The Secret Identity of Jack the Ripper

I saw this when it was first aired and and I enjoyed it as pure entertainment in the macabre. Peter Ustinov and Jan Leeming ham it up with panel of experts? With the use of re-enactments featuring actors with bad cockney accents, the team go over the evidence and look for the most likely suspect. For those who are unfamiliar with the Jack the ripper case this is fun and quite interesting. But for those who have just a little knowledge they arrive at the bleeding obvious!

If you really want to see a very good docudrama about this infamous murder I suggest. The 1973 series Jack the Ripper that features fictional TV detectives Barlow and Watt. Obviously this is a little dated but it covers more ground in a more methodical manor.

THE SECRET IDENTITY OF JACK THE RIPPER is a 1988 television movie aiming to provide a fresh look at the facts and theories behind the infamous Whitechapel murders. It's an odd little concoction of reenactment footage, news-style reporting, and round-table debate chaired by the delightful Peter Ustinov.

Surprisingly, all of the above hangs together reasonably well and provides fitfully interesting viewing, although I'm sure that some experts on the case will find the material lacking - this wasn't designed to be definitive, just fun. What I enjoyed most about THE SECRET IDENTITY OF JACK THE RIPPER was the semi-serious approach that brought to mind the delights of BBC'S GHOSTWATCH, with Jan Leeming the recognisable face (as Michael Parkinson was) who grounds the whole thing.

This is a documentary of the famous unsolved case of 1888 in the Whitechapel district of London. After a brief summary of the case, the program structure alternates between three major elements.

The first element is a re-creation of the murders of the five canonical victims: Nichols, Chapman, Stride, Eddowes, and Kelly. A second element is an analysis of the crimes by five crime "experts". And a third element consists of a basic profile of the five leading ripper suspects. Added to these three program elements are discussions from authors and researchers, who give their opinions. Peter Ustinov hosts the program and directs the flow of discussion among the three major elements.

The re-creations are quite good. Costumes, production design, acting, and dim lighting convey what must be a fairly realistic Whitechapel setting at the time of the murders. Background music is appropriately eerie and mysterious.

The five "experts" sit at a semi-round table with a live audience behind them. The experts are from both the U.S. and England, and all are affiliated with some powerful institution. The five leading suspects have their photos on a wall behind Ustinov. Given that there have been dozens if not hundreds of suspects proposed as the ripper, the program gives no indication of how the top five were selected.

At the end, each of the five experts gives his or her opinion on which of the five suspects is most likely Jack the Ripper. Since the "experts" represent official institutions, their choice is institutionally safe and predictable. Their conclusions are the only thing about the program that I would criticize.

The program aired in 1988, and is a kind of state-of-the-art overview of the case at that time. Since 1988 other suspects and theories have been proposed. Despite being a bit dated and despite the conclusions reached by the "experts", "The Secret Identity Of Jack The Ripper" is a program that is well worth watching. It is fact-based and low-key, and goes out of its way to avoid sensationalism and contrivance. And Peter Ustinov is the perfect host.

this is an extremely interesting documentary on jack the ripper and who he really was.the difference is this documentary also has a panel of experts who weigh in on the subject,and give their opinions of who the killer was.when this documentary was made over 20 tears ago,there were were a only a handful of suspects.since that time,there may have been more information and other/more suspects.or the identity of the ripper may have been definitively proved. i don't necessarily think the show was successful in unmasking the killer,but it certainly could have been one of the suspects which they focused on.nonetheless,it is highly informative and entertaining,and well researched.Peter Ustinov as host was a good choice.i enjoyed his dry wit and dark sense of humour.for me,The Secret Identity of Jack the Ripper is a 10/10

This may have been considered cutting edge in terms of information and production in 1988; in 2010 it's best used as a Ripperologist drinking-game for those stout of liver.

Yes, there is an impressive list of experts (and Jan Leeming) on-board, but instead of Agatha Christie we get Peter Ustinov hopefully speaking for all concerned, with the gravitas of someone more mindful of whether their cheque has cleared yet and if anyone outside the US need ever watch.

Anyone interested in the subject and the facts thereof are advised to read Philip Sugden's The Complete History of Jack The Ripper (New Edition) and take it from there.