Loading ...Burke and Hare (2010)
- IMDb page: Burke and Hare (2010)
- Rate: 6.1/10 total 5,428 votes
- Genre: Comedy | Thriller
- Release Date: 9 September 2011 (USA)
- Runtime: 91 min
- Filming Location: Dashwood Mausoleum, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
- Gross: $947(USA)(11 September 2011)
- Director: John Landis
- Stars: Bill Bailey, Tom Wilkinson and Michael Smiley
- Original Music By: Joby Talbot
- Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
- Plot Keyword: Murderer | Black Comedy | Anti Villain | Cruelty | Marauder
- (in alphabetical order)
- Piers Ashworth screenplay
- Nick Moorcroft screenplay
Known Trivia
- David Tennant was originally cast as William Hare but had to drop out shortly before filming began because NBC, for whom he had recently shot a TV pilot, declined to release him to shoot the film for fear of scheduling problems if the pilot was picked up early.
- Both John Cleese and Dan Aykroyd were rumored for roles at one point.
- Screenwriters Nick Moorcroft and Piers Ashworth wrote the film on spec and sold it to the head of Ealing Studios, Barnaby Thompson.
- Actors Jenny Agutter and John Woodvine rejoin director John Landis after almost 30 years since they first collaborated on An American Werewolf in London.
- The dog seen in the first Graveyard scene with Burke, Hare and the militia, is a reference to a famous Edinburgh story. Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who in 19th-century Edinburgh spent 14 years returning to, and guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray. The movie accurately shows him as being a Skye Terrier and also shows his master’s name on the grave he guards, John Gray.
- According to the ‘Edinburgh Evening News’ of 24 November 2008, Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor were being touted to play William Hare and William Burke in this film.
- Director John Landis s first feature film in twelve to thirteen years, his previous had been Susan’s Plan.
- The legendary Burke and Hare murders are also known as the West Port murders. The total number of deaths amounted to seventeen.
- Dr Robert Knox is played in this film by Tom Wilkinson. In real life, his association with the Burke and Hare murders damaged his reputation and ruined his career.
- In the scene outside of the university, before the meeting of Monro and Knox, there is a nod to Dan Aykroyd, who was originally rumored to be in the film. As the doctors are walking to the building, they all greet each other in the same fashion as in the “Doctor” scene in Spies Like Us.
Goofs: Continuity: When Burke & Hare chop down the tree to stop the coach, they hit the tree with their axes at chest height. When the coach approaches they have hardly made a dent in the tree and when they push to tip the tree over, it doesn't break at chest height, but the entire tree falls, arguably still fully intact.
Plot: A black comedy about two 19th century grave robbers who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school. Full summary » »
Story: Based on the true story about the famous murderers, 'Burke And Hare' follows the hapless exploits of these two men as they fall into the highly profitable business of providing cadavers for the medical fraternity in Nineteenth Century Edinburgh, then the centre of medical learning. The one thing they were short of was bodies.Written by Anonymous
Synopsis
Synopsis: The film opens in Edinburgh with a narration by Angus the Hangman (Bill Bailey), telling of how the corpses of those hanged by himself are transported to Dr Robert Knox (Tom Wilkinson) to dissect, while his rival Dr Alexander Monro (Tim Curry), who wants Knox’s job, is left to amputate body parts of living people. Just then, Monro’s assistant Charles Darwin (Christian Brassington) with a forged letter stating the allowance of the dead bodies to be transported to Monro’s castle to be dissected by himself instead. Angus is then left to tell Knox’s assistant, Patterson (Michael Smiley), that the bodies are now being given to Monro. Patterson delivers to message to Knox.
