Hawley Harvey Crippen (September 11, 1862 – November 23, 1910), usually known as Dr. Crippen, was an American homeopath, ear and eye specialist and medicine dispenser. He was hanged in Pentonville Prison for the murder of his wife Cora Henrietta Crippen, and was the first suspect to be captured with the aid of wireless telegraphy.

In 2007, DNA evidence questioned the identification of the body, shown to the jury, that was supposed to be Crippen's wife. It was suggested that the remains discovered in his cellar were, in fact, those of a male person. These conclusions are disputed.

Early life and career

Crippen was born in Coldwater, Michigan, to Andresse Skinner (died 1909) and Myron Augustus Crippen (1827–1910), a merchant. Crippen studied first at the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical School and graduated from the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College in 1884. Crippen's first wife, Charlotte, died of a stroke in 1892, and Crippen entrusted his parents, living in California, with the care of his two-year-old son, Hawley Otto.

Doctor Crippen or Doctor Crippen on Board (German:Dr. Crippen an Bord) is a 1942 German crime film directed by Erich Engels and starring Rudolf Fernau, René Deltgen and Anja Elkoff.

Cast

Dr. Crippen is a 1962 British biographical film directed by Robert Lynn, about the real-life Edwardian doctor Hawley Harvey Crippen who was hanged in 1910 for the murder of his wife. The film starred Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne and Samantha Eggar. The cinematography was provided by Nicolas Roeg.

Plot

The film ostensibly covers Crippen’s trial but the story is fleshed out with flashbacks to the doctor’s relationship with his coarse, overbearing wife and his affair with a young mistress.

Cast

Critical reception

Bosley Crowther in The New York Times wrote, "well, one must give good scores to Mr. Pleasence, Miss Browne, Miss Eggar and the rest of the cast for giving a sense of solemnity and suffocation to this stiff tale...the mystery, the action and the pathos are all too academic and thin—too milky and uneventful — except for those who are real Crippen fans" ; while Britmovie noted a "sincere historical reconstruction about the infamous Edwardian murderer blending courtroom and melodrama. The direction from tv helmer Robert Lynn is satisfactory and is brightly captured in atmospheric black-and-white by cinematographer Nicolas Roeg."