From Hell
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2 The film 3 External links |
The book
From Hell is a graphic novel by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell speculating upon the identity and motives of Jack the Ripper. It was first published in 12 issues by Tundra Publishing/Kitchen Sink Press, then reissued in paperback by Eddie Campbell Comics.
Warning: Plot details follow.
Taking as its premise Stephen Knight's theory that the murders were part of a vast conspiracy to conceal the birth of an illegitimate royal baby—involving the Freemasons, with Queen Victoria's personal physician Sir William Withey Gull himself wielding the blade—the graphic novel ultimately explores numerous metaphysical themes.
In an appendix added to the collected From Hell, Moore writes that he did not accept Knight's theory at face value, but considered it a starting point for his own fictional examination of the Ripper murders.
While From Hell is admittedly fiction, Moore conducted an enormous amount of research to ensure plausibility and verisimilitude. The collected From Hell features nearly forty pages of notes and references.
The film
Moore's and Campbell's book was filmed in 2001 by the Hughes Brothers. It was first released on September 8, 2001 in the Venice Film Festival.
This film has been criticised for changing many details of the source. It received mixed reviews and performed rather poorly at the box office, earning only $31.6 million in domestic receipts.
Starring:
- Johnny Depp - Inspector Frederick George Abberline
- Heather Graham - Mary Kelly
- Ian Holm - Sir William Withey Gull
- Jason Flemyng - John Netley
External links