The film then switches to William Burke (Simon Pegg) and William Hare (Andy Serkis) attempting to sell cheese mould which they state is growing moss. When they are found out, they flee back to an Inn owned by Hare’s wife Lucky (Jessica Hynes), who states that one of their lodgers has died. Burke and Hare decide to transport the corpse to Knox. They are forced to break the corpse’s spine in order to fit inside the barrel. While on the way to Knox’s castle, they stop at a bar, and while there, a young woman, Helen McDougal (Isla Fisher) – under the name Ginny Hawkins – a former prostitute, attempts to attract the attention of everyone in the bar by doing an extract from the William Shakespeare play Macbeth. While everyone else in the bar take no notice Burke begins talking to Ginny and asks her why she did so. Ginny explains that it was her ambition to become an actress. While Burke and Ginny have a drink together, Hare tells Burke that they had better set of to Knox’s castle.
Burke and Hare arrive at Knox’s castle and present the now mangled corpse to Knox. Knox then agrees that if the pair bring him two bodies a week for dissection, he will pay them a large amount of money. While Burke sees this as his chance to help Ginny’s ambition of becoming an actress, Hare is content on using the money to open a funeral parlour. When Burke and Hare return to the Inn, they find Lucky drunk and nearly unconscious. Lucky explains why she is in that state as it is Joseph (Christopher Lee), another lodger at the Inn, is near death. Burke and Hare see this as their chance to make a start, before Joseph can die himself they suffocate him and take his body to Knox, who gives them both a large amount of money.
Burke and Hare share out the money, and Burke goes to find Ginny. Burke tells Ginny the good news, and she hugs him and allows him to take her home, while Hare goes to the bar where he meets Fergus (David Schofield), the suffering henchman of villain Danny McTavish (
Later, while Burke is leaving the bar after telling Ginny the good news, he is bundled into a horse carriage along with an already captured Hare, and comes face to face with McTavish and Fergus. McTavish explains that if Burke and Hare want to be kept alive, they must pay him half of the money they earn from Knox, and in exchange McTavish will provide them with protection. With their only option to agree, Burke and Hare are flung from the carriage while it is going through a wood. As Burke and Hare make their way back to the Inn, they begin coming up with plans of whom to kill each week.
As more and more people turn up dead, Lucky begins to get suspicious, as does the local law enforcement lead by Capt Tom McLintock ([link=nm0179196″>David Hayman), who visits Lord Harrington (Hugh Bonneville) and William Wordsworth (Simon Farnaby) and informs them. Harrington and Wordsworth give McLintock permission to hunt down the criminals and have them hanged.
Following this, Hare is once again kidnapped by McTavish, who orders both he and Fergus to hand over their money for protection. While Hare and Fergus look at each other, the scene snaps to the dissecting theatre, where McTavish’s corpse turns up for Knox to dissect. This causes outrage, and as Burke and Ginny’s auditions begin, Burke and Ginny are capture by McLintock while about to make love while Hare and Lucky are captured while having sex.
All of them are locked in different cells, and are informed that if one of them admits to the murders, the others will go free. Burke agrees to do so on one condition, that he is put in the same cell as Ginny so they can finally make love. This happens.
The following day, Burke awaits his hanging at the gallows. When Angus announces that if Burke has any last words he should say them now. Burke then states "Only this", before turning to look at Ginny in the crowd, and states "I did it for love", before he is hanged.
Angus then tells of how each character goes their separate ways, before the camera zooms up on the skeleton of Burke in a present day museum.
