You may deny him, Toddy, but you’ll not rid yourself of him by saying the devil’s dead
Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. As a technical note, references and citations are listed for each show on the site at classicmovierev.com. Today on the Classic Movie Reviews Podcast, we are taking on The Body Snatcher (1945).
Today’s movie is based on a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the guy that wrote “Treasure Island” 1883. Super director Robert Wise directed this film. I must say, he did a fantastic job setting the mood and tension.
The movie has a 7.3 rating on iMDB.com.[1] It comes in at 84 percent on the Tomatometer and 75 percent audience approval on rottentomatoes.com.[2] I think it is just a bit better than these ratings, especially during the ending sequence.
New York Times film critic Bosley Crowther stated in a May 26, 1945 review:
“This new gloom-lodger, though not as nerve-parlyzing as the performers might lead you to expect, has enough suspense and atmospheric terror to make it one of the better of its genre. Boris Karloff, sporting a days-old beard, is in there pitching with ghoulish delight as an Edinburgh cabbie, circa 1830, whose hobby is snatching people out of their graves, and Bela Lugosi, surprisingly unsinister for a change, works industriously to achieve fame as a blackmailer. A long time ago Robert Louis Stevenson supplied the plot in a short story about the difficulties medical men had in procuring cadavers for scientific study, and RKO has taken the exhumation up from there for less noble purposes.”[3]
This movie, which is not as well known as it should be, has Boris Karloff acting in as sinister a role as I have ever seen, and that includes Frankenstein (1931). So, let’s get on to the actors.
Actors – The Body Snatcher (1945)
Returning
The excellent horror master Boris Karloff played Cabman John Gray, and he was as scary as I have ever seen him. Karloff was first covered in Bride of Frankenstein (1935).
Bela Lugosi had a very subdued role as the medical school helper Joseph. Lugosi was in bad shape by this point from drug addiction and war wounds. He had a hard time completing his scenes. Lugosi was first covered in The Wolf Man (1941).
New
Henry Daniell was the medical professor, Dr. Wolfe ‘Toddy’ MacFarlane. Daniell was born in England in 1894. When World War I broke out, Daniell enlisted. He was wounded in action on the Western Front and was discharged from the Army in 1915. He spent the next two years acting on stage with little to show for his effort.
In 1921, Daniell moved to America and succeeded in getting work on Broadway. His first film experience was in 1929. With only 95 film and television credits, he was in an incredible number of topflight films. A shortlist includes The Great Dictator (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940), All This, and Heaven Too (1940), Film Noir Dressed to Kill (1941), Watch on the Rhine (1943), The Body Snatcher (1945), The Exile (1947), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), The Story of Mankind (1957) along with everybody else, Wake of the Red Witch (1948), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) as the unfairly condemning judge, and My Fair Lady (1964). Daniell died in 1963 while filming My Fair Lady (1964)
Edith Atwater played housekeeper and common-law wife of Toddy, Meg Cameron. In her role, she was also said to be part fey, either fairy or having premonitions. Atwater was born in Illinois in 1911.
Atwater was trained at the American Laboratory Theatre. She started acting when she was 18 and was on Broadway by 1931. She did quite well on Broadway but was not given the opportunity to excel in film. Her first really successful role was in today’s film, The Body Snatcher (1945). No significant roles followed, and her best-known film roles include parts in Film Noir Sweet Smell of Success (1957), Strait-Jacket (1964), True Grit (1969), and Family Plot (1976).
She was married to Hugh Marlowe for a time. Atwater also continued to appear in television roles. She died in 1986.
Russell Wade played medical student Donald Fettes. Wade was born in Oklahoma. I would have bet real money he was English. At some point in the 1920s, Wade moved to Los Angeles and attended Hollywood High School. He later worked on stage before appearing in his first movie in 1933. Wade had 94 acting credits, with his best movies being The Ghost Ship (1943), Sundown Riders (1944), The Body Snatcher (1945), and the Film Noir Shoot to Kill (1947). Wade retired from acting in 1948 and died in 2006.
Story – The Body Snatcher (1945)
The scroll shows that the film is located in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1831. The English are in charge and the guard are posting orders. A young street lady (Donna Lee) sings a tune.
