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The Body Snatcher Overview:

The Body Snatcher (1945) was a Black-and-white - Horror Film directed by Robert Wise and produced by Jack J. Gross and Val Lewton.

SYNOPSIS

A 19th-century Edinburgh scientist has been relying upon a scurvy, evil grave-robber to provide him with corpses for his unlawful experiments. But when the supply of fresh cadavers begins to dwindle and the thief begins to taunt the doctor with the knowledge that he holds the power to expose him to the authorities, murder becomes the grisly alternative. Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story. Lewton produced this last pairing of Karloff and Lugosi.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

The Body Snatcher BlogHub Articles:

Silver Screen Standards: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

By Jennifer Garlen on Jun 8, 2023 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silver Screen Standards: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) Many remakes have followed in the wake of the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), the iconic science fiction film adapted from a serialized novel by American sci-fi writer Jack Finney, but the first outing for this terrify... Read full article

Book Review: THE BODY SNATCHER--Cold-Blooded Murder, Robert Louis Stevenson, And The Making Of A Horror Film Classic

By Dan Day, Jr. on Apr 14, 2021 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

Of all the movie thrillers Val Lewton produced for RKO in the 1940s, THE BODY SNATCHER, based on a story by Robert Louis Stevenson, is by far my favorite. It contains what I feel is one of Boris Karloff's greatest screen performances, along with a beautifully written script and atmospheric direction... Read full article

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, Don Siegel)

By Andrew Wickliffe on May 6, 2019 From The Stop Button

The longest continuous stretch of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about fifteen minutes (the film runs eighty). Small California city doctor Kevin McCarthy and his long-lost lady friend Dana Wynter have just spent the night holed up in his office, hiding from their neighbors, who have all been rep... Read full article

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, Don Siegel)

By Andrew Wickliffe on May 6, 2019 From The Stop Button

The longest continuous stretch of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about fifteen minutes (the film runs eighty). Small California city doctor Kevin McCarthy and his long-lost lady friend Dana Wynter have just spent the night holed up in his office, hiding from their neighbors, who have all been rep... Read full article

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956, Don Siegel)

on May 6, 2019 From The Stop Button

The longest continuous stretch of Invasion of the Body Snatchers is about fifteen minutes (the film runs eighty). Small California city doctor Kevin McCarthy and his long-lost lady friend Dana Wynter have just spent the night holed up in his office, hiding from their neighbors, who have all been rep... Read full article

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The Body Snatcher Quotes:

Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane: Gray, I must be rid of you. You've become a cancer, a malignant evil cancer rotting my mind.
Cabman John Gray: You've made a disease of me, eh, Toddy?
Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane: What is Gray to me? He's a man from whom I buy what I need when I need it. The rest is forgotten.
Meg Camden: You may deny him, Toddy, but you'll not rid yourself of him by saying the devil's dead.
Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane: If you've any regard for your neck, you'll leave now and stay away from my house, from my school, and from me.
Cabman John Gray: Well, I've no wish for a rope cravat. I never like the small of hemp. So I'll bid you good night, Dr McFarlane.
Cabman John Gray: You've no need to be anxious, Meg. MacFarlane has been drunk and away before. He'll be beck in good time. Meanwhile, you have me to keep you company.
Meg Camden: I call that no good fortune.
Cabman John Gray: [laughs] There was a time, lass, a time when I used to bring the dashing young doctor to your door, but you weren't so uncommon cold to your old friend Gray.
Cabman John Gray: I am a small man, a humble man. Being poor I have had to do much that I did not want to do. But so long as the great Dr McFarlane comes to my whistle, that long am I a man. If I have not that then I have nothing. Then I am only a cabman and a grave robber. You'll never get rid of me, Toddy.
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The Body Snatcher Facts
The 'exterior' scenes were filmed on sets constructed for RKO's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
This film featured the 8th and last on-screen teaming of Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. Filming took place October 25-November 17 1944, delaying the completion of Karloff's "Isle of the Dead".
Although based on a fictional short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the author came up with the idea from actual events occurring in 19th century England and Scotland, particularly those of grave robbers Burke and Hare.
The stock footage that opens the film does not actually depict Edinburgh, Scotland.
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