The Body Snatcher (1945) ***1/2

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1884 short story of the same name, Robert Wise's The Body Snatcher (1945) is a beautifully noir-like thriller full of pathos, atmosphere, and features a fantastic, tragic finale. This was one of nine horror features that Val Lewton produced at RKO and it's one of the best. Wise (with the aid of cinematographer Robert De Grasse) packed TBS with a wonderful creepiness, plenty of shadows, and indelible imagery.

Boris Karloff, deliciously sinister and smirking, gives one of his very best, multifaceted performances as the titular character, John Gray (based on the Burke and Hare murders). Graverobber Gray is the former friend and manipulative supplier of Dr. Wolfe 'Toddy' MacFarlane (Henry Daniell). Bela Lugosi has a small, but memorable role. In particular, the final scene that he and Karloff share is one of the film's best moments. This was to be the last film that Lugosi and Karloff made together. 

You can find my Robert Wise Feature Films Ranked list here.

You can find my Val Lewton RKO Feature Films Ranked list here.