The Body Snatcher (1945 film)

The Body Snatcher
Theatrical release poster by William Rose
Directed byRobert Wise
Screenplay byPhilip MacDonald
Val Lewton (credited as Carlos Keith)
Based on"The Body Snatcher"
1884 short story
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Produced byVal Lewton
StarringBoris Karloff
Bela Lugosi
Henry Daniell
Edith Atwater
Russell Wade
CinematographyRobert De Grasse
Edited byJ.R. Whittredge
Music byRoy Webb
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • May 25, 1945 (1945-05-25)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Body Snatcher is a 1945 American horror film directed by Robert Wise, based on the 1884 short story of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. Philip MacDonald adapted the story for the screen, and producer Val Lewton, credited as "Carlos Keith", modified MacDonald's screenplay. The film stars Boris Karloff as John Gray, a cab driver who moonlights as a grave robber, and later murderer, to illegally supply Dr. MacFarlane (played by Henry Daniell) with cadavers for his classes, and makes mention of Burke, Hare, and Dr. Knox, in reference to the West Port murders of 1828. Alongside Karloff and Daniell, the film's cast includes Russell Wade, Edith Atwater, and Bela Lugosi. It was the last film in which both Karloff and Lugosi appeared.