Dr. Crippen

A compact, modestly budgeted movie that looks perfectly at home on home video (which is how I saw it). "Dr. Crippen" boasts flavorful performances by Donald Pleasence as the not-so-good doctor, Coral Browne as the long-suffering as well as insufferable Belle, and a pre-"Collector" Samantha Eggar as Ethel Le Neve, every unhappily married middle-aged man's fantasy. Casting the British-born Pleasence and Australian native Browne as the American Crippens hardly seems to matter. Eggar may have been too beautiful to play Le Neve (who, judging from photographs, was still a darkly attractive young woman). The movie is, perhaps, too economical; although we do get to see Crippen and Le Neve disguised as father and son for their ill-fated ocean voyage, I wished other colorful details of the case had also been re-created, such as Crippen's recklessly escorting Le Neve to a charity ball shortly after his wife's disappearance. As for the movie's suggestion that Crippen wasn't truly guilty of premeditated murder, my reply is: perhaps - but that doesn't really explain why Crippen cut up his wife's body and buried the pieces in the coal cellar.

The real Ethel Le Neve was still alive when this film was first released (she died in 1967). One wonders if she saw it. One wonders what she thought if she had.

I remember seeing Dr. Crippen in theaters way back in 1963 and have some vivid impressions. Seeing it again more than 50 years later confirmed those same impressions.

It's a simple but impressive work with three very sharp characterizations of the principals of one of Great Britain's most notorious murder cases/love triangle.

Donald Pleasance who was playing mostly villainous roles back in the day is the ill-fated Hawley Crippen, MD., one of London's most prominent physicians in Edwardian England. His success in his profession is not matched with a successful marriage.

But he's got certain joys on the side with young Ethel LeNeve, a typist in his office played by Samantha Eggar. He can hardly believe that this pretty young thing has fallen for a late forty something man who is hardly any kind romantic ideal.

But the performance that really riveted me back in the day was that of Coral Browne as Mrs. Crippen. I could not believe what an evil witch this woman was. You have to wonder what he saw in her back in the day to marry her. It was my impression of Browne that really made me remember the film, as it turns out exactly as I remember it. What a horrible human being Mrs. Crippen was.

The movie opens with the trial of Pleasence and Eggar with flashbacks to the events which include Browne's behavior, the affair of the two lovers and their escape to America which did not quite work out.

The questions about the Crippen case revolve around was her death deliberate or an accidental poisoning? Pleasence himself makes a confession of sorts, but the case is debated to this day by criminologists professional and amateur.

Pleasence and Eggar are fine in their roles and I consider this film to be one of Donald Pleasence's best performances. But Coral Browne got her best part in her career. You will remember her from this film most of all.

Historical accuracies aside, a first class cast and adequate directions provide an interesting diversion for the duration of this film.

The film, especially in B&W, has a claustrophobic feel of foreboding.

That being said, there are some inaccuracies, a major one being that Crippen and his wife were Americans, and there's zero trace of that in Coral Brown's accent not detectably in Pleasance's. Pleasance was absolutely a wonderful actor, but his ability to do an American accent was never good (see his Dr. Loomis in Halloween) and I'm wondering whether that had something to do with his not bothering trying.

As a piece of acting, certainly nothing bad and imminently watchable.

This wasn't anything like I was expecting. Truth be told, I was more than pleasantly surprised by this story of the notorious and nefarious wife killer. However, nefarious may not be the correct description as this story recounts.

There's not much I can tell you about the story without giving you any spoilers, which I am always loathed to do. I can say the story starts at Dr Crippen and Ethel Le Neve, Crippen's mistress. as they stand accused of his wife's murder. From this point, the story is told in flashback and by witness testimonies in the trial. This story paints a different picture of the events and situations leading up to Belle Elmore's death.

Writer, Leigh Vance, gives the audience an interesting and thought-provoking tale of a marriage on the rocks. This is a total contrast to the sensationalism which ran in the papers and which turned this man into a nightmare myth - nearly on par with Jack the Ripper, as Crippen mentions towards the end of the film. Though the direction isn't too elaborate, the director, Robert Lynn keeps the shots classy and the pace smooth, which adds power to this style of drama.

Along with the story, the actors are the other driving force keeping the viewers viewing. Donald Pleasance (who is one of my favourite actors of all-time) gives a sublime performance as the mousey Dr Crippen. Along with the shrew-like performance of Coral Browne as Belle Elmore, you can almost feel the palpable tension of their relationship. Then you have his mistress, Ethel Le Neve, who is played with a quiet calmness by Samantha Eggar.

This was a crime that caused a commotion and perturbation when it ran in the papers. Therefore, If true crime is your thing I would recommend you to give this story a try. If you're a fan of dramas then this could also be for you. I'd also encourage any film buff to watch this movie.

DR. CRIPPEN is an effective retelling of a true crime story, bolstered by a typically excellent turn from Donald Pleasence in the titular role. Pleasence makes every facet of his flawed lead his own, and in the end you can truly believe that he is Crippen. He also helps to make Crippen a sympathetic character despite the turn of events that occurs.

The format of the film is kept simple and straightforward, with much of the story told in flashback and courtroom drama making up the rest. It feels a little bit staid and ordinary, but Nic Roeg's cinematography at least makes it look good and the cast is decent: Samantha Eggar convinces as the youthful mistress, while Coral Browne is so overbearing that you can't help but sympathise with poor Crippen. A typically fiery Donald Wolfit (BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE) plays the prosecutor with his usual aplomb.