BURKE AND HARE

UK, 2010, 91 minutes. Colour.
Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Tim Curry, Bill Bailey, Michael Smiley, Christian Brassington, Jessica Hynes, David Hayman, Christopher Lee, Ronnie Corbett, Hugh Bonneville, Jenny Agutter, John Woodvine, Stephen Merchant, Costa- Gavras, Paul Whitehouse.
Directed by John Landis.

For two such disreputable characters, grave robbers, Burke and Hare, they have appeared in quite a number of films. Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi were their equivalents in the 1945, The Body Snatcher, based on a Robert Louis Stevenson story. Donald Pleasence and George Rose were in the Flesh and the Fiends (1960). Their real names were used in 1972, Burke and Hare with Derren Nesbitt and Glynn Edwards. They were fictionalised again in 1985 in The Doctor and the Devils (with Jonathan Pryce and Stephen Rea). Back they are to their real names in 2010. And they have popped up in supporting roles in other films.

The 1972 version created the background of Edinburgh society in 1827 when Burke and Hare sold cadavers (some of whom they helped on their way) to Dr Knox for his anatomy lectures. This film does the same and is quite lavish in its recreation of the period and its look. We feel transported back into the times, the dinginess as well as the respectability. But the film and seriousness?

In the 1960s there were a number of period films set in England in the 18th and 19th centuries, following the success of Tom Jones. But, they took the humorous and satiric line in their storytelling, films like Where’s Jack (a highwayman story) and Lock Up Your Daughters (memories of Hogarth). This Burke and Hare goes for the comedy and the satire.

In many ways it is often silly. However, the blend of the serious with the silly makes for a sense of realism as well as for some laughs and a lot of smiles – though its macabre sense of humour may not appeal to those who like their comedies to be straightforward.

Not only are the production values quite high, the director is John Landis, out of films for some years, but evoking memories of An American Werewolf in London, let alone The Blues Brothers. He has always enjoyed putting hijinks on screen.

And the cast. Gollum himself, Andy Serkis is Hare, while Simon Pegg plays more of the ingenuous straight man as Burke. The two rival Edinburgh doctors are played by Tom Wilkinson (Dr Knox who took delivery of the corpses) and Tim Curry. And who should be the captain of the militia but Ronny Corbett (who turned 80 just after the film’s UK release)? All kinds of British character actors turn up to make a kind of medley of British comedy, including Christopher Lee, Bill Bailey, Hugh Bonneville and Jenny Agutter.

There is a feminist addition to the plot. Burke becomes infatuated with a lady of the night with theatrical ambitions (Isla Fisher) whose aim is to put on an all women’s version of Macbeth. She is looking for a sponsor with money.

In doing a quick Wikipedia check after getting home from the screening, I see that the film gives a fairly true picture of the episode in Scottish criminal history after all – but, as the film notes at the beginning, ‘This is based on a true story – except the parts that are not’. If you are in the mood for a touch of 21st century carry on, Burke and Hare should keep you smiling.

1. Audience knowledge of Burke and Hare, judgments on them as persons, on their profession? Criminality?

2. The film tradition, the serious treatment, period treatments, comic touches? The work of John Landis and his interpretation?

3. Edinburgh in 1828, the look of the city, the castle, markets, gallows, universities and colleges, the homes, the shops, the dark streets, taverns, cemeteries, theatre? Costumes, décor, the feel? The musical score – serious and comic?

4. The screenplay, the blend of the serious and the comic, parody and satire, the Carry On touches, wit, farce, slapstick? A satisfying and entertaining blend?

5. The hangman and his story, his introduction to the city, the situation as regards corpses, his personal involvement, Doctor Knox, Doctor Monro, their attitudes? The old lady on the gallows, her defying the crowd, being hanged, her body being taken away, the rules for corpses?

6. The king’s visit, the provost and the plans for the competition, the preparations?

7. Burke and Hare, coming from Ireland, their different personalities, the comic and the straight man? Hare’s initiatives? Trying to sell the Irish moss, persuasion, the crowd, being revealed as conmen? Lucky, her being at home, drinking? Their prospects?

8. The dead body in the room, bending it, putting it in the barrel, the barrel rolling down the streets, smashing the shop window, taking the body to Knox, the deal and the bargaining? Finding a new career? The cemetery, digging up the skeleton, the militia arriving, the shots?

9. The old man dying, the discussions with Burke and Hare, their hastening him to his death? The other victims, the old lady, the man falling down the steps – and his getting up and singing? Lucky and her discovery, her agreement to the plan? The money, their buying better clothes, living it up?

10. Doctor Knox and his assistant, his foppish manner, clothes, the lectures, dissecting the corpses? The rotting corpse? Employing the photographer? The photos? The plan for the map of the anatomy? His clashes with Doctor Monro? Monro and his lectures, sawbones, the feet? Charles Darwin as his assistant?

11. The militia, Ronnie Corbett in charge? The two soldiers and their fainting? At the cemetery, firing the shots? With the provost, the discussion with the chief, the promotion to colonel, covering up the case?

12. Hare and his style, love for Lucky, his initiatives, jokes?

13. Burke, more serious, being led? Seeing Ginny, her reciting Shakespeare, the infatuation? Talking with her, the promise of the money, his motivation for further work? His happiness, the days of the auditions, her performance, his happy achievement, their night together – and the arrest?

14. The background of Edinburgh, the deals, the bribes, Mc Tavish and protection? Giving the information to the authorities? (And the use of 20th century ideas and terminology for the 18th century?)

15. Accosting Knox, his going in to see the king, Doctor Monro and his taunting? The arrests? The photos, the interrogation of the photographer?

16. Burke and Hare, in jail, Lucky and Ginny in jail? Burke and his wanting to confess, make a deal?

17. Burke and his conscience, the declaration, his love for Ginny, his being hanged for the others?

18. The authorities, preserving their reputation?

19. Greed, motivation in Edinburgh at the time? The range of protectors and dealers?

20. An entertainment – while funny, a serious look at the characters and the situations, the questioning of values?