▶ Stream Available
Verified Unrenewed Public Domain
1945 Feature
The Body Snatcher
Directed by Robert Wise → • Production: RKO Pictures
The Body Snatcher is a 1945 American horror film directed by Robert Wise, based on the 1884 short story of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. Philip MacDonald adapted the story for the screen, and producer Val Lewton, credited as "Carlos Keith", modified MacDonald's screenplay. The film stars Boris Karloff as John Gray, a cab driver who moonlights as a grave robber, and later murderer, to illegally supply Dr. MacFarlane with cadavers for his classes, and makes mention of Burke, Hare, and Dr. Knox, in reference to the West Port murders of 1828. Alongside Karloff and Daniell, the film's cast includes Russell Wade, Edith Atwater, and Bela Lugosi. It was the last film in which both Karloff and Lugosi appeared together.
Runtime
78 minutes
Aspect Ratio
4:3 Academy (Pillarbox)
Archival Copies
1 Vault Holding(s)
Classification
1929–1963 Unrenewed
🎬 Official Vault Presentation
Stream Full Motion Picture
Official Release on
The Video Boneyard →
⚖️ Statutory Public Domain Clearance Provenance
First published in 1945. Under the Copyright Act of 1909, works published between 1929 and 1963 required mandatory formal copyright registration renewal during their 28th year. Official United States Copyright Office Catalog of Copyright Entries records show zero renewal registration was filed, placing this work permanently in the Public Domain.