The Body Snatcher (1945)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1945
Running Times: 67 mins (UK - theatrical)     78 mins
Format: bw     35mm
Ratio: 1.37:1
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: RKO Radio Pictures Inc
Executive Producer: Jack J. Gross
Producer: Val Lewton

SCRIPT
Script: Philip MacDonald, Carlos Keith (real name: Val Lewton)
Story: Robert Louis Stevenson

DIRECTION
Director: Robert Wise
Assistant Director: Harry Scott

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Robert De Grasse
Camera Operator: Charles Burke (uncredited)

EDITING
Editor: J.R. Whittredge (uncredited)

MUSIC
Music: Roy Webb
Musical Director: C. Bakaleinikoff

SOUND
Recording: Bailey Fesler
Re-Recording: Terry Kellum

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Costumes: Renié

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller
Set Decorators: Darrell Silvera, John Sturtevant

CAST
Boris Karloff (John Gray)
Bela Lugosi (Joseph)
Henry Daniell (Dr Wolfe "Toddy" MacFarlane)
Edith Atwater (Meg Camden)
Russell Wade (Donald Fettes)
Rita Corday (Mrs Marsh)
Sharyn Moffett (Georgina Marsh)
Donna Lee (street singer)
Robert Clarke (Richardson (uncredited))
Aina Constant (maidservant (uncredited))
Mary Gordon (Mrs Mary McBride (uncredited))
Carl Kent (Gilchrist (uncredited))
Milton Kibbee (Dan (uncredited))
Jim Moran (horse trader (uncredited))
Jack Welch (boy (uncredited))
Larry Wheat (salesman (uncredited))
Bill Williams (medical student (uncredited))

UK
Theatrical Distributors: Columbia
Video Distributor: 4 Front

USA
Theatrical Distributor: RKO Pictures
Video Distributor: Nostalgia Merchant; RKO Home Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc

UK
Rating: A (1945); PG (1998)
When the film was first released in the UK, the censors demanded five cuts, mainly removing any references to the real life body snatchers Burke and Hare. It was this version of the film that was the only one available for over fifty years, until 4-Front video released a complete version in 1998.

USA
Rating: unrated

1945
May
25: USA - theatrical premiere in New York

1956
December
1: USA - television broadcast (on WOR-TV)

1973
August
3: Sweden - television broadcast

1999
April
26: UK - television broadcast (on BBC2)

2003
February
3: UK - television broadcast (on BBC2)

The Screen's Last Word in Shock Sensation!

Not Hollywood Bunk - But Dramatized From Unthinkable FACTS of Record!

Foul Traffic in Dead Bodies.

La iena - Italian title
Der Leichendieb - German title

SEE ALSO
The Anatomist (1939)
The Anatomist (1961)
Play of the Month: The Anatomist (1980)
Big Jack (1949)
Burke and Hare (1971)
The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
The Flesh and the Fiends (1960)
The Greed of William Hart (1948)
Habeas Corpus (1928

MAGAZINES

Cinefantastique vol.15 no.5 (January 1986) pp.30-31, 58-61 (USA)
illustrated article

Classic Images no.72 (November 1980) pp.20-21, 61 (USA)
review

Kine Weekly 15 November 1945 (UK)
review

Literature / Film Quarterly vol.10 no.1 (1982) pp.25-37 (USA)
review

Midi-Minuit Fantastique no.24 (Winter 1970 - 1971) p.64 (France)
review

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.12 no.143 (November 1945) p.131 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review (by G.M.D.)

Monthly Film Bulletin vol.46 no.550 (November 1979) p.237 (UK)
credits, synopsis, review

New York Motion Picture Critics Reviews vol.2 no.18 (28 May 1945) pp.351-352 (USA)
credits, reprinted reviews

Radio Times vol.232 no.3018 (12 September 1981) p.78 (UK)
review

Shivers no.56 p.46 (UK)
review

Shivers no.91 (August / September 2001) p.54 (UK)
illustrated article

Today's Cinema vol.65 no.5266 (14 November 1945) (UK)
review (by J.G.W.)

BOOKS

Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movies 1991 - 1992 p.53
review, credits

Horror and Science Fiction Films II p.41
credits

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.43
credits

OTHER SOURCES

screen
credits

KEYWORDS

blackmail, body snatchers, doctors, grave robbers, short story into film

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008