Jack the Ripper (1959)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 1959
Running Times: 82 mins 56 sec (UK)
Format: black and white / colour sequence
Ratio:
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: Mid Century Film Prods
Producers: Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman
Production Manager: Jack Swinburne

SCRIPT
Script: Jimmy Sangster
Story: Peter Hammond, Colin Craig

DIRECTION
Directors: Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman
Assistant Director: Peter Manley

PHOTOGRAPHY
Directors of Photography: Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman
Camera Operator: Dudley Lovell

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Peter Benzencenet

MUSIC
Music: Stanley Black (UK prints); Jimmy McHugh, Pete Rugolo (US prints)

SOUND
Sound Recording: Buster Ambler
Dubbing Editor: Jeanne Henderson

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Jimmy Evans
Hair: Bill Griffiths
Wardrobe: Jack Verity

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Art Director: William Kellner

MISCELLANEOUS
Continuity: Yvonne Richards

CAST
Lee Patterson (Sam Lowry)
Eddie Byrne (Inspector O'Neill)
Betty McDowall (Anne Ford)
Ewen Solon (Sir David Rogers)
John Le Mesurier (Dr Tranter)
George Rose (Clarke)
Philip Leaver (music hall manager)
Barbara Burke (Kitty Knowles)
Anne Sharp (Helen)
Denis Shaw (Simes)
Endre Muller (Louis Benz)
Esma Cannon (Nelly)
George Woodbridge (Blake)
Bill Shine (Lord Sopwith)
Marianne Stone (drunken woman)
Garard Green (Dr Urquhart)
Jack Allen (assistant commissioner)
Jane Taylor (Hazel)
Dorinda Stevens (Margaret)
Hal Osmonde (pickpocket)
George Street (station sergeant)
Olwen Brooks (Lady Almoner)
Charles Lamb (stage door keeper)
Jennifer White (Beth)
Cameron Hall (hospital porter)
Alan Robinson (coroner)
Anthony Sagar (drunk)
John Mott (singer)
Lucy Griffiths (Salvation Army woman)
Patricia Phoenix
Helena Digby (1st victim - uncredited)

The East End of London is gripped by panic as serial killer Jack the Ripper slaughters his way through the area's prostitutes. The police seem powerless to stop him and need to rely on a visitting American detective to help catch the killer before he strikes again.

A bland and forgettable Ripper film that's typically 50's British in its coy approach to to the subject of sex crime. Too many dancing girls don't help, though the photography is impressive. The silly, gimmicky switch to colour for the gory climax is an unneccessary touch.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Embassy Pictures Corporation; Parmount (1960 re-issue); Regal Films International
Video Distributors: Paramount; Sinister Cinema; Something Weird; Filmfax

UK
Rating: X (with an unspecified number of cuts)

1959
March
20: UK - rated X by the BBFC

SEE ALSO
Bridge Across Time (1985)
Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1971)
Hands of the Ripper (1971)
Jack, el Destripador de Londres (1971)
Jack's Back (1988)
Jack the Ripper (1976)
Jack the Ripper (1988)
The Lodger (1926)
The Lodger (1932)
The Lodger (1944)
Lulu (1962)
The Man in the Attic (1953)
The Monster of London City (1964)
Murder By Decree (1979)
Pandora's Box (1928)
The Ripper (1997)
Room To Let (1949)
Santo en el Hotel de la Muerte (1961)
A Study in Terror (1965)
Terror in the Wax Museum (1972)
Three Wax Men (1924)

BOOKS

Reference Guide to Fantastic Films p.228
credits

Shock Xpress 2 pp.94-95
review

Creature Features Strikes Again p.207
credits, review (by John Stanley

jack the ripper, serial killers, true crime

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009