Dr. Crippen

Poor "Dr. Crippen". As the character himself says, he's gone down in history as some kind of monster, not that far removed from Jack the Ripper. Robert Lynn's simple, sober film sets out to redress the balance. painting Crippen as more sinned against than sinner. Yes, he killed his wife and dismembered her corpse but did she drive him to it and was the killing itself an accident as he ultimately claims? There is no doubt as to which side Lynn's film is on.

It's an intelligent little picture if, in the end, not a particularly exciting one and it's very well played by Donald Pleasence, (Crippen), Samantha Eggar, (Ethel Le Neve, his uncomprehending mistress) and Coral Browne, (his shrew of a wife). The fine black and white cinematography is by Nicholas Roeg.

A Rather Dry and Low-Key Re-Telling of the Infamous Real-Life 1910 Case involving a Prominent Doctor, a Domineering and Battle-Axe of a Wife, an Attractive Mistress, and a Grisly Murder and Dismemberment. The "Good" Doctor was Tried and Hanged, but like so many of these Cases, the Jury, at least Publicly, is Still Out.

This Movie is a Well Cast, Talky, Claustrophobic Story that Attains a British, Stuffy, Tone and never Varies. It is Compelling, if not a Top-Notch, Thriller or Mystery Who-Done-It or Courtroom Drama. The Film just sort of Whispers its way from one Scene to Another with just Enough Intrigue to keep one Interested.

Nicholas Roeg's Cinematography is Crisp but Confined and it is the Performances that Grip this True Story and make it Involving with Samantha Eger and Donald Pleasence Standing Out, but Everyone Contributes to this Somewhat Creepy, Fireside, True-Crime, Turn of the Century Tale.

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.

A dour little movie, with flat out ugly photography and ill-matched pairings. In short, the 90- minutes is something of an ordeal to sit through, that is, if you have the usual movie expectations. I don't know what the director told lead actor Pleasance (Crippen), but he acts like he swallowed a lemon throughout, even when in the loving company of the luscious Eggar (Ethel). I know he's supposed to be repressed, but his permanent paralysis appears unreal. Then too, seeing this unpleasant little middle-aged man paired with the lovely young Eggar amounts to more than a stretch. Then there's Belle (Brown), his boisterously unfaithful wife. About five-minutes into the film and I was hoping someone would strangle her and rescue my ears. The movie's only mystery is why it took him so long.

The case itself, from books I've read, was pretty much open-and-shut against the doctor. Certainly he had reasons to commit the crime, which coincides with the movie. However, I suspect the element of doubt about his intentions that the movie introduces was an invention to add a provocative note to an otherwise unremarkable screenplay. Certainly, Crippen is presented as a somewhat sympathetic character by movie's end, which looks like a belated effort to humanize an otherwise one-note performance. Anyhow, the lead characters come across more like stereotypes than real people. And that along with the truly grim-faced production amounts to a forgettable movie experience.

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.