Movie Review: The Body Snatcher (1945)
Synopsis: Medical student Donald Fettes is thrilled when the prominent Dr. Wolfe MacFarlane makes him his assistant. He becomes less thrilled when MacFarlane introduces him to the dark side of the profession, namely the acquisition of medical school cadavers from the local graverobber, John Gray. When a delicate surgery requires a practice body, Gray once again delivers, this time by murder. However, when MacFarlane attempts to end the business arrangement afterwards, Gray proves he isn't so easy to get rid of.
Who's in it? The movie stars Boris Karloff, Henry Daniell, Russell Wade, Edith Atwater and Bela Lugosi.
Review: I had heard of The Body Snatcher but never could seem to find time to watch it, despite it featuring two of my favorite 1940s stars in Karloff and Lugosi. I finally corrected that this morning and the movie more than lived up to my expectations.
I think I can reasonably say this movie features Karloff in one of his best roles. John Gray is an intriguing character, cold and heartless when it comes to his illegal business but still showing glimpses of warmth when it comes to the local children. I though the fact he had a day job as a carriage driver was especially interesting because it showed he could fit in with normal society despite his dark secret.
Adding to the intrigue was the way the movie hinted of a shared past for Gray and Dr. MacFarlane (Daniell). It was clear the two men went way back, and Gray knew something about the doctor that made him fearful of betraying the graverobber. The fact MacFarlane was so reluctant to perform a surgery on the paralyzed Georgina Marsh (Sharyn Moffett) seemed to be related. And when the movie finally reveals some of that past, it made me wonder if the surgery was as successful as he thought and if he would eventually revert back to some of his old ways.
The overall morbid tone of the movie helps with the plot as well, especially with the way the movie makes sure some of the corpses aren't just nameless props. Seeing a grieving mother, for example, or being briefly introduced to a young woman who was later murdered made it so much more macabre, even as MacFarlane was able to demonstrate the need for the bodies and even his biggest success was muted a bit by the price that was paid.
Another thing I found interesting about this film was MacFarlane's secret marriage to his maid, Meg (Atwater). It raised so many questions, including why he was keeping the marriage a secret when they clearly loved each other. I wondered if she would end up being a strength or liability for him as a result of that.
My biggest complaint about the movie is the very limited role Lugosi is given. His character, Joseph, has very few lines and not much screen time. It was a bit more than a cameo but not much more than a background character performance. In other words, they gave him just enough of a role to justify advertising him on the poster but not much else when, a few years earlier, he probably would have had one of the lead roles.
Final Opinion: This is an entertainingly creepy film with a dark plot and a great performance from Karloff. It's worth taking the time to watch it.
My Grade: A
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Here are some reviews of other movies with Boris Karloff and/or Bela Lugosi:
Movie Review: Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Movie Review: Black Friday (1940)
Movie Review: Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff (1949)
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