The Cinema Museum, London

Misty Moon Presents The 30th Anniversary of Jack the Ripper (1988)

Sat 21 Apr 2018 @ 14:30 · Events

Jack the RipperMisty Moon in conjunction with H Division Crime Club UK Presents Jack The Ripper 30th Anniversary Reunion. Come and spend the afternoon celebrating 30 years of the TV series Jack The Ripper, where the guests will be joined on stage by Misty Moon’s MC Linda Regan.

Jack the Ripper is a 1988 British television film drama about the notorious Jack the Ripper murder spree in Victorian London.

The film was produced to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Whitechapel murders, and was originally screened on British television in two 90-minute episodes, broadcast on consecutive evenings, in October 1988, to coincide with the dates of some of the original events, advertising itself in advance as a solution to the century old mystery of the murderer’s identity using newly discovered original evidence. The broadcasts were a cause célèbre in UK television productions in the late 1980s, and gained high audience viewing figures with critical acclaim.

Using historical characters involved in the genuine 1888 hunt for the killer, Jack the Ripper was written by Derek Marlowe and David Wickes and directed by Wickes. The series drew heavily on the same discredited Masonic/Royal Family conspiracy theory as the 1978 film Murder By Decree, and later interrogated in From Hell (2001). This theory was first put forward in the 1960s by Thomas E. A. Stowell who published his claims in a November 1970 issue of The Criminologist. The theory was later turned into the bestselling Jack the Ripper: The Final Solution (1976) by Stephen Knight.

The series was constructed as a whodunit in which viewers were led to suspect, at various points, that Prince Albert Victor, Richard Mansfield, George Lusk, Dr. Henry Llewellyn or Dr. Theodore Dyke Ackland could be Jack the Ripper.

The series begins with a disclaimer on behalf of the production staff, stating, “Our story is based on extensive research, including a review of the official files by special permission of the Home Office and interviews with leading criminologists and Scotland Yard officials.”

Guests include:

David WickesDavid Wickes – writer/director

David Wickes is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurial film and television producers. Best known for his lavish gothic TV movies films and elegant period drama series, David is by contrast The Guv’nor when it comes to hard-hitting action-drama, as one of the original band of guerrilla filmmakers in the glory days of Euston Films making The Sweeney. David went on to direct The Professionals for ITV before re-vamping it in the late 1990s as CI5 The New Professionals where it sold in 41 countries.

David’s rare combination of creative flair as a director and writer alongside his role as producer, prompted The Hollywood Reporter to dub David a ‘triple threat’ in their tribute celebrating the 10th anniversary of David Wickes Productions.

Having trained at Granada Television, David initially directed documentaries (The Struggle for Peace), current affairs, live sports (World of Sport) and music shows before finally making his directorial debut in TV drama for ITV (Six Days of Justice et al – see below) and later for the BBC (Target) in the UK.

As his reputation, budgets and viewing figures increased, David broadened his horizons by pioneering the now familiar international TV co-production with major USA networks such as ABC (Jekyll & Hyde, CBS (Jack the Ripper), TNT (Frankenstein) and HBO (The Hitchhiker & Philip Marlowe – Private Eye).

Interspersed with his television career, David has also made several feature films.

Hugh FrazerHugh Frazer – aka Sir Charles Warren

Hugh Fraser’s first big break came after portraying Anthony Eden in the 1978 television series Edward & Mrs. Simpson, with Edward Fox, after which he was frequently cast as upper class or aristocratic characters, such as Mr Talmann in Peter Greenaway’s The Draughtsman’s Contract.

He has regularly appeared on film and in television and is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie’s Poirot opposite David Suchet, and his role as the Duke of Wellington (replacing David Troughton) in the Sharpe television series. He has also narrated Poirot audiobooks.

In Jack The Ripper Hugh played Sir Charles Warren the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Hugh has now become an author; his first novel, Harm, was published in 2015, followed by Threat in 2016. The third in the Rina Walker series, Malice, came out in October 2017.

Gary ShailGary Shail – aka Billy White

Gary Shail began work in TV and film in 1977 and is best known for his roles as Spider in the 1979 cult classic film Quadrophenia and as Steve, the punky teenager in The Metal Mickey TV Show.

Gary appeared in the 1980 series The Further Adventures of Oliver Twist, he also portrayed Oscar Drill in Shock Treatment, the 1981 follow-up to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and portrayed Guy Raines in the 1983 BBC production Johnny Jarvis. He wrote the original songs and theme music for this production, for which he received a nomination for the Ivor Novello Awards.

Gary played the tough pimp “Billy White” in Jack the Ripper.

In 1995 Gary began working with music production company Natural Sound Source in London, producing music for television, film, and advertising. In 2004 he produced the Arabic fusion album Infinity in Dubai.

In October 2015 Gary published his memoirs I Think I’m On The Guest List.

George SweeneyGeorge Sweeney – aka John Nettley

George is probably most remembered for playing Speed in the BBC hit comedy Citizen Smith which ran between 1977 and 1980.

George has also been in numerous television programmes, including Z-Cars (1971), Rumpole of the Bailey (1975), Dixon of Dock Green (1976), Softly, Softly (1971–76), The New Avengers (1976), The Sweeney (appeared in the episodes “Taste of Fear” and “On the Run” in 1976), Return of the Saint (1978), Spearhead (1978–79), Fairground (1982), Remington Steele (1985), Matlock (1987), Minder (1980–93), Pie in the Sky (1995), The Brittas Empire (1996), The Bill (1990-2006) and Casualty (1994-2007).

His film appearances include The Best Pair of Legs in the Business (1973), The Bitch (1979), For Your Eyes Only (1981), Lion of the Desert (1981), Pop Pirates (1984), Without a Clue (1988), G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time (1999), Revolver (2005), Dom Hemingway (2013) and Top Dog (2014).

George played John Nettley the delusional cab driver and pivotal character in Jack The Ripper.

More guests to be announced shortly. After the Q&A the guests there will be a meet and greet with the audience and they will be taking part in a paid signing.

Doors open at 13.30, for a 14.30 start.

Refreshments will be available in our licensed cafe/bar.

TICKETS & PRICING

Tickets in advance £14 (£13 concessions). On the door £15 (£14 concessions).
Advance tickets may be purchased from Billetto, or direct from the Museum by calling 020 7840 2200 in office hours.