The real-life story of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged in London in 1910 for poisoning his wife so he could be with his young lover. But was he truly guilty of murder?The real-life story of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged in London in 1910 for poisoning his wife so he could be with his young lover. But was he truly guilty of murder?The real-life story of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was hanged in London in 1910 for poisoning his wife so he could be with his young lover. But was he truly guilty of murder?
- R.D. Muir
- (as Sir Donald Wolfit)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough Dr. Crippen was hanged in 1910, his lover Ethel Le Neve was still alive when this film was released. (She died in 1967.)
- Quotes
Dr. Crippen: Belle, I'm going to have to ask you to get rid of those young men.
Belle Elmore: Oh, you are, are you? Well, we have to take in lodgers. I'm not using my money to run this house for you.
Dr. Crippen: I'm not criticizing them or you, it's just that this isn't a home anymore.
Belle Elmore: I didn't know it ever was a home.
Dr. Crippen: You were happy here when we first moved in.
Belle Elmore: The house is alright.
Dr. Crippen: I realize I'm not everything you could wish for in a husband, but our life together isn't all that bad.
Belle Elmore: Maybe not for you.
Dr. Crippen: You have everything you need. I doubt if any of your... friends have more jewelry or clothes.
Belle Elmore: That's not all a woman needs.
Dr. Crippen: We've talked about that so many times.
Belle Elmore: That's right, and all we ever do is talk about it.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Gangsters: Incident Three (1976)
It's a simple but impressive work with three very sharp characterizations of the principals of one of Great Britain's most notorious murder cases/love triangle.
Donald Pleasance who was playing mostly villainous roles back in the day is the ill-fated Hawley Crippen, MD., one of London's most prominent physicians in Edwardian England. His success in his profession is not matched with a successful marriage.
But he's got certain joys on the side with young Ethel LeNeve, a typist in his office played by Samantha Eggar. He can hardly believe that this pretty young thing has fallen for a late forty something man who is hardly any kind romantic ideal.
But the performance that really riveted me back in the day was that of Coral Browne as Mrs. Crippen. I could not believe what an evil witch this woman was. You have to wonder what he saw in her back in the day to marry her. It was my impression of Browne that really made me remember the film, as it turns out exactly as I remember it. What a horrible human being Mrs. Crippen was.
The movie opens with the trial of Pleasence and Eggar with flashbacks to the events which include Browne's behavior, the affair of the two lovers and their escape to America which did not quite work out.
The questions about the Crippen case revolve around was her death deliberate or an accidental poisoning? Pleasence himself makes a confession of sorts, but the case is debated to this day by criminologists professional and amateur.
Pleasence and Eggar are fine in their roles and I consider this film to be one of Donald Pleasence's best performances. But Coral Browne got her best part in her career. You will remember her from this film most of all.
- bkoganbing
- Jan 28, 2020
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Doctor Crippen
- Filming locations
- Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, Old Bailey, London, England, UK(building exterior in opening credits)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 38 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1