JACK THE RIPPER
The Murders and the Movies
by Denis Meikle

REVIEW IN DEPTH

text
Denis Meikle's name is familar with Hammer fans for one, with his acclaimed book on the subject - A History of Horrors. As such, expectations are high going in to read the manuscript for the first time. The result is fair, balanced, well-written and intriguing.

Divided into six main chapters (bar appendicies etc), Meikle introduces us firstly to the historical facts surrounding the spate of killings in London in 1888. A brief, and thought-out appraisal of possible victims, and the assorted theories behind which were actually performed by the Ripper himself, before launching into the text proper. During the rest of the book, he switches between reference to the film and the theories, and facts behind the murders and the murderers identies.

The result is something more balanced than the average Ripper book. Whilst only allowing himself to refute some theories, he resists putting forward an actual theory of his own, something which must have been very tempting to do as the evidence amounted up before the amateur sleuth in writing. Instead, he culturally and socially contextualises the legends as they have been brought up in film, alongside the literary publications on the subject of the times, and the actual proven reality of the 1888 situation - this is in many ways, an examination of how the legend of the Ripper has taken on a life of its own, which is often ignorant of the facts of the case.

Thus one is presented with a book which is in part crime history, whilst at the same time being a film criticism of sorts. The criticism itself tends to be levelled for the most on historical feasability and fact, rather than the work as a film - though this too is included. Whilst lots is to be said on the films, one ends up feeling that Meikle perhaps isn't too fond of many of the films (he has wise words to say on Hitchcock, whilst Hammer's latter day flirtations are somewhat mocking - still, he seems to have loathed From Hell too).

Meikle's prose is intelligently written, articulating a mass of thoughts and postulations on film and legend, whilst retaining a familiar feel to standard film-related books. A pleasant turn of phrase with an almost documentary use of aliteration in places. He resists getting lofty in his approach as some writers tend to do, letting his film theory background slip only the once with a reference to mise-en-scene (a rather general film theorist term, and something which most people will no doubt, be unfamiliar).

In actual fact Meikle's book is highly enjoyable, and readable, with his appraisal of theories about the Ripper in the films highly informative, and constuctive. There is little space wasted with ambling thoughts, though after a hundred pages or so, it is easy to grow a little weary and regard this as somethin akin to an over-grown essay. And yet, the persistance displays a history of the cinema itself and the motivations, and reasons for the films over time. There is even space for the many televisual offerings which have shamelessly dealt with the Ripper legend - often it appears, as little more than a plot device.

The book establishes itself as the definitive appraisal of all films Jack the Ripper related. Use of interviews, photographs, and lengthy pasages on the history of the Ripper make for an interesting and pleasing cross-media publication. Coverage does not limit itself to the films either - including references to the books (such as The Lodger) on which many of the films are based, and the graphic novel (itself a cross-media) of From Hell.
I suspect all the same that readers will not take up the book so readily as his Hammer tome - relegating it unfairly as a cash-in on a film (From Hell) which has already passed into the realms of DVD by the time of publication.

appendix
Following an "Inquest" chapter, which sums up feelings on the Ripper films, and Ripper history, we are treated to a lengthy appendix filmography. The filmography is by now standard fare on any film book, and occupies 23 pages, detailing main cast and crew credits, as well as distributor and duration for each of the major films featured in the book. Its followed by a brief one page Bibliography, which will at least be of interest to those wishing to read more on the subject.

presentation
As film remains a visual medium, so too does the dependancy on the visual for the film theorist or critic increase. The result in this bulksome load from publishers Reynolds and Hearn is no exception.

The paperback consists of some 240 pages of text, on high-quality paper, with good reproduction of text and illustrative material for the most. The cover itself is effective and attractive, sporting a modified image of Ralph Bates in Dr Jeckyll and Sister Hyde, with menacing shadows and light sepia toning.

The interior is presented with the usual flair of designer Peri Godbold - utilising margins of nearly an inch and a half on each page before the text, for illustative overlaps and captions. The space is welcome, particularly with the 3mm tall print which the text is displayed in. Pleasantly broken up into a number of chapters and sub-divisions, with quotes from the assorted films indented throughout. Illustrations are in black and white and of various sizes, including a small number of screen captures. Reproduction of these images does vary slightly, with some betraying a colour source material in over-dark reproductions. The choice of monochrome does lend to the Victorian villany and mystery, as well as a sense of nostalgia which comes with an hundred year history of the films. Perhaps unfortunately, there are no illustrations of the actual crime scenes themselves etc, despite reference to them, although a number of contemporary newspaper cartoons are included.

The illustrations themselves do not interfere with the text, rather enhancing it. One suspects in part, they are needed to attract a bookshop browser, but are not in themselves reason to purchase the book.

SUMMARY
An excellent book - rather weighty but fairly priced. A superb critical appraisal of one of the most intriguing series of crimes ever, and their literary and visual representation.

RJES

Jack the Ripper
by Denis Meikle
is published by Reynolds & Hearn Ltd,
240 pages
paperback
ISBN 1-903111-32-3
First Published in UK June 2002

all original text and graphics are © Avalard Productions / Kult UK 2002
review text is copyright to the individual authors
some of this material may appear on other Avalard sites. nothing is to be reused without express written permission
Images from films, tv shows etc are used in the spirit of publicity, and remain copyright of their respective creators/copyright owners.