comic rippers | eurotrash and anglo-decadence | jack the ripper fantastique | investigation rippers | jack the ripper meets sherlock holmes | jack the ripper meets jekyll and hyde | lodger motif | lulu motif | period atmosphere | political rippers | ripper cameos | rippers in the wax museum
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This term is being applied to productions that have comic elements and incorporate Jack the Ripper. In many of these, the Ripper is used to humorous effect.
in alphabetical order:
amazon women on the moon (1987) | champagnegalopp (1975) | deadly advice (1993) | dr. jekyll and sister hyde (1971) | the ripper (1974) | the ruling class (1972) | waxwork ii: lost in time (1992) | the willies (1991)
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Given the nature of the Ripper case, it’s almost surprising that filmmakers waited till the 1970s before beginning to explore the violent and sexual nature of these (and similar) crimes.
Eurotrash filmmakers seem to prefer exploiting the Ripper’s tradename in graphically violent (and/or sexually explicit) Faux Ripper films. (I have also slipped a Japanese pinku eiga film into this category because of its similarities to Eurotrash). English and American filmmakers who apply graphic violence and explicit sexuality, however, generally prefer using some variation of the actual Ripper.
eurotrash—in alphabetical order:
assault! jack the ripper (1976) | blade of the ripper (1970) | champagnegalopp (1975) | jack the mangler of london (1971) | jack the ripper (1976) | lulu (1980) | new york ripper (1981) | ripper of notre dame (1981)
anglo decadence—in alphabetical order:
edge of sanity (1989) | fear city (1984) | hands of the ripper (1971) | jill the ripper (2000) | lulu (1978) | the ripper (1985) | ripper—letter from hell | ripper man (1996)
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This term is being applied to Ripper productions which use elements of the “fantastic,” generally supernatural or science fiction elements.
in alphabetical order
amazon women on the moon (1987) | comes the inquisitor (1995) | deadly advice (1993) | dr. jekyll and sister hyde (1971) | edge of sanity (1989) | from hell (2001) | hands of the ripper (1971) | jack the ripper (1958) | the new exhibit (1963) | the ripper (1974) | the ripper (1985) | terror at london bridge (1985) | time after time (1979) | waxwork ii: lost in time (1992) | a wolf in the fold (1967) | yours truly, jack the ripper (1961)
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This term is being applied to Ripper and related productions that show the investigation of these crimes by the police and others. Some of the “others” include reporters, psychics, accused killers, ordinary citizens, and even Sherlock Holmes himself.
in alphabetical order:
fog (1969) | from hell (2001) | hands of the ripper (1971) | jack the mangler of london (1971) | jack the ripper (1958) | jack the ripper (1959) | jack the ripper (1976) | jack the ripper (1988) | jack’s back (1988) | a knife for the ladies | knife in the darkness (1968) | the lodger (1926) | the lodger (1944) | the man in the attic (1954) | the phantom fiend (1932) | the monster of london city (1964) | murder by decree (1979) | the ripper (1974) | the ripper (1985) | the ripper (1997) | ripper—letter from hell | ripper man (1996) | room to let (1949) | a study in terror (1965) | terror at london bridge (1985) | terror in the wax museum (1973) | time after time (1979) | yours truly, jack the ripper (1961)
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jack the ripper meets sherlock holmes
It seems like such a perfect match that it’s a surprise it has not been done more often on the screen. But there are only 2 films in which Sherlock Holmes meets Jack the Ripper.
Regardless of what certain critics have claimed, incidentally, the “Finger Killer” in the Universal Holmes series really has no relationship with Jack the Ripper, except to the extent that the police mention that his murders are diabolical like the Ripper’s. In that film, however, the Finger Killer’s motive is extortion, and the victims are men. So the Ripper connection is a huge stretch, to say the least.
in alphabetical order:
murder by decree (1979) | a study in terror (1965)
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jack the ripper meets jekyll and hyde
While the Ripper killings were taking place, popular actor Richard Mansfield was starring in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the London stage. The novel had been published only a year earlier. Mansfield’s success in the role led some to suspect him of being Jack the Ripper. He ultimately had to close the play and return to America because of such nonsense.
