Jack The Ripper (1958/1959)
B&W / C. – 84m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 – Widescreen.
Starring: Lee Patterson, Eddie Byrne, Betty McDowall, Ewen Solon and John Le Mesurier.
Jack The Ripper murders five prostitutes and is chased by Scotland Yard. For those who don’t know Jack The Ripper was a real-life serial killer in London, England in the year 1888. His crimes spanned from August to November of that year. This film calls the prostitutes, “Concert Hall Singers & Dancers,” due to the censorship of the day in which it was made. It also leaves off the Anti-Semitic aspect of the case. While this is far from a perfect Ripper film (changing the names of the prostitutes and the order in which they are killed, etc.), it does have atmosphere, a key element of telling the story of Jack The Ripper. The final scene has a shot in color. The film in European release as a different score than the USA release. The composers of the US score teamed with entertainer Steve Allen, who wrote a novelty song titled: “Jack The Ripper” for sale as a single 45 RPM record. Nino Temp performed the song for RCA Records. The Blu–ray had two releases. A limited edition was the first one: it came with three cuts of the film; two on Blu–ray and one on DVD and a collector’s slipcover. The second release was a standard Blu–ray with two cuts of the film; no slipcover and no third cut on DVD. No pun is intended in using the word, “cuts,” for this movie.
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy.
Jack The Ripper (1976)
C – 92m (Full Cut) / 87m (US Cut) / 82m (Heavily Edited Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.75:1 – Widescreen
Starring: Klaus Kinski and Josephine Chaplin
A serial killer who’s mother was a prostitute pays his mother back for his abuse towards him by killing prostitutes. A sick and twisted version of the tale of Jack The Ripper tries to make the viewer feel a sense of empathy for the killer. All it succeeded in doing is repulsing this reviewer.
Rated: [R]
Available on DVD & Digital Copy
Jack The Ripper (1988)
C. – 182m. (Broadcast) / 188m. (DVD – USA)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Fullscreen (Broadcast) / 1.78:1 – Widescreen (Intended / DVD)
Starring: Sir Michael Caine, Armand Assante, Ray McAnally, Lewis Collins, Susan George, Jane Seymour and Harry Andrews.
An angry, alcoholic Scotland Yard Inspector hunts Jack The Ripper and the trail leads all the way up to the Queen of England. A made for TV version of the Jack The Ripper story benefits from period details and fine performances. Though one could argue that Sir Michael Caine’s performance is one-noted as his character is mad all the time, but let us not split hairs. This reviewer’s opinion is that the identity of the killer should have been left a mystery. Had that been the case, the star rating would have been higher for this reviewer. However it is well enough as is.
Incidentally it is reported that four different endings were shot for this film in order to throw off the actors, crew and press about who the real murderer was in the film. This is also the 2nd Victorian England film that Sir Michael Caine made in 1988. The other was the theatrical film: Without A Clue (1988), with Sir Ben Kingsley. Viewers will notice that the extended cut is on DVD.
Available on DVD through The Warner Archive Collection & Digital Copy.