| Dr. Crippen | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) | |
| Directed by | Robert Lynn |
| Written by | Leigh Vance |
| Produced by | John Clein |
| Starring | Donald Pleasence Coral Browne Samantha Eggar |
| Cinematography | Nicolas Roeg |
| Edited by | Lee Doig |
| Music by | Ken Jones |
Production company | Torchlight Productions |
| Distributed by | Warner-Pathé Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Dr. Crippen is a 1963 British biographical film directed by Robert Lynn and starring Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne and Samantha Eggar. The film's plot concerns the real-life Edwardian doctor Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his wife. The cinematography was by Nicolas Roeg.[1]
Plot
In late 1910, Crippen is portrayed as a downtrodden cuckold continually humiliated by his coarse, overbearing wife. There is a strong suggestion in the story that he may have been innocent of murder, possibly killing his wife by accident, and that his younger mistress Ethel Le Neve is completely ignorant of the killing. The plot ostensibly covers Crippen's trial but the story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor's relationship with his wife and his affair.
Cast
- Donald Pleasence as Dr. Crippen
- Coral Browne as Belle Elmore/Cora Crippen
- Samantha Eggar as Ethel Le Neve
- Donald Wolfit as R.D. Muir
- James Robertson Justice as Captain McKenzie
- John Arnatt as Chief Inspector Dew
- Paul Carpenter as Bruce Martin
- Oliver Johnston as Lord Chief Justice
- John Lee as Harry
- Olga Lindo as Mrs. Arditti
- Elspeth March as Mrs. Jackson
- Geoffrey Toone as Mr. Tobin
- Edward Underdown as the Prison Governor
- Douglas Bradley-Smith as Dr. Pepper
- Hamilton Dyce as Dr. Rogers
- Basil Henson as Mr. Arditti
- Totti Truman Taylor as Miss Curnow
- Edward Cast as Harding
- Colin Rix as Chemist
Critical reception
Bosley Crowther in The New York Times wrote: "Well, one must give good scores to Mr. Pleasence, Miss Browne, Miss Eggar and the rest of the cast for giving a sense of solemnity and suffocation to this stiff tale...But the mystery, the action and the pathos are all too academic and thin—too milky and uneventful—except for those who are real Crippen fans."[2] Britmovie noted a "sincere historical reconstruction about the infamous Edwardian murderer blending courtroom and melodrama. The direction from tv helmer Robert Lynn is satisfactory and is brightly captured in atmospheric black-and-white by cinematographer Nicolas Roeg."[3]
References
- ↑ "Dr. Crippen". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012.
- ↑ "Movie Review - Dr Crippen - Dr. Crippen' Stars Donald Pleasence:British Movie Opens at the Paramount - NYTimes.com". nytimes.com.
- ↑ "Dr Crippen". britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
External links