 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."[6]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "This entertaining piece of nonsense from Hammer is about Jack the Ripper's daughter who, having watched her dad dismember mama, goes barmy whenever she gets kissed in a flickering light. Cue therapist Eric Porter, who tries to cure her but then starts covering up her murders. Porter is too serious for these proceedings, but Angharad Rees is a swell Ms Ripper."[7]
The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films wrote that the film "expertly mixes the sophistication expected of Hammer's films with the gore its new audiences demanded."[8]
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 [1971] with a much pacier handling of this story."[9]
Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 86%, based on seven reviews, with a rating average of 7.1/10.[10]
References
- ^ "Hands of the Ripper". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Hands of the Ripper". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 38 (444): 196. 1 January 1971 – via ProQuest.
- The Independent Film Journal. 70 (3): 12. 6 July 1972 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Hands of the Ripper". Variety. 264 (9): 16. 13 October 1971 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Hands of the Ripper". Boxoffice. 101 (24): 4325. 25 September 1972 – via ProQuest.
- ISBN 978-0-451-41810-4.
- ISBN 9780992936440.
- ^ Hearn & Barnes 2007, p. 147.
- ^ Andy Boot. Fragments of Fear: An Illustrated History of British Horror Films. London: Creation Books, 1996, pp 117-19.
- ^ "Hands of the Ripper (1971) - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.com. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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 978-1-84576-185-1.
External links
- Hands of the Ripper at IMDb
- Hands of the Ripper at the TCM Movie Database
- Hands of the Ripper at AllMovie
- Hands of the Ripper at Rotten Tomatoes
- Hands of the Ripper then-and-now location photographs at ReelStreets