There has always been an integral relationship between Jack the Ripper and Jekyll and Hyde. In fact, the Ripper’s spree influenced later stage versions of the Stevenson story, and it influenced all film versions. Needless to say, the Jekyll/Hyde influence has similarly played a role in the interpretation of the Ripper case on film.
in alphabetical order:
dr. jekyll and sister hyde (1971) | edge of sanity (1989) | jack the ripper (1988)
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Marie Belloc-Lowndes published the classic Ripper novel, The Lodger, in 1910. In it, a strange man moves into a lodging house, and comes under his landlady’s suspicion as being the perpetrator of a series of killings in which the victims are all female alcoholics. Though the killer is called “The Avenger,” Lowndes explicitly modeled him after Jack the Ripper.
Lodger Themes: Several elements of this story have become hugely influential on subsequent Ripper stories: the notion of the Ripper as some sort of Mad Avenger, and the notion of the Ripper as either a Religious Monomaniac on a mission from God or a Social Reformer attempting to point out unlivable social conditions. Both interpretations of the Ripper predate Lowndes’ novel, but Lowndes codified Ripper interpretation and placed these interpretations into the realm of fiction, where they could be infinitely recycled.
productions based on the lodger—in alphabetical order:
the lodger (1926) | the lodger (1944) | the phantom fiend (1932) | the man in the attic (1954) | room to let (1949)
productions influenced by lodger themes—in alphabetical order:
comes the inquisitor (1995) | edge of sanity (1989) | fear city (1984) | jack the mangler of london (1971) | jack the ripper (1959) | jack the ripper (1976) | a knife for the ladies (1974) | knife in the darkness (1968) | the monster of london city (1964) | night ripper (1986) | the ripper (1997) | ripper of notre dame (1981) | a study in terror (1965)
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There are more straight adaptations of the Lulu story than there are of The Lodger, yet the only version most people know about is the 1929 silent film starring Louise Brooks and directed by G.W. Pabst.
German playwright Frank Wedekind published Erdgeist (Earth Spirit, the first installment of the Lulu story) in 1895. Die Büchse der Pandora (Pandora’s Box) followed in the early years of the 20th century. Together, they tell the story of an insatiable woman whose passions ultimately drive her into prostitution in the streets of London… and death at the hands of Jack the Ripper.
in alphabetical order:
erdgeist (1923) | lulu (1917) | lulu (1962) | lulu (1978) | lulu (1980) | lulu de noche (1985) | pandora’s box (1929)
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This term is being applied to productions that take great pains to create the atmosphere of late 19th century or turn-of-the-century London.
It might seem like a no-brainer that Ripper productions would involve period atmosphere. However, the Ripper has become such a mythic icon that he can be moved out of his period with ease… as many productions listed on this page demonstrate.
in alphabetical order:
dr. jekyll and sister hyde (1971) | from hell (2001) | hands of the ripper (1971) | jack the ripper (1959) | jack the ripper (1988) | the lodger (1944) | the man in the attic (1954) | murder by decree (1979) | the ripper (1997) | room to let (1949) | a study in terror (1965) | terror in the wax museum (1973)
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The actual Rpper case had tremendous political implications in its time. During the spree, London was in an uproar, with the ever-present threat of riots and anarchy being unleashed. The term “political rippers” is therefore being applied to productions which present the socio-political conditions of 1888 London, and/or deal with political conspiracy in relation to the Ripper case.
in alphabetical order:
from hell (2001) | jack the ripper (1959) | jack the ripper (1988) | murder by decree (1979) | the ripper (1997) | a study in terror (1965)
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This term is being applied to productions in which Jack the Ripper makes only brief appearances.
in alphabetical order:
champagnegalopp (1975) | deadly advice (1993) | hands of the ripper (1971) | lulu (1962) | lulu (1978) | lulu (1980) | pandora’s box (1929) | the phantom fiend (1932) | waxwork ii: lost in time (1992) | waxworks (1924)
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Jack the Ripper first appeared in wax in Madame Tussaud’s famous Chamber of Horrors in London. Since then, one popular theme in Ripper fiction is that of a Ripper waxwork come to life. This term applies to those productions.
in alphabetical order:
deadly advice (1993) | the new exhibit (1963) | terror in the wax museum (1973) | waxwork ii: lost in time (1992) | waxworks (1924)