A young medical student, Donald Fettes (Russell Wade), is taking his lunch break. Donald offers some food to a stray dog that is sitting on a freshly dug grave. The dog growls. A lady comes into the cemetery and feeds the dog. She says that the dog will not leave the grave of her dead son. She mentions that it is just as well that the dog stays because they can’t pay someone to guard the fresh grave against grave robbers that prowl at night. She mentions that the doctors are the cause of the grave robbing. Donald tells her that he was a medical student but has to quit today.
At the home of doctor and professor Dr. Wolfe ‘Toddy’ MacFarlane (Henry Daniell), a carriage driver, Cabman John Gray (Boris Karloff), delivers Mrs. Marsh (Rita Corday) and her crippled daughter Georgina Marsh (Sharyn Moffett). When the maid, Meg Cameron (Edith Atwater), opens the door, a strangle look is exchanged between her and Cabman Gray.
Dr. McFarlane examines Georgina and thinks that she can be healed through surgery. Dr. McFarlane is very terse. Donald comes in, and he is asked to examine Georgina. He has a great bedside manner and is very caring.
Dr. McFarlane and Donald examine Georgina. Dr. McFarlane says she has a tumor on her spine. However, he will not do the surgery because it will take away from his teaching. Mrs. Marsh begs Dr. McFarlane to take her daughter’s pain away. He refuses and says he needs to teach.
After Mrs. Marsh and Georgina leave, Donald says he has to quit school. Dr. McFarlane won’t have it. He offers to make Donald an assistant so he will have the money he needs for school.
The maid, Meg, talks to Dr. McFarlane alone. Meg says that Donald is too good to be one of the assistants. She is more than just the maid. Dr. McFarlane says he was assistant to Knox, and it didn’t spoil him.
Dr. McFarlane tells Meg not to worry, and then they have a big old kiss.
In the laboratory, Joseph (Bela Lugosi) is cleaning up. Donald and Dr. McFarlane come in. Dr. McFarlane tells Donald that he will take care of accounts and deliver specimens to the other student. Just then, Dr. McFarlane notices Joseph listening and tells him to stop sneaking around like a “Redskin.”
McFarlane tells Donald that all of the bodies are not paupers from the municipal authorities.
That night in the cemetery, a dark figure enters and kills the dog with a shovel. He begins digging the graves of the recently buried boy.
Later at Dr. McFarlane’s, Donald is awakened by a carriage arriving and a knock at the door. Cabman Gray comes in with a dead body over his shoulder. Donald is very nervous, and Gray mocks him through the procedure. Donald pays and records the body. Gray tells him to log the name as McDuff. Gray is very creepy, and Donald is not too sure.
When Gray leaves, Dr. McFarlane comes in and laughs at Donald. Dr. McFarlane says meeting Gray is a milestone in Donald’s career.
Donald goes about his duties as a teaching assistant, and he is not well respected by the wealthier students. Joseph comes in and tells Donald that a lady has come to see him. The lady is Mrs. Marsh, and she wants Donald to help with Georgina’s surgery. He falls to her charms and agrees to ask Dr. McFarlane.
Back in the laboratory, Dr. McFarlane is teaching a class. One of the student doctor’s has received an arm from the most recently delivered body. McFarlane talks to this young doctor about the arm. The student says the arm was strong and could stand up to grave robbers Burke and Hare. Dr. McFarlane jumps down his throat about the tasteless joke. I will add more about this in the Summary.
When Donald goes to his usual lunch place in the cemetery, a crowd has gathered, and the dead boy’s mother comes out holding the dead dog. She can’t believe they killed the dog also.
Donald misses the afternoon classes and comes in to talk to Dr. McFarlane. Donald doesn’t want to continue because he knows where the bodies are coming from is an illegal source. Dr. McFarlane says when he was an assistant, he had to deal with men like Gray. Dr. McFarlane convinces Donald that getting bodies from grave robbers is necessary to educate more doctors.
