BritFlix: Jack the Ripper (1959)

Another Film brought to me (for convenience's sake) by Tubi.  I can't get paid to promote a Free App, can I?  This is Jack the Ripper, a fairly-famous Film from back in the day.  It was made in the UK, but had a huge promotion for its US Release in 1960.  That brought along some changes, but I'll cover that later on.  The Film's Plot...should be easy to guess.  There's not big twist or wrinkle here- it's just people trying to stop 'Saucy Jack.'  As always, they play a little bit fast and loose with history.  Granted- I have seen Batman, The Hoff, and (of course) Nightman try to solve this case already, so this is nothing.  The Film's Directors are notable for creating The Saint- neat.  The Writer- Jimmy Sangster- was a prominent Writer for Hammer Films like X: The Unknown, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Brides of Dracula.  He also Directed a handful as well- The Horror of Frankenstein, Fear in the Night and Lust for the Vampire.  The Film was made on the cheap, but the turn around on it was kind of interesting.  The US Distributor paid £50,000 for the Film and then spent $1 million to promote it!  Can an American Detective solve the case when the bobbies failed?  To find out, read on...

The titular killer is on the loose in London's Slums.  What is his goal?

Also, there are a few different Cuts of the Film with varying visual fidelity.  I mention that because shots like this may be more or less revealing in which version you see.

An American- who is a friend of one of the Detectives- says he's there on vacation.  Of course, he's actually there to work the case.

It is funny that this Film so maligned for the changes made to the Film for the US Market- like a new Soundtrack-, when the Film itself is trying to market itself to America already!

Unfortunately, 'Jack' is still on the loose.

To be fair, there are a possible 11 Ripper victims.
That said, there are only 5 *official* ones and this Film shows us 3, while also saying that he's killed enough times before to affect Sociological Change on the City of London itself!

To get to around 80 minutes, we have some B-Plots.  They aren't bad, but they are definitely filler.

One involves the Niece of a Doctor who wants to go into the field, while he doesn't want it.

She's somewhat progressive...for all of the limited time her Plot is granted.

The other B-Plot is more related to the main one, to be fair.

We focus alot on a Dance Hall/Night Club, which seems to be connected to the Ripper's killings.

We 'focus' even more on it in the 'Continental Cut,' which is just an excuse for them to add in random Dressing Room Nudity for the French Market.  No joke.

In a big City (shown about twice, but to good effect), can they catch the killer?

Well, yes and no.

It eventually is revealed that 'Jack' is actually a crazy Doctor killing the Performers to get to the one whom he blames for his Son's death (via suicide)...

...but he manages to kill the woman first, getting ride of a witness and dies when he is ironically (?) crushed by an Elevator going to the Morgue where he worked.

In the US Cut, they include a shot of his blood seeping up through the wood...and it is the only shot in Color.  Gimmicks!

The Police, despite having evidence already, declare the case officially unsolved...for some reason.  The End.

It is surprisingly-dry and not trashy.  Don't get me wrong- making a Film like this is always a little bit trashy.  No matter what your intentions, you are exploiting an unsolved crime that involved the death of up to around a dozen people (or more).  There are far worse (and better) examples of this story as a truly 'trashy' piece of cinema, of course.  The one where Nightman and Manimal stop a Time Traveling Jack though- all class!  The thing about this Film is that it is kind of dry.  They don't play stuff up for scintillation or any of that kind of thing.  It is a pretty route way to do the Story for the most part.  While not a quality comparison, it reminds me a bit of M, as this one shows the effect of the killer on the City itself.  Normal people are no more violent and prone to suspicion.  There are probably too many Characters as a whole too- just saying.  The interesting thing is that people really tried to market the Film as, again, trashy Drive-In Fare.  It's honestly a decent, if nothing special Film.  On the plus side, the need to market the Film incorrectly has passed.  Isn't that right, Severin Films?

Next time, a more trashy affair from a bit later...and further away.  Who wants to visit Blood Island?!?  Stay tuned...