Hands of the Ripper (Hammer 1971, Eric Porter, Angharad Rees)

Hammer horror starring Angharad Rees as Anna, the daughter of Jack the Ripper, who as a young child witnessed the murder of her mother by her father. Now a highly disturbed young woman, every time she is kissed she feels compelled to murder but has no recollection of the events afterwards.

Sympathetic psychiatrist John Pritchard (Eric Porter), influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud, is aware of her behaviour and takes her in, believing that by analysing her past he can find out why people kill and perhaps prevent the act of murder in society. However, he is unable to prevent a string of gory killings including a maid (Marjie Lawrence) and a phoney medium (Dora Bryan). Ultimately she turns on her benefactor, stabbing him in the side, but he manages to pursue her to the whispering gallery at St Paul’s Cathedral where she finally meets her own death.

production details
UK / Hammer / 85 minutes / 1971

Director: Peter Sasdy
Writers: Edward Spencer Shew, L.W. Davidson,

cast
Eric Porter as Dr. John Pritchard
Angharad Rees as Anna
Dora Bryan as Mrs. Golding
Norman Bird as Police Inspector
Jane Merrow as Laura
Marjie Lawrence as Dolly
Keith Bell as Michael Pritchard
Derek Godfrey as Dysart
Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs. Bryant
Barry Lowe as Mr. Wilson
Lynda Baron as Long Liz
Margaret Rawlings as Madame Bullard
Elizabeth MacLennan as Mrs. Wilson
A.J. Brown as Rev Anderson
April Wilding as Catherine
Anne Clune as 1st Cell Whore