ChristineCB

uh huh. yeah... sure... Of course, that's what I'd expect you to say.

christoph404

Im trying to remember the title of a film whic has Malcolm McDowell as HG Wells travelling through time and battling with Jack The Ripper played by David Warner, it was highly entertaining, was it "Time after Time" or "Somewhere in Time" something like that. I also thought Peter O'Toole's portrayal of JTR was suitably scary,anyone remember the film? The most recent film must be the Johnny Depp effort from a few years ago, I think Johnny Depp is a good actor but Im sorry to say that I thought "From Hell" was utter rubbish! It was more or less a remake of a film made in the seventies with Christopher Plummer (and James Mason?)which I remember seeing and thoroughly enjoying, again my memory is failing me on the title of that,was it "Murder by Decree"? could be wrong on that but it rings a bell. I do remeber seeing a documentary that suggested the real JTR sailed to America to continue his murderous ways, hence his sudden disapearance, I guess the speculation knows no bounds...

Rob Compton

christoph

It was "Time after Time". See

Time After Time (1979)

rgds
Rob

christoph404

Thanks Rob.

NappieB

Yes, it was MURDER BY DECREE - probably the best JTR film ever made. I wish they hadn't used a "Holmes and Watson" approach when making that movie, but the movie is full of important facts and is based on a lot of research from the Barlow and Watt Jack the Ripper investigation (an excellent BBC production.)

"You can observe a lot by watching....." - Yogi Berra

christoph404

Cheers for that, and yes I would agree , it is the best JTR film I have seen, I didn't mind the Holmes and Watson approach, Plummer and Mason seemed like a good combo though I guess that does reduce the authenticity of the story somewhat by mixing it up with fictional characters such as Holmes and Watson, good film though.

daisyhall1

Of all the suspects named,I believe Tumblety to be in the right place at the right time -in the UK between Spring and November 1888 ,when he fled to France and then to NYC,closely watched by police ,but eluding everyone.
Of the films,Muder by Decree is the most atmospheric and captures the mood.Whoever commited the murders had to know the area and be inconspicuous,also possessing some medical knowledge.
The Brit film Jack the Ripper in 1959 was very atmospheric (that got me into the whole thing!!) -the solution was poor though.
Has anyone got he BBC 70's series?

NappieB

That sounds like a good reason - but in reality it's not!

To the assertion that he was "...in the right place at the right time..." I would reply: So were 8 million other people!

Also, on a few (precious few!) occasions there were actual eyewitnesses who saw the Ripper just before some of the murders. All the eyewitnesses were independent, not connected to one another, and interviewed at different times and under different circumstances. The fact that they gave very similar descriptions is a testament to the accuracy of the observations.

In regard to Tumblety, eyewitnesses place JTR at between 5 ft 5" and 5 ft 9" with at least two agreeing on 5 ft 7" (Tumblety was 6ft, some experts even think he may have been a bit taller.)
Likewise, they place the Ripper's age at between 25 and 35, with most agreeing on 25-30. (Tumblety was 55 at the time of the murders).
Also, Tumblety had a very large, distinctive moustache - none of the witnesses mentioned this...it's incredible to think that they would have missed such a feature!
Finally, Tumblety was a flamboyant, brash, loudmouthed character who would not have gone unnoticed in the East End, but none of the locals ever mentioned such a stranger.

I'll admit that Tumblety is a promising suspect, but there's as much evidence against his being the Ripper as to the contrary!

"You can observe a lot by watching....." - Yogi Berra

NappieB

Very many experts have theorised that JTR had an accomplice. Perhaps someone to lure the victims into a dark alley or shelter where the murderer awaited. Some even think that the accomplice could be a private coachman...

Since I can't believe that JTR was a 5ft 7" man in his late 20s, isn't it very possible that the person the eyewitnesses saw was in fact the accomplice!

Having said all that, I still don't like the Tumblety theory!

"You can observe a lot by watching....." - Yogi Berra

ChristineCB

After watching AMAZON WOMEN ON THE MOON, I realized I'd never heard that Nelly (yes, the Loch Ness one) could have been Jack The Ripper. Very clever! Isn't it always the one you least suspect?!!

D Cairns

Most serial killers start killing in their mid-to-late twenties. So JTR was very likely around that age. FBI profilers consider it unlikely that he had an accomplice. No reason why he couldn't be 5"7.
And the Loch Ness Monster is called Nessie, not Nelly.
Apart from that, we're doing great, should have him behind bars in no time.

ChristineCB

See? MORE bad spelling from those fingers of mine. I kept telling them NeSSie... good grief.