FullCast & Crew
Produced By:
- James Atherton known as executive producer
- Paul Brett known as executive producer
- Alexandra Ferguson known as co-producer
- Jan Pace known as executive producer
- Tim Smith known as executive producer
- James Spring known as executive producer
- Barnaby Thompson known as producer
- Bill Bailey known as Hangman
- Tom Wilkinson known as Doctor Robert Knox
- Michael Smiley known as Patterson
- Tim Curry known as Doctor Monro
- Paul Davis known as Patient
- Christian Brassington known as Charles
- Gabrielle Downey known as Mad Maggie
- Stuart McQuarrie known as Magistrate
- Simon Pegg known as William Burke
- Andy Serkis known as William Hare
- Mike Goodenough known as Aggrieved Customer
- Jessica Hynes known as Lucky
- Robert Fyfe known as Old Donald
- Robert Willox known as Gravediggers' Bouncer
- David Schofield known as Fergus
- David Hayman known as Danny McTavish
- Christopher Lee known as Old Joseph
- Ronnie Corbett known as Captain Tam McLintoch
- Ciaron Kelly known as Private Fox
- Reece Shearsmith known as Sergeant Mackenzie
- Joyce Henderson known as Mrs. McFie
- Isla Fisher known as Ginny Hawkins
- Pollyanna McIntosh known as Mary
- Georgia King known as Emma
- Amanda Claire-Jones known as Nicola (as Amanda Claire)
- Shelley Longworth known as Hannah
- Allan Corduner known as Nicephore
- Steve Speirs known as McMartin's Doorman
- George Potts known as Doctor Lister
- Duncan Duff known as Attendant
- Hugh Bonneville known as Lord Harrington
- Ray Harryhausen known as Distinguished Doctor
- Alan Munroe known as Distinguished Doctor (as Sir Alan Munroe)
- John Gaynor known as Distinguished Doctor (as Dr. John Gaynor)
- Michael Wilson known as Distinguished Doctor
- Robert Paynter known as Distinguished Doctor
- Simon Farnaby known as William Wordsworth
- Tom Meeten known as Samuel Coleridge
- Paul Whitehouse known as Gentleman Drunk
- Michael Winner known as Gentlemen Passenger
- Ella Smith known as Barmaid
- Janet Whiteside known as Old Woman
- Jenny Agutter known as Lucy
- Robert Stone known as Miss Clarissa Windsor
- Max Landis known as Handsome Coachman
- Christopher Obi known as John Martin (as Chris Obi)
- Patricia Gibson-Howell known as Mrs. John Martin
- Michael Billington known as Medical Student
- Stephen Merchant known as Holyrood Footman
- Jacob Edwards known as Hollyrood Courtier
- John Woodvine known as Lord Provost
- Billy Riddoch known as Rabble Rouser
- Esme Thompson known as Nicephore's Girlfriend
- Costa-Gavras known as French Family (as Costa Gavras)
- Michèle Ray-Gavras known as French Family (as Michele Ray Gavras)
- Romain Gavras known as French Family
- Emmanuel Hamon known as French Family
- Theo Hamon known as French Family
- Dodger known as Greyfriars Bobby
- Seamus known as Himself (as Seamus the Dog)
- Guðmundur Auðunsson known as Thug #1 (uncredited)
- Michelle Brooks known as Macbeth Girl (uncredited)
- Christian Carroll known as Cowboy (uncredited)
- Joseph Dewey known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Darren Hammock known as Highland Soldier (uncredited)
- Charli Janeway known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Jamie Langlands known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Johnny Lynch known as Oyster Trader (uncredited)
- Chris Mansfield known as Stage hand (uncredited)
- Ken Matthews known as The Boil Man (uncredited)
- Joseph Andrew Mclean known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Henry Monk known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Nick Moorcroft known as Reporter (uncredited)
- Pete Noakes known as Tanner (uncredited)
- Spencer Noll known as Hamish (uncredited)
- Gino Picciano known as Doctor (uncredited)
- Nick Shaw known as Barman (uncredited)
- Adam Smith known as Medical Student (uncredited)
- Mark Smith known as Policeman (uncredited)
- Tom Urie known as Obese man (uncredited)
Supporting Department
Makeup Department:- Sylvia Atkins known as junior make up artist: dailies
- Helen Conroy known as junior makeup artist: dailies
- David Andrew Dorling known as crowd hairdresser
- Lucy Friend known as junior make up artist: dailies
- Barrie Gower known as prosthetics supervisor
- Soleil Jackson known as makeup trainee
- Ailsa Lawson known as makeup work experience
- Monica MacDonald known as make up artist: daily
- Waldo Mason known as prosthetics supervisor
- Chloe Meddings known as makeup artist
- Andrew Simonin known as crowd hairdresser
- Stephanie Lynne Smith known as daily makeup artist
- Marshall Aver known as production buyer
- Jo Berglund known as assistant buyer
- Steve Bohan known as construction manager
