7 Cadavers for Scotland Yard

7 Cadavers for Scotland Yard

Sette Cadaveri Per Scotland Yard

Spain

D: José Luis Madrid

P: Sandro Amati & José Maria Tellez for Cinefilms S.L. (Madrid) & International Apollo Film (Rome)//St & Sc: José Luis Madrid, Jacinto Molina & Tito Carpi//DP: Diego Ubeda//E: Luis Puigvert//M: Piero Piccioni//Art D: Juan Alberto Soler & Bruno Cesari//Costume: Tony Randaccio//Makeup: Manolita Novda.

Cast: Paul Naschy (Jacinto Molina), Patricia Loran, Renzo Marignano, Orchidea De Santis, Franco Borelli, Miguel Minuesa, Terestita Castizo, Isidoro Novellas, Carmen Roger, Victor Iregua.

A homicidal maniac is stalking the denizens of the flesh pits of London. The police have named him Jack The Ripper because of his prediliction for killing prostitutes with surgical precision. After the death of Peter Dockerman's wife, he becomes a suspect by the police. The Inspector on the job enlists the aid of his friend, Professor Winston. Meanwhile, the killer has resorted to sending severed body parts of his victims to the police in an effort to mock their lack of success in capturing him. Although the police are after him, Dockerman continues to work behind the scenes trying to uncover who the real killer is. Ultimately he's successful, however Peter almost loses his life during a scuffle with the insane murderer.

Director Madrid (who's also made The Horrible Sexy Vampire) is one of the more inept practioners of his craft. His films are always a chore to watch, with continuity usually the first casualty. I have to believe his lack of talent is the reason the film's editor can't match up scenes from one camera angle to the next. Paul Naschy plays the red herring (which is a cheat because it would have been much more interesting if he had indeed been the killer) role in a surly manner and there's not much reason to empathize with his character's attempt to prove his innocence. There are also endless shots of him walking the streets of London which is supposed to impress us that yes, some of the exteriors were shot there, but the tedium with which they are executed defeats this purpose rather quickly. It's pretty easy to guess who the killer is early on so the film's value as a who done it goes south rather quickly. Orchidea De Santis as the wife of Professor Winston has even less to do than usual which is a shame because when given a chance, she's more than just a pretty face.