“I’m still not saying he isn’t the ripper.” “Then you’re still being asinine.”
It’s 1888 and Scotland Yard’s Inspector O'Neill (Eddie Byrne) is on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. O’Neill is visited by an old friend from America Sam Lowry (Lee Patterson). Sam is a New York City detective. Hearing about the murders Sam is more than willing to help out on the case. While he is in London he becomes attracted to Anne Ford (Betty McDowall). Ann is one of those modern women who intend on working and is not one to depend on a man for their livelihood. Ann’s guardian, Dr. Tranter (John Le Mesurier) is not happy with Ann’s choice of companion.
As the murders continue to plague the city the local rabble rousers are more than willing to shed some blood themselves. They are not shy about accusing anyone and everyone of being the ripper. Mob mentality is only one of the issues that the police have to worry about. The ripper continues to plague the city as Sam and O’Neill investigate. There are quite a few suspects. Everything from a scarred, hunchback mute to various doctors and surgeons. With each murder the city’s populace become more frantic. More willing to take the law into their own hands. And more willing to pin the murders on anyone and everyone.
“Jack the Ripper” was released in 1959 and was directed by Monty Berman and Robert S. Baker. There is an Italian release, a French release and an American release of this British made movie. The American version is quite subdued, as is the British version. The American version adds a few seconds of color at the end and a music score that is a little on the crime-jazz side. A little strange but I let it go. The versions made for the continent have extended murder scenes and of course the nudity.
To some, the British and the American releases may seem a little bland, but the story is still a good one. The movie unfolds, perhaps at times a little slowly, but by the end I was quite happy with how the story was told. It is different than the historic news reports. The Jack in the movie is not selecting prostitutes per se but barroom girls. That may have been a requirement from the sensors. Prostitutes bad, barroom girls good. Much literary license is taken with the story. The names of the murdered women had nothing to do with history. I was OK with that. It made for a good story in itself.
There’s plenty of London fog and cobbled streets to add texture to the story. The addition of an American police officer is unusual but it doesn’t detract from the story. Don’t expect a lot of blood or naked women, unless you’re watching the European release that is.