- Gary Crosby known as head painter
- Matt Curtis known as title design
- Kevin Day known as stand by props
- Paul Duff known as chargehand carpenter
- Colin H. Fraser known as construction manager: Scotland
- Gavin Gordon known as carpenter
- Peter Hallam known as property master
- Felicity Hickson known as graphic artist
- Douglas Ingram known as storyboard artist
- Gary Jopling known as assistant art director
- Andrew 'Fred' MacMillan known as props
- Gary Martin known as props daily
- Richard A. McCarthy known as supervising plasterer
- Lisa McDiarmid known as stand-by art director
- Michael Parkin known as props
- Marco Anton Restivo known as assistant art director
- Nic Stubbings known as stand-by props
- Kristin Theyers known as props
- Bill Thomas known as props
- Dean Coldham known as plasterer (uncredited)
- Rohan Harris known as scenic artist (uncredited)
Companies
Production Companies:
- Aegis Film Fund
- Ealing Studios
- Fragile Films
- Prescience
- Quickfire Films
Other Companies:
- Anvil Post Production sound re-recording
- De Lane Lea ADR recording
- Dolby Laboratories sound mix
- HireWorks Avid Unity Rental
- Kodak motion picture film supplier
- Motion Picture Merchandise (MPM) crew gift
- Sapex Scripts post-production script services
- Scallywag Travel travel agent
- Technicolor dailies
- Technicolor negative development
- Technicolor post-production facilities
- Technicolor release printing
Distributors:
- Entertainment Film Distributors (2010) (UK) (theatrical)
- IFC Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
- La Fabrique 2 (2011) (France) (theatrical)
- Maple Pictures (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Transmission (2010) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Transmission (2010) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
- Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (all media)
- Entertainment in Video (2011) (UK) (DVD)
- Odeon (2011) (Greece) (DVD)
Other Stuff
Special Effects:
- BlueBolt
- Matte Painting UK
- Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor known as Visual Effects Producer: BlueBolt
- Angela Barson known as visual effects supervisor
- Max Dennison known as matte painting supervisor: Matte Painting UK Ltd
- Will Hudson known as digital restoration
- Emma Hulme known as digital restoration
- Markus Kuha known as lead compositor: BlueBolt
- Matthew W.B. Plummer known as digital compositor: BlueBolt
- Ireland 29 October 2010
- UK 29 October 2010
- Italy 25 February 2011
- France 27 March 2011 (Alès Film Festival)
- Germany 2 April 2011 (Munich Fantasy Filmfest)
- Belgium 12 April 2011 (Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival)
- France 23 April 2011 (Lyon Festival Hallucinations Collectives)
- Germany 10 May 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Russia 23 June 2011
- Kazakhstan 30 June 2011
- Canada 27 July 2011 (Fantasia Film Festival)
- USA 5 August 2011 (Video On Demand)
- France 31 August 2011
- USA 9 September 2011
- Sweden 26 October 2011 (DVD premiere)
- Kuwait 17 November 2011
Filmography links and data courtesy of The Internet Movie Database
Burke and Hare (2010) Related Movie
Movie Keyword:
- burke & hare 19 century fashion style
- burke hare seamus dog
- michael g wilson cameo burke hare
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
The story is inspired by true events which took place in Edinburgh between November 1827 and 31 October 1828 when the real life Bukre and Hare murdered 16 people and sold their bodies to a private anatomy lecturer, Doctor Robert Knox (played by Tom Wilkinson in the film), for dissection at Edinburgh Medical College. Although this is the 8th time their story has been brought to the big screen, this marks the first time that we see them as two likable lead characters.
From a screenplay penned by Nick Moorcroft and Piers Ashworth and directed by the legendary John Landis, Burke And Hare harks back to the days of the old Ealing Studios dark comedies like Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) and The Ladykillers (1955) which director John Landis is very fond of. It looks at the friendship between these two guys and focuses on the idea of who the bad guys really are. The doctors or the killers themselves? Mixing in a little Shakespeare with an all female production of Macbeth by Isla Fisher's character, Ginny, an aspiring young actress whom Burke falls madly in love with, another layer is added to the story. While Ginny ponders what would drive a man like Macbeth to murder, Burke looks at her and explains the character's motivation; "He did it for love".
