Jack the Ripper *** (1959, Lee Patterson, Eddie Byrne, Betty McDowall, Ewen Solon, John le Mesurier, George Rose) – Classic Movie Review 4895

Director Robert S Baker’s gloomy 1959 British horror thriller was first released with an X certificate in Britain, though this modest but reasonably effective account of the notorious London East End murders gets most of its effect from conjuring up the morbid Victorian period atmosphere. It is written by Hammer stalwart Jimmy Sangster, from a story by Peter Hammond and Colin Craig.

The Robert S Baker and Monty Berman production team gathers together a stalwart British cast. But there is also a Canadian actor (Lee Patterson) as American cop Sam Lowry to ease the film’s passage with North American audiences as he joins Scotland Yard’s Inspector O’Neill (Eddie Byrne) to stop the infamous Jack the Ripper serial killer of prostitutes.

It is shot at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, by cinematographer Monty Berman in black and white but there is one colour sequence at the end.

It also stars familiar and welcome faces of the era Betty McDowall, Ewen Solon, John le Mesurier and George Rose.

Also in the cast are Philip Leaver, Barbara Burke, Anne Sharpe, Denis Shaw, Esma Cannon, George Woodbridge, Bill Shine, Marianne Stone, Endre Muller, Garard Green, Jack Allen, Jane Taylor, Dorinda Stevens, Hal Osmond, George Street, Olwen Brooks and Helen Digby.

The Montparnasse Balllet troupe makes a dancing appearance.

Johnny Depp provides another take on Jack the Ripper in From Hell (2001).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 4895

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