The Body Snatcher
1945 · Movie · NR · 78 min · ★ 7.0 · 80% critics
In 1831 Edinburgh, a respected doctor’s work is threatened by a shortage of bodies for medical study, pushing him into dealings with a grave robber who knows too much about his past. As the arrangement deepens, guilt, obsession, and moral compromise tighten their grip, turning a grim necessity into something far more dangerous.
Based on The Body Snatcher
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Details
- Years
- 1945
- Release date
- 1945-05-25
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 78 min
- Critic score
- 80/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.0/10 (202 votes)
About
If you enjoy moody, old-school Gothic horror about guilt and bad bargains, this should land, especially if you like the vibe of The Curse of the Cat People; Not for you if grave-robbing themes and a slow burn put you off.
Pros: eerie Gothic mood; strong villain performance; tense moral dilemma | Cons: slow, talky stretches; sentimental subplot; limited outright scares
Themes
- blackmail
- edinburgh, scotland
- murder
- black and white
- medical profession
- grave robber
- cadaver
- dissection
- medical research
- medical student
- body snatching
- burking
- +4 more
Cast & crew
Boris Karloff
as John Gray
Bela Lugosi
as Joseph
Henry Daniell
as Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane
Edith Atwater
as Meg Camden
Russell Wade
as Donald Fettes
Rita Corday
as Mrs. Marsh
Sharyn Moffett
as Georgina Marsh
Donna Lee
as Street Singer
Ted Billings
as Townsman (uncredited)
Bobby Burns
as Mourner (uncredited)
Directed by Robert Wise