Dr. Crippen

Date: 1962
Director: Robert Lynn
Production Company: Torchlight Productions

Stars: Donald Pleasence, Coral Browne, Samantha Eggar, Donald Wolfit, James Robertson Justice
Location(s): London

Region(s):

Storyline:

The trial of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen who was hanged in 1910 for murdering his wife so that he could be with his young lover.

 

 

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

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The film is largely concerned with the trial and eventual execution of Dr. Hawley Crippen, opening with a view of the Central Criminal Court, popularly known as The Old Bailey.

Peter returns to the scene to capture a modern sequence of shots.

The long tilt shot moves down the building. Old Bailey in London EC4.

Even without as much pollution and smog these days, Peter noticed more staining of the edifice.

Various aspects of the Central Criminal Court building also appear in 'The Great Defender', 'Three Sundays to Live', 'Ring of Spies', 'The Jokers', 'Appointment with Crime', 'The Naked Edge', 'The Pot Carriers', 'Brothers in Law', 'The Night of the Party', 'Circumstantial Evidence', 'Information Received', 'Hostile Witness' and 'The Long Dark Hall' amongst many other productions.

Peter continues down the frontage.

More of the Central Criminal Court on Old Bailey.

Again by Peter.

The shot ends as Dr. Crippen, accompanied by Ethel Le Neve, arrives to be tried for the murder of his wife, Cora Belle Crippen.

Peter reaches the sculpture above the entrance.

  • 'Now' required

A flashback sees Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen (Donald Pleasence) arriving home to his studio set house at 39 Hilldrop Crescent off Camden Road in Holloway. Margaret Bondfield House now occupies the site of the real building which was destroyed by a wartime bomb in 1942.

  • 'Now' required

A shot over the rooftops where Harry Fawcett leaves his lodgings with Dr. and Mrs. Crippen on Hilldrop Crescent.

Being found guilty, the disgraced Doctor is incarcerated. Wormwood Scrubs on Du Cane Road in Shepherd's Bush W12. More of the prison is seen in 'Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery', 'The Challenge', 'Three Sundays to Live', 'Man Accused', 'Adventures of a Taxi Driver', 'Adventures of a Plumber’s Mate', 'Seven Green Bottles', 'The Italian Job', 'Go to Blazes', 'Jungle Street' and many other productions.

Antony Blair took the best shot possible in the present day as the perimeter wall is now much higher.

  • 'Now' required

The shot moves in on Crippen's cell window.

  • 'Now' required

At 8 o'clock on the morning of Crippen's execution, Ethel Le Neve (Samantha Eggar) looks towards the prison gate from a distance.

  • 'Now' required

A small group of people move forward to read the notice being posted by a Prison Warder.

  • 'Now' required

Knowing that her lover was now dead, Ethel turns and walks away.