Beautifully filmed, lavish costumes and a first class cast. Quite simply (despite a few continuity errors) one of the best versions of the Jack the Ripper story. I taped this when shown in two parts on ITV back in 1988 and I have just purchased a rare widescreen copy of the print.
Interestingly in the extras section on the DVD it has some footage of the original shoot on it with Barry Foster (Van Der Valk) as Inspector Abberline and Brian Capron (Grange Hill/Coronation St) as Sgt Godley - two excellent actors but the differences prior to American finance on the production is very notable.
The sets were different and some of the dialogue poorly delivered even though it was raw footage I can only describe the original shoot as rather amateur with a "Television play" feel to it as opposed to the full dramatisation.
The Caine/Collins version is superb even most of the supporting cast were well known actors.
I never tire of watching it and Ray McAnally was brilliant in the role of Sir William Gull what a pity it was one of his last screen roles.
Interestingly in the extras section on the DVD it has some footage of the original shoot on it with Barry Foster (Van Der Valk) as Inspector Abberline and Brian Capron (Grange Hill/Coronation St) as Sgt Godley - two excellent actors but the differences prior to American finance on the production is very notable.
The sets were different and some of the dialogue poorly delivered even though it was raw footage I can only describe the original shoot as rather amateur with a "Television play" feel to it as opposed to the full dramatisation.
The Caine/Collins version is superb even most of the supporting cast were well known actors.
I never tire of watching it and Ray McAnally was brilliant in the role of Sir William Gull what a pity it was one of his last screen roles.