Dr. Crippen (1962 film)

Dr. Crippen
Directed by	Robert Lynn
Produced by	John Clein
Written by	Leigh Vance
Starring	Donald Pleasence Coral Browne Samantha Eggar
Music by	Ken Jones
Cinematography	Nicolas Roeg
Edited by	Lee Doig
Production company	Torchlight Productions
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release dates	1962
Running time	98 mins
Country	United Kingdom

Dr. Crippen is a 1962 British biographical film directed by Robert Lynn, about the real-life Edwardian doctor Hawley Harvey Crippen who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his wife. The film starred Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne and Samantha Eggar. The cinematography was provided by Nicolas Roeg.

Plot

The film ostensibly covers Crippen’s trial but the story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor’s relationship with his coarse, overbearing wife and his affair with a young mistress.

Cast

• Donald Pleasence as Dr. Crippen
• Coral Browne as Belle Crippen
• Samantha Eggar as Ethel Le Neve
• Donald Wolfit as R.D. Muir
• James Robertson Justice as Captain McKenzie
• John Arnatt as Chief Inspector Dew
• Oliver Johnston as Lord Chief Justice
• Geoffrey Toone as Mr. Tobin
• Edward Underdown as The Prison Governor

Critical reception

Bosley Crowther in The New York Times wrote, "well, one must give good scores to Mr. Pleasence, Miss Browne, Miss Eggar and the rest of the cast for giving a sense of solemnity and suffocation to this stiff tale...the mystery, the action and the pathos are all too academic and thin—too milky and uneventful — except for those who are real Crippen fans" ; while Britmovie noted a "sincere historical reconstruction about the infamous Edwardian murderer blending courtroom and melodrama. The direction from tv helmer Robert Lynn is satisfactory and is brightly captured in atmospheric black-and-white by cinematographer Nicolas Roeg."

External links

• Dr. Crippen at IMDb
• Dr. Crippen at Britmovie