London Murder

DR. CRIPPEN-1964-This film is based on the actual murder case of Dr. Hawley Crippen (Donald Pleasence (in a very low key performance) the infamous wife murderer who's trial caused quite a sensation in 1910 London.

Coral Browne (also great) is Belle his shrewish, insulting wife who dreams of a singing career and flirts with other men and says things like "Don't be so damned British!". A policeman describes her as a "healthy looking cow". A young Samantha Eggar is Ethel Le Neve, a young office worker who becomes the doctor's lover. Most of the story is told in flashbacks as Crippen is verbally abused and embarrassed by his (sometimes) drunken spouse who he finds repulsive and is only happy when he is with Ethel. When Belle goes too far with her threats Crippen drugs and murders her, hiding her body in a coal bin.  When he suspects the police are closing in (they aren't) he and Ethel decide to hightail it to America (with Ethel dressed as a boy).  They are caught (in part by Marconi's wireless) and brought to trial. Crippen is found guilty and hung. Ethel was acquitted of being an accessory. In his final moments the doctor's only concerns are for his lover.

This well done, well acted black & white drama was directed by Robert Lynn who also made POSTMAN'S KNOCK with Spike Milligan. Pleasence was in THE GREAT ESCAPE and an episode of TV's THE OUTER LIMITS the same year.

A German production of the story had been made in 1942.

For more about the murder (and it's connection with Marconi) read "Thunderstruck" by Erick Larson.

Thanks for reading!

Holyywood Weirdness

THE LEGEND OF LYLAH CLARE-1968-A once famous director Louis Zarken (Peter Finch) decides to make his first film in 20 years using an unknown actress Elsa Campbell (Kim Novak) to star in a bio-pic of the ill fated Lylah Clare, a legendary actress from the 30's who died under mysterious circumstances. She also happened to be Zarken's wife and died on their honeymoon. Once again Zarken (who says things like "Happiness is a word for idiots. I haven't used it in years") becomes obsessed with his leading lady who sometimes appears to be possessed by the dead actress and talks with a German accent (or is she acting?). Coral Browne has a scene stealing role as a powerful columnist with a leg brace and Ernest Borgnine is great as the uncaring power crazy producer Barry Sheean ("I make movies, not films!"). Michael Murphy is his verbally abused son and Milton Selzer is a harried producer.

It's a weird movie that tries to show the depraved decadent side of Hollywood but does so in a stilted almost laughable style. Also with Gabriele Tinti, Valentina Cortese, Lee Meriwether, Ellen Corby and Dave Willock.

Director Robert Aldrich made this between THE DIRTY DOZEN and THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE. LYLAH also features Robert Cornwaithe, George Kennedy and Dick Miller in unbilled roles.

Thanks for reading!