By and large, I really enjoyed Bukre and Hare. The biggest challenge the story faced was turning two mass murderers into characters you can follow, laugh with and have empathy for and I think this film does it really well. As Burke is talked into the business with Hare, there's never the slightest feeling that his friend is purposefully leading him down a path to his own downfall, unlike the real Hare who gave Burke up in the end to escape a public hanging. Another element of the movie which was enjoyable was seeing so many familiar faces turning up in smaller roles; Ronnie Corbett decked out in his red and blue uniform as Captain McLintock, Christopher Lee as Old Joseph, one of Buke and Hare's early unfortunates and perhaps the most hilarious scene of all is when they push Paul Whitehouse down a flight of stairs! It's a good one to see if you're after something dark and funny this Halloween.
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
This film felt a bit of a homage to the Hammer films, a point made when a certain Hammer Icon makes a cameo appearance (i won't name the individual as i don't want to add a spoiler). I am guessing Landis is a Hammer fan and to be fair to him the sets and locations work quite well, giving Edinburgh a spooky feel to it. Both Pegg and Serkis are OK in the lead roles and do their best to sound Irish. It was also good to see Jenny Agutter make a brief appearance too, especially as she is invariably remembered for appearing in Landis's American Werewolf in London nearly 30 years ago…a nice touch by the director. In fact there seems to be quite a lot of casting British film and TV icons in this film (Ronnie Corbett being another) so i'm guessing that maybe Simon Pegg or Andy Serkis only agreed to do it if certain British childhood icons of theirs were also given parts.
To be honest the Burke and Hare story has been better done before but this film puts a comedic twist on it that doesn't always work. The bad language feels unnecessary for a start and the gore isn't as bad as i thought (certainly not on the levels of the Hostel or Saw films…and not even as graphic as the Final Destination franchise). There are some genuine laughs to be had but usually when Pegg and Serkis are on the screen. The story itself also swings back and forth between gruesome and the unexpected romantic angles that may have been intended to show Burke and Hare as committing their crimes for something other than just greed.
Basically this is a reasonably graphic horror story with heart and morality that has some good laughs but falls flat in a few areas. The cast give it their best shot and whilst it has an old fashioned feel to it in many ways, it is the unnecessary post-modern touches, the inconsistent rate at which the comedy comes and the rather odd casting that jarred me. However do keep an eye out for the odd cameo appearance from some famous actors and comedians.
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
Of course I might be nit-picking. The movie is not bad at all. It has quite a few comic moments (an intercourse scene that is just funny and could not be called arousing at all, works greatly, there are scenes of great comedy value besides that too), but there is still something missing to make it better. I would recommend a watch. I'd just say not to expect too much!
Edit: I just found out a month ago, that there is a very good chance, that there is another cut of this movie. A cut approved by Mr. Landis himself (which seems not to have been the case with this one) … that would explain quite a lot …
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
Does Burke and Hare completely work? No it doesn't. Is it entertaining? On the most part yes, even with the hits and misses. The film to me was never laugh-out-loud hilarious excepting two or three scenes(Jessica Hynes's eureka moment inventing funeral parlours being one), most of the time it was mildly amusing. In my view, the sight gags were better than the script. The sight gags range from nicely understated such as the pot shots at Wordsworth, Lister and Greyfriars Bobby to crass slapstick such as chamber pot contents being dropped on heads. There is even a sex scene that raised a laugh, decide for yourself whether it is intentional or not, whether it was or not I personally did find it amusing. The script(the smart black humour kind) varies as well from raising a smile to where I found myself rather blank faced.
John Landis does do a credible job directing. He mixes contemporary innovation and social issue with ease, and although he doesn't quite make Burke and Hare the dark, smart, hilarious homage to Ealing comedy it strived to be or the throwback to American Werewolf(the comedy and horror elements are decent on their own but have mixed results together), there is evidence of the effort which is what mattered. The character development is very straight forward, that I do agree with, but the cast do make an effort to make us empathise with them, and I think they succeeded there. The Georgian setting is also convincing, the sets are beautifully evoked and I quite liked the costumes and cinematography too.