The street singer is out at night singing and trying to get tips. Dr. McFarlane and Donald pass by on the way to a public house. The two are discussing their plans for eating a roast pig that is cooking on the hearth. They hear the voice of Gray call Dr. McFarlane by his nickname, Toddy. Dr. McFarlane demands not to be called by that name. Gray asks the two to sit down. After they refuse, Gray forces him to sit down.
Gray begins to poke at Dr. McFarlane about his past. Donald picks this time to ask about the surgery for Georgina. Gray mentions long lost friends and insists that Dr. McFarlane do the surgery. Donald tries to stand up to Gray. Gray says Dr. McFarlane owes him because he saved him before.
Donald tells Mrs. Marsh that the surgery on Georgina will go forward. Georgina is still looking for Gray and his horse. Donald asks Georgina about standing the pain.
Later, Dr. McFarlane is sitting by the fire looking disheveled. Meg comes in dressed for bed and calls him Toddy as well. She asks if he would like to smash Gray’s head. Meg is sure that Gray’s hold on Dr. McFarlane is strong.
The next day Donald comes to see Dr. McFarlane, and now that he is hungover, he refuses to do the surgery.
Donald goes walking at night and sees the singing girl by the wall. Donald is looking for the home of Gray. He finally finds the location. Gray brings Donald into his room. Donald asks about Gray getting him another body. Gray says it is a bit of a problem because a dog was killed at the last grave robbery and people are really concerned about dogs. Gray won’t commit to getting a body. Gray watches Donald leave, but his eyes are pulled to the singing girl.
Gray goes out in his carriage and tracks down the singing girl. The killing is not shown, only heard.
Donald is working at the school when he hears Gray’s carriage arrive. Gray comes in with a body and lays it on the table. Donald recognizes the face of the street singer. He says Gray did not get the body legally. Gray turns harsh and demands his money. Donald pays the price.
In the morning, Dr. McFarlane comes to the lab. Donald shows the body to him, and he recognizes the girl. Donald says she was murdered and that Gray killed her. Joseph is lurking around in the background. Dr. McFarlane denies that the girl was murdered and that Donald is a party to the murder. Dr. McFarlane says they must dissect the body, and he will need the spinal section so he can prepare for Georgina’s surgery.
Sometime later, Mrs. Marsh is waiting while Georgina has her surgery. Dr. McFarlane is using the surgery as a class. He does the surgery quite easily and then turns the girl over to Donald.
Dr. McFarlane is studying when Joseph comes in to tell him that Mr. Gray has arrived. Dr. McFarlane says he will have no more business with Gray. Gray walks into the room and greets Toddy. Gray says even if they do no more business, he will still be stopping by. Gray laughs as he leaves.
Joseph tries to talk to Gray, but they are interrupted by Donald. Donald goes inside to speak with Dr. McFarlane about Georgina’s progress.
Later Mrs. Marsh and Georgina come for a consult with Dr. McFarlane and Donald. Georgina still won’t try to walk. Dr. McFarlane is frustrated because her legs won’t work. Dr. McFarlane says that there is no hope for her.
Dr. McFarlane goes to the public house to get drunk. Gray is in the back and goes to talk to Toddy. Dr. McFarlane treats Gray in a very friendly manner. Dr. McFarlane explains how everything in the spine works and says he put everything together correctly. Gray calls him a fool and says McFarlane only knows dead bodies and is not a real doctor. Gray says that he and Knox taught Dr. McFarlane in cellars and basements. Gray finally says that he took the blame in Dr. McFarlane’s place in a case about grave robbing and murder. Dr. McFarlane tells Gray to stay away.
Joseph goes to see Gray at his house. Joseph says he knows Gray kills people to sell bodies. Joseph is trying to blackmail Gray. Gray says that he will pay and then gives Joseph a drink. He also gives him 16 pounds. Gray keeps pouring drinks for Joseph. Gray proposes that he and Joseph go into business, killing people. Gray tells about Burke and Hare killing people and selling them to Dr. Knox. Finally, Gray puts his hand over Joseph’s nose and mouth until he is dead.
Gray brings Joseph’s body to the lab. He goes behind the curtain, and the sound of clothes tearing and water splashing is heard.
