Wednesday, March 6, 2019

HANDS OF THE RIPPER: HEREDITARY ISSUES



In writing about COUNTESS DRACULA I talked about how Hammer films was one of the mainstays of horror during the sixties while growing up. While its impact lessened in the seventies it didn’t stop them from still trying to release horror films to a fan base eager to see what was coming. A change over in leadership did them more damage than good but they still brought out films that the public was going to, just not in the numbers they once were. That’s sad because the product they were releasing was actually quite good.

HANDS OF THE RIPPER is one of those movies. It could have languished on the shelf with no one recalling it or taking time to view it ever again but thanks to Synapse Films the movie was brought out on blu-ray and not only looks great but includes several extras that fans will enjoy. The care with which Synapse has taken to make sure the film exists for fans should be applauded and makes one wish they were handling all Hammer titles.

HANDS OF THE RIPPER opens with Jack the Ripper on the run, avoiding a frenzied groups of street people armed with torches by ducking into his home. There his wife realizes that he is indeed the Ripper and he to silence her she becomes his next victim, all in view of his young daughter sitting in her bed.

Fifteen years pass and the girl has grown, now being looked after by Mrs. Golding (Dora Bryan), a fake medium bilking people of their money by pretending to talk to their deceased loved ones when in actuality it’s the young girl Anna (Angharad Rees) hiding nearby. At the latest séance she is conducting are two prominent citizens, Dr. Pritchard (Eric Porter) along with his son and politician Dysart (Derek Godfrey). Leaving afterwards Pritchard comments to his son that the woman is a charlatan, sets him off in a cab and waits for his own.

In the house we find that Mrs. Golding uses Anna for more than just voices when she offers the girl to a well paying Dysart. When he shows her a necklace he’s brought the sparkles hit the light just right and send the girl into a trance. When Mrs. Golding comes in to help the upset Dysart, Anna kills her and Dysart goes running. Pritchard sees him leave the house, enters and finds the young girl near catatonic and Golding impaled to the door.

Taking her under his wing Pritchard decides to try and cure the girl using the new methodology of psychoanalysis brought about by someone called Freud. Taking her into his home he sets her up in her own room as his son and his blind fiancé arrive. She is to stay in the home as well.

As Anna prepares bathe and dress to meet the doctor, his son and fiancé at the restaurant the handmaid assisting her goes to put on a necklace left for her to wear. The baubles sparkle, she enters her trance like state and kills the woman. When Pritchard arrives home to find what has happened he covers up the murder, still intent on helping the girl.

The movie progresses like this, with the bloodline of Jack the Ripper stuck firmly in the girl’s mind due to what she witnessed as a child. Pritchard continues to attempt to help her while the police begin looking for the killer on the loose. It all ends with a satisfying finish that brings everyone into the fold.

What surprised me most about the film is something I noticed while watching COUNTESS DRACULA. The film stands on its own, not as a horror film but as a solid drama with undertones of horror. No one would guess that from the ad campaign the film employed but the production values on this film rank up there with any major studio at the time. It’s a period piece that rivals many larger budgeted films. The cinematography is wonderful here, the acting well done by every single player on screen and the direction well handled.  Except for the fact that blood is spilled non-horror fans would find this an enjoyable film as well.

As I said Synapse has done a wonderful job with this. Not only does the film look amazing it includes those extras I mentioned. Those include “The Devil’s Bloody Plaything: Possessed by Hands of the Ripper” a featurette on the film, “Slaughter of Innocence: The Evolution of Hammer Gore” a motion still gallery showing the progression of the gore found in Hammer films from their earlier items through their later ones, the U.S. Television introduction to the film, the original theatrical trailer and TV spots, “Hands of the Ripper” motion still gallery and an isolated music and effects audio track. That this many extras could be found speaks well of Synapse. They strive to offer not just the best version of the film to be found but bonuses that are worth watching as well.

As I said before I wish Synapse was handling more of these classic Hammer films. With so many still unavailable let’s hope that it happens.


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