I do think all the cast have done better before, but I cannot deny this is a great cast. Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis are a well-matched double act. They work very well together, and both give entertaining performances in the process. I also liked seeing Christopher Lee, Ronnie Corbett, Paul Whitehouse(the scene where he is pushed down the stairs is hilarious) and Bill Bailey even if their appearances are rather brief. Isla Fisher and Jessica Hynes are alluring and do show at least some flair for comedy, and while they should have had more screen time Tom Wilkinson and Tim Curry are suitably antagonistic and compelling. I do agree about the accents being variable, I had little problem with Pegg and Serkis and Wilkinson's was convincing, Curry just about passes, while Fisher's comes and goes and some of the cameos don't quite make it.
In conclusion, entertaining enough if somewhat hit-and-miss. With a longer length, perhaps more tighter pacing and some more care on the accents it could have been more. But the direction, setting and cast convinced me, so I enjoyed it. 7/10 Bethany Cox
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
It seems the progression of both writers Piers Ashworth and Nick Moorcroft, having both penned the St. Trinian's legacies, have stepped sideways rather than forward.
It may have its, few, moments of laugh-out-loud hilarities, but the tragic script has the film looking more redundant and childlike as the film goes on. It's more pantomime-silly, something the British excel when it comes to comedy, a change of direction perhaps? Rather than dark humoured wit. With the combination of British writers, actors etc and the American director it really does look like the overall production may have been lost in translation. With Mr. Landis's past works, in contrast, this effort is simply an embarrassing nail in the coffin of wasted opportunities. The jokes, gags, humour just does not gel into place to form any fluid coherent form.
In this lost land of weak and forgetful writing, we may also be witnessing Mr. Pegg's weakest and lowest point in his career, simply dire and if at times too uncomfortable to behold, we have not seen Mr. Pegg, here, at his best. While on the other hand, we are also witness to one of the most misplaced, miscast crimes of the century, and this being the role of Ronnie Corbett as one Captain McLintock. This is, again, pure undiluted and ridiculous pantomime theatrics.
The whole exercise seems patchy. At an individual level, the prime of British comedy here is more than exemplary, such as Bill Bailey, the great Ronnie Corbett, Tim Curry, Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis and Reece Shearsmith for example, British comedy spanning decades. I truly believe that here, with Burke and Hare, a true opportunity has been lost in the smog of a high-octane director and its eagerness to exploit this Englishness. The rain has comedown too early and the colours have run into the gutter before one had the chance to truly explore the vast picture of experience of this great British elite.
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
The film is simply a well-paced and well thought out comedy - everything for direction to script to the excellent costuming just works – and it is one of the better comedies of the year as it actually makes you laugh often and hard. The humour is dark enough to work, and all involved deliver it very well indeed.
We enjoyed this one a lot, it's got the right mix of silliness with a little horror that Simon Pegg does well, and all in this, this is just good straight-up entertainment with a huge galaxy of British comedians on display. Good stuff indeed.
19 Nov 2011, 6:15 am
This movie may seem morally rotten at its core making a comedy out of murder, but it succeeds at it while quite a lot of comedies with far less harmful plots don't, not to mention that some of the most popular TV shows of today make it fit right in. John Landis comedies much in common with ZAZ productions and sometimes are almost live action cartoons. The title characters are shown as flawed people in a desperate situation which they think justifies their actions – we don't laugh with them, only at them. And that's intentional.
John Landis came back with a surprisingly decent feature. It's as if the MTV-style cinema revolution has passed him by (the one that hit the new Sherlock Holmes square in the face). No camera gymnastics, no forced sensual assault, all the action and physical comedy happens in frame. Burke and Hare is his first 2.35:1 feature and it shows – the frame at first appears a little too wide, like if the characters were taken from a 16:9 movie and arranged accordingly. By the way, "highly entertaining", "very funny" and "packed with the cream of British talent" – those bits on the poster aren't far from the truth.