The exploits of notorious Edinburgh bodysnatchers Burke and Hare are always going to be macabre enough to justify the horror label but those looking for grisly shocks might find this film disappointing. Nevertheless it's a good film which brings some humour and romance to its grim tale, helped by a splendid cast with Donald Pleasence outstanding as Hare.
Peter Cushing plays Dr Cox a skilled and generally benevolent anatomist who becomes frustrated at the short supply of corpses in 1928 to further his work. His willingness to deal with low life "resurrection men" alerts two unscrupulous criminals Burke and Hare who provide him with very fresh "meat" with no questions asked. While this is going on , a young student Jackson ( John Cairney ) begins a doomed affair with prostitute Mary which eventually brings matters to a head.
June Laverick ( as Martha Knox )
Sex : No, she's virginal
Death : Survives
This was June's only horror role. She was a lightweight actress from Redcar best known as Dickie Henderson's screen wife on his TV show. She retitred from acting at the end of the sixties and disappeared from public view. She is now 85.
Billie Whitelaw ( as Mary Patterson )
Sex : Mary seduces Jackson and becomes his girlfriend. She is probably raped by Hare before being murdered.
Death: Throttled by Hare
Billie ( her real name ) was born in Coventry in 1932. From bit parts in the early fifties, she worked her way up to become one of Britain's most popular actresses in the sixties who worked on stage and TV as well as film. On stage, she became strongly associated with the playwright Samuel Becket; some of his female characters were written with her in mind. She made the transition to character parts with a good role in The Omen and her last appearance was in Hot Fuzz in 2007. She moved into a nursing home and died in 2014 aged 82,
June Powell ( as Maggie )
Sex : Maggie is a prostitute, usually seen in a low-cut blouse
Death : Survives
This was the second and final film for June who was more of a performer in musicals. She is now 86.
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