Dr. Crippen (1962 film)
| Dr. Crippen | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Robert Lynn |
| Produced by | John Clein |
| Written by | Leigh Vance |
| Starring |
Donald Pleasence Coral Browne Samantha Eggar |
| Music by | Ken Jones |
| Cinematography | Nicolas Roeg |
| Edited by | Lee Doig |
Production company |
Torchlight Productions |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates | 1962 |
Running time | 98 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Dr. Crippen is a 1962 British biographical film directed by Robert Lynn, about the real-life Edwardian doctor Hawley Harvey Crippen who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his wife. The film starred Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne and Samantha Eggar. The cinematography was provided by Nicolas Roeg.[1]
Plot
The film ostensibly covers Crippen’s trial but the story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor’s relationship with his coarse, overbearing wife and his affair with a young mistress.[2]
Cast
- Donald Pleasence as Dr. Crippen
- Coral Browne as Belle 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
- Oliver Johnston as Lord Chief Justice
- Geoffrey Toone as Mr. Tobin
- Edward Underdown as The Prison Governor
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...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" ;[3] while 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." [2]
References
- ↑ "Dr. Crippen". BFI.
- 1 2 "Dr Crippen". britmovie.co.uk.
- ↑ "Movie Review - Dr Crippen - Dr. Crippen' Stars Donald Pleasence:British Movie Opens at the Paramount - NYTimes.com". nytimes.com.