The Flesh and the Fiends
In 1828 Scotland, Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Knox does medical research on cadavers he buys from murderers Burke and Hare, without questioning the unethical procurement methods.
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Released
- 1960
- Country
- United Kingdom
Details
Release year: 1960
Storyline
In 1828 Scotland, Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Knox does medical research on cadavers he buys from murderers Burke and Hare, without questioning the unethical procurement methods.
Top credits
Peter Cushing — Dr. Robert Knox
June Laverick — Martha Knox
Donald Pleasence — William Hare
George Rose — William Burke
Did you know
• This film is an adaptation of the story of real-life killers William Burke and William Hare who, around 1827 in Edinburgh, Scotland, did provide more than a dozen "fresh" corpses to the anatomist Dr. Knox.
• The murders raised public awareness of the need for bodies for medical research and contributed to the passing of the Anatomy Act 1832.
• Burke was hanged and his corpse was dissected and his skeleton displayed at the Anatomical Museum of Edinburgh Medical School where, as at 2020, it remains.
User reviews
Possibly Peter Cushing's finest performance on film
Funny and Fiendish
Macabre story of coffins and corpses...this is great stuff!
Technical specs
- Sound mix
- Mono
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
- Color
- Black and White
