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Crime Cult Classic

Jack the Ripper lurks upstairs as suspicion and obsession swirl in fog-choked Victorian London.

THE LODGER

PROBING EYES that marked the woman he loved for death!

1944 · 1h 24m · NR · Crime / Drama / Horror / Mystery / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

In Victorian era London, the inhabitants of a family home with rented rooms upstairs fear the new lodger is Jack the Ripper.

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Quick Answer

What is The Lodger about?

The Lodger is a 1944 American crime, drama, horror, mystery, and thriller film directed by John Brahm about a family who suspects their mysterious lodger may be Jack the Ripper.

Programmer's Pick

Merle Oberon and Laird Cregar simmer in this moody riff on the Jack the Ripper myth, where gaslight shadows and psychological terror take center stage. John Brahm’s direction wrings every drop of suspense from creaky floorboards and glances behind closed doors. If you like your murder mysteries foggy and your lodgers suspiciously nocturnal, this one checks in all the right boxes.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

In Victorian London, a family opens their home to a new lodger, Mr. Slade, whose odd behavior soon unsettles everyone. As Slade burns objects late at night and covers portraits of women, the city is gripped by a series of brutal murders targeting women in the Whitechapel district. Scotland Yard’s Inspector John Warwick grows suspicious of Slade, especially as Kitty Langley, a singer in the house, draws his unnerving attention. With the family distracted by their own troubles and Kitty’s complicated attraction to Slade, the tension mounts as suspicion and fear close in. The film sets a mood of gothic dread and mounting paranoia against the backdrop of Jack the Ripper’s London.

Details & Specs

Director
John Brahm
Writers
Marie Belloc Lowndes, Barré Lyndon
Release
1944
Runtime
1h 24m
Country
United States of America
Language
English
Genres
Crime, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Also Known As
Jack, el destripador, Der Schlitzer von London, Der Mädchenmörder

Why This Matters

This 1944 adaptation of Marie Belloc Lowndes' novel is part of a long lineage of film versions, following Hitchcock's 1927 silent classic and a 1932 sound remake, and preceding further adaptations in 1953 and 2009.
— SassyFlix Curator

Cast & Crew

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Director: John Brahm Writers: Marie Belloc Lowndes +1 more
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon Kitty Langley Laird Cregar Laird Cregar Mr. Slade George Sanders George Sanders Inspector John Warwick Cedric Hardwicke Cedric Hardwicke Robert Bonting Sara Allgood Sara Allgood Ellen Bonting Aubrey Mather Aubrey Mather Superintendent Sutherland Queenie Leonard Queenie Leonard Daisy the Maid Doris Lloyd Doris Lloyd Jennie David Clyde David Clyde Det. Sgt. Bates Helena Pickard Helena Pickard Annie Rowley Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford Hairdresser (uncredited) Thora Hird Thora Hird First Murder Victim Katie (uncredited) Anita Sharp-Bolster Anita Sharp-Bolster Wiggy (uncredited) C. Montague Shaw C. Montague Shaw Stage Manager (uncredited) Skelton Knaggs Skelton Knaggs Man with Cart Charlie Hall Charlie Hall Comedian Bess Flowers Bess Flowers Woman in Audience Olaf Hytten Olaf Hytten Harris, the Haberdasher HW Heather Wilde Fred Aldrich Fred Aldrich Harry Allen Harry Allen Jimmy Aubrey Jimmy Aubrey Wilson Benge Wilson Benge Billy Bevan Billy Bevan Ted Billings Ted Billings Edmund Breon Edmund Breon MB Mae Bruce Colin Campbell Colin Campbell HC Herbert Clifton GD Grace Davies HD Harold De Becker Cyril Delevanti Cyril Delevanti Frank Elliott Frank Elliott Herbert Evans Herbert Evans Douglas Gerrard Douglas Gerrard Gibson Gowland Gibson Gowland Kit Guard Kit Guard Frank Hagney Frank Hagney Gerald Hamer Gerald Hamer Lumsden Hare Lumsden Hare AH Alec Harford Forrester Harvey Forrester Harvey Stuart Holmes Stuart Holmes KH Kenneth Hunter Boyd Irwin Boyd Irwin EM Edna Mae Jones Colin Kenny Colin Kenny Crauford Kent Crauford Kent CK Charles Knight CL Connie Leon George Magrill George Magrill Kermit Maynard Kermit Maynard MM Mathew McCue Philo McCullough Philo McCullough CM Clive Morgan EM Edmund Mortimer JR John Rice JR John Rogers Raymond Severn Raymond Severn Yorke Sherwood Yorke Sherwood LS Leslie Sketchley Will Stanton Will Stanton JS Jane Starr RR Robert R. Stephenson Donald Stuart Donald Stuart Walter Tetley Walter Tetley DT David Thursby Frederick Worlock Frederick Worlock JB Joan Bayley Undetermined Secondary Role

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Why Cult

Victorian London Atmosphere

The film immerses viewers in the gaslit, foggy streets of 1888 Whitechapel, capturing a palpable sense of dread and suspicion.

Psychological Suspense

Slade’s increasingly strange behavior and the family's obliviousness create a tense, slow-burn portrait of paranoia.

Music Hall Intrigue

Kitty Langley’s life as a music hall performer adds glamour and danger, drawing the killer’s gaze and deepening the film’s web of obsession.

Classic Jack the Ripper

This retelling leans into the infamous legend, blending true crime with gothic melodrama and relentless police pursuit.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

A series of murders in Whitechapel

Threat

Serial killer (suspected Jack the Ripper)

Effect

Women brutally killed; widespread fear

Countermeasure

Scotland Yard investigation

Setting

Family home in Victorian London

Questions from the Vault

When was The Lodger released? +

The Lodger was released in 1944.

Who directed The Lodger? +

The Lodger was directed by John Brahm.

How long is The Lodger? +

The Lodger has a runtime of 84 minutes.

What genre is The Lodger? +

The Lodger is a crime, drama, horror, mystery, and thriller film.

Where can I watch The Lodger? +

You can watch The Lodger on SassyFlix.

Trailers & Clips

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