Gray goes upstairs and is hanging out with Meg. She is not happy for him to be there. He says she and her were old cronies. Finally, Dr. McFarlane comes in and Gray says he has brought him a present.
Dr. McFarlane goes downstairs and is followed by Donald. They find the body of Joseph in a big tank. Dr. McFarlane says to dissect the body and make the proper entries in the book. Donald refuses as Meg comes down the stairs. Meg tries to stop Dr. McFarlane from going after Gray. Meg tells Donald to leave the house. She says Dr. McFarlane is ashamed of his past and never became a great doctor. Meg says Dr. McFarlane was to Knox as Donald is to Dr. McFarlane. That is where he met Gray. Meg says she is half fay, and she sees the pit yearning for Dr. McFarlane and Gray.
At his home, Gray lights a candle, and Dr. McFarlane is sitting in his house. Dr. McFarlane says he must get rid of Gray. Dr. McFarlane tries to bribe Gray to leave. Gray says it is a pleasure for him to see Dr. McFarlane beg and scrape.
The two men start fighting. Gray tries to smother Dr. McFarlane, but the doctor fights back. Gray gives the doctor a break, and the fight resumes. Finally, Dr. McFarlane kills Gray with a piece of wood. Dr. McFarlane dresses as Gray and takes the body to the lab. Meg comes down and sees that the dead body is Gray.
Meg tells that Donald is gone and that he is not rid of Gray.
Donald goes to see Mrs. Marsh and Georgina. While the adults talk, Georgina stands to see the white horse.
Donald goes back to tell Dr. McFarlane. Meg says he is not at home. Donald goes to find Dr. McFarlane at the pub. He has sold Gray’s horse and carriage. Dr. McFarlane thinks the girl is well because he is rid of Gray.
Some women in mourning come in having just buried their sister. Dr. McFarlane says he is going to the cemetery to rob the grave himself. Donald follows the doctor to the remote cemetery. The two men dig the grave.
The two doctors load the dead body into the carriage with them. It is a stormy night, and the horse is spooked. Dr. McFarlane begins to hear the voice of Gray calling Toddy. The voice in his head and the flopping dead body is driving Dr. McFarlane insane. Dr. McFarlane stops the coach and takes a look at the face of the body. The face is that of Gray. When Dr. McFarlane shouts, the horse takes off, leaving Donald on the ground.
The exposed body of Gray keeps on falling on Dr. McFarlane as he drives faster and faster. Finally, the carriage goes over a cliff. Donald runs up, and Dr. McFarlane is dead. Donald looks at the body, and it the face of a woman.
As Donald walks alone down the dark road, the words of Hippocrates of Cos are shown.
“As is through error that man tries and rises. It is through tragedy he learns. All the road of learning begin in darkness and go out into the night”
I’ll be right back with conclusions and the World-Famous Short Summary following a word from our sponsors.
Summary – The Body Snatcher (1945)
Willian Burke and William Hare[4] committed 16 murders in 10-months in 1828 Edinburgh, Scotland. The pair sold the bodies to Dr. Robert Knox. Without enough evidence to convict the team, the police offered Hare a deal granting him immunity. Burke and his wife were tried. Burke was hanged, and his wife’s case could not be proven. So, Cabman Gray was echoing the role of Hare, with Toddy being Knox’s assistant.
The dog that was killed in the movie was most likely base on Greyfriars Bobby. John Gray was a night watchman for the police and owned the dog, Bobby[5]. After his owner died, Bobby spent the next 14-years laying on the grave, except when he left to eat. When Bobby died, he was buried in his own grave with a marker in the same cemetery as his deceased owner. There is a statue of the dog that is a tourist attraction. Nearby is Nicholson’s, which features Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar[6].
World-Famous Short Summary – You dance with the Devil; the Devil don’t change.
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Beware the moors
[1] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037549/
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/body_snatcher
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/1945/05/26/archives/the-screen-two-light-attractions-and-another-chiller-arrive-at-the.html
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Hare_murders
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greyfriars_Bobby
[6] https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/scotlandandnorthernireland/greyfriarsbobbysbarcandlemakerrowedinburgh
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