An early film by noted director Robert Wise and based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson, "The Body Snatcher" finds physician and medical teacher Dr. "Toddy" MacFarlane (Henry Daniell) in thrall to malevolent cab-driver John Grey (Karloff), who has been providing the good doctor with specimens for his human anatomy classes. The story is fictitious although two of the characters were supposedly involved in the real 'Burke and Hare' murders (in which 16 Edinburgers were murdered and their bodies sold to a physician). Karloff is excellent, switching from an avuncular cabdriver allowing a little girl to pat his horse to a sinisterly polite enigma tormenting MacFarlane to a callous murderer, killing innocent people for the few quid the body will bring. Fellow horror icon Bela Lugosi, has a small part as Joseph, MacFarlane's servant. The film is very well made, moody and grim at times, with an intelligent script, engaging story, and satisfying denouement. A good, creepy evening's entertainment, especially around Halloween or if you live near a cemetery (although bit of the sepulchral mood may be lost if, like me, you can't hear Karloff's distinctive voice without envisioning the Grinch).
Review of The Body Snatcher
