THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS (1960) – Episode 189 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

“Just think of it, Willie. Burke and Hare, members of the great medical profession.” Yes. Just think of it. Yikes! Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Chad Hunt, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they check out Scottish life in the 1820s as depicted in The Flesh and the Fiends (1960).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era
Episode 189 – The Flesh and the Fiends (1960)

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ANNOUNCEMENT
Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL
Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era!
Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website.
Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.
https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

In 1828 Scotland, Edinburgh surgeon Dr. Knox does medical research on cadavers he buys from murderers Burke and Hare, without questioning the unethical procurement methods.

• Directed by: John Gilling
• Writing Credits: John Gilling and Leon Griffiths
• Makeup Department: Jimmy Evans (makeup artist), Betty Sherriff (hairdresser)
• Costume and Wardrobe Department: Laura Nightingale (wardrobe)
• Selected Cast:
  • Peter Cushing as Dr. Robert Knox
  • June Laverick as Martha Knox
  • Donald Pleasence as William Hare
  • George Rose as William Burke
  • Renee Houston as Helen Burke
  • Dermot Walsh as Dr. Geoffrey Mitchell
  • Billie Whitelaw as Mary Patterson
  • John Cairney as Chris Jackson
  • Melvyn Hayes as Daft Jamie
  • June Powell as Maggie O’Hara
  • Andrew Faulds as Inspector McCulloch
  • Philip Leaver as Dr. Elliott
  • George Woodbridge as Dr. Ferguson
  • Garard Green as Dr. Andrews
  • Esma Cannon as Aggie
  • Geoffrey Tyrrell as Old Davey
  • George Bishop as Blind Man
  • Beckett Bould as Old Angus (as Becket Bould)
  • George Street as Publican
  • Michael Balfour as Drunken Sailor
  • Steven Scott as Grave Robber (as Stephen Scott)
  • Raf De La Torre as Grave Robber

The Flesh and the Fiends feels like a Hammer Film – although, in terms of producers, it is much closer to a Tempean film – and retells the Burke and Hare case of the late 1820s in Scotland. Burke and Hare (George Rose and Donald Pleasence) are “the fiends.” Mary (Billie Whitelaw) and their other victims are “the flesh.” Dr. Knox (Peter Cushing) is the one who purchases “the flesh” from “the fiends.” These four actors steal the show! And if you’ve ever wished you lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the 1820s, you might reconsider that wish after seeing this film. Or you might not. Let us know!

At the time of this writing, The Flesh and the Fiends (1960) is available to stream from the Classic Horror Movie Channel, Wicked Horror TV, Kanopy, and Flix Fling as well as PPV from Amazon and Flix Fling. It is available on physical media as a Blu-ray formatted disc from Kino Lorber.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Next in their very flexible schedule – this one chosen by Chad – is Indestructible Man (1956) starring Lon Chaney Jr as “Butcher” Benton! You won’t want to miss this one!

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To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”