Movie spotlight
Doctor Crippen
The popular trapeze artist Cora is married to the respected doctor Frank Crippen. After a party at the Crippens' house, Cora suddenly disappears. Apparently, she traveled to Brazil alone overnight. However, a friend of the couple is skeptical and calls the police. While excavating the garden, Inspector Düwell makes a gruesome discovery: body parts. Meanwhile, the prime suspect, Dr. Crippen, has already gone into hiding...
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Plot Summary
This British film dramatizes the notorious case of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Belle Elmore, in 1910. The narrative follows Crippen's life with his wife, his affair with his secretary, Ethel Le Neve, and the subsequent investigation and trial that led to his execution. It explores the escalating tensions within the Crippen household and the events that precipitated the crime and its discovery.
Critical Reception
While specific critical reviews from 1942 are scarce, the film is generally regarded as a faithful and somber depiction of a sensational historical case. It was noted for its atmospheric portrayal of the Edwardian era and its focus on the psychological aspects of the crime.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its atmospheric recreation of the period.
Seen as a straightforward, if somewhat grim, retelling of a famous murder case.
The performances are generally considered competent for the era.
Google audience: Audience reception information for this older film is not readily available.
Fun Fact
The film was made only 32 years after the actual events, making it one of the earlier dramatizations of the Crippen case.
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