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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