Review: The Flesh and the Fiends

Set in 19th Century Edinburgh (and based somewhat on historical fact), respectable doctor Peter Cushing relies on grave-robbers to supply him with medical specimens. Enter grotesque and opportunistic Burke (George Rose) and Hare (Donald Pleasence), two such grave-robbers eager to make a buck…soon not even bothering with the grave-robbing aspect to their body-finding gig, if you follow my meaning. Dermot Walsh is Cushing’s concerned colleague, June Laverick his niece, and John Cairney a pupil who is dallying around with hooker Billie Whitelaw.

 

This 1959 John Gilling (“The Gorgon”, “The Reptile”) low-budget version of the Burke and Hare tale is sleazy fun, especially in the slightly more explicit ‘Continental Version’ (restoring a couple of brief tit shots, and a bit more graphic violence from an otherwise fairly tame film). It is not a patch on the previous “The Body Snatcher”, but it is definitely a worthwhile film for fans, with only a few minor reservations. On the plus side, the exteriors are superbly shot by cinematographer Monty Berman (“Murder Will Out”), showing how grotty and seedy the time and place were. Also, there’s a wonderful music score by Stanley Black (“Maniac”, “The Day the Earth Caught Fire”).

 

In terms of casting, Peter Cushing is perfectly cast as the outwardly respectable but arrogant doctor, and treats the film with the utmost seriousness. However, seriously sleazy Donald Pleasence is around to walk off with the picture entirely (He certainly works hard to make you notice him, as usual). He’ll make you want to bathe and scrub yourself furiously afterwards. Rose is no slouch either, looking like a slightly less seedy Sir Les Patterson. Together they make for a wonderfully decadent pair of creepy lowlife bastards. The underrated Billie Whitelaw also registers strongly in support, she’s got a real vitality and charisma to her I think.

 

Scripted by Leon Griffiths (Robert Aldrich’s “The Grissom Gang”) and Gilling, I think the film is a bit too long and overpopulated. I understand why the characters played by June Laverick and Dermot Walsh are there, but I think they’re pretty expendable, taking away precious screen time that could’ve been afforded to Cushing, Whitelaw, and John Cairney, who are much more interesting. As is it feels a touch unfocussed and slow-paced. I also think the film is slightly hampered by a piss-weak ending and annoying moralising. I think a very important character is afforded a little too much kindness by the screenplay at the 11th hour, which I don’t believe they really earned. Still, an interesting and effectively filthy film with several terrific turns.

 

Rating: B-

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