Even before watching this "Thriller" episode, I had a good feeling about "Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper", for several reasons. Fist, I have become quite a fan of the early 60s Horror anthology series hosted by none other than the immortal Horror icon Boris Karloff. Apart from a few disappointing non-Horror episodes in the very beginning of the show, "Thriller" offers spooky and wonderfully atmospheric Gothic goodness, that no true Horror-fan should miss. Second, Horror about the most infamous and mysterious serial killer in history is always promising, as Jack the Ripper has been subject of many excellent Horror productions. The foregoing anthology-series hosted by Karloff, the short-running "The Veil" included a Jack the Ripper episode as well, which was the final and best episode of that series. Third, "Yours Truly Jack the Ripper" was directed by none other than the great actor Ray Milland. And, as many a great actor, Milland, known among other films for sinister roles in Horror films such as "The Uninvited" (1944), "Premature Burial" (1962) and "X: The Man With the X-Ray Eyes" (1963), did a great job on the other side of the camera here. Furthermore, the screenplay is an adaptation of a story by the magnificent Robert Bloch, who is best known for the novel "Psycho", Alfred Hitchcock's film 1960 adaptation of which is doubtlessly one of the most famous and brilliant films ever made.
Instead of taking us back to 1888 Whitechapel, "Yours Truly, Jack The Ripper" is set the contemporary (1961) New York, which is struck by a series of murders comparable to the Ripper cases. The British Ripper expert Sir Guy (John Williams) is convinced that the murderer is not a copycat killer, but the Ripper himself, who has somehow found the formula to eternal youth... This premise may sound cheesy, but it works perfectly. "Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper" is a creepy, atmospheric and suspenseful "Thriller" episode. Ray Milland brings Bloch's bizarre story to screen in a highly atmospheric manner, and all cast members deliver good performances. A very good episode of this generally recommendable series.