tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post5891746896375892277..comments2024-03-27T07:58:00.899-07:00Comments on Horror Movie A Day: The Body SnatcherBChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06480847497966171794noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5110147752122772426.post-65282120642135557532008-02-01T06:29:00.000-08:002008-02-01T06:29:00.000-08:00Can't say I agree with the "nothing special" comme...Can't say I agree with the "nothing special" comment. For me it was special because of the amazingly wicked performance Karloff gives--his gentleness with the child at the beginning juxtaposed with his viciousness with his victims later, the wonderful scenes where he's taunting "Toddy" about the information he holds over him, and the great shadowed scene where he gets Lugosi drunk and toys with him (like a cat with a mouse) before giving him a good "Burke-ing." One of Karloff's best performances, imo, and I'll stand by that.<BR/><BR/>Incidentally, it's based on a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson which was based on the Burke and Hare killings they talk about a lot in the film. (A famous story, which is why it's been used so much since.) <BR/><BR/>I was in Edinburgh over a decade ago, and found out that in the Edinburgh Medical College's museum, they actually have Burke's body--or parts of it, anyway...apparently folks were so outraged and hateful toward him after his crimes that someone actually tanned some of the criminal's hide and made purses and wallets out of it. No joke.<BR/><BR/>Also, the "faithful dog" story is a well-known Edinburgh legend, and there's even a statue in one of the cemeteries in honor of the dog in question.<BR/><BR/>So don't let Brian scare you off folks! This movie is great! ;)The Vicar of VHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06832137990485130735noreply@blogger.com