That was an excellent one.

Good movie but grossly overrated

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

If you basically only know Lord Richard Attenborough from the "Jurassic Park" films where he played filthy rich entrepreneur John Hammond, you owe it to yourself to check out past performances such as this one here. He offers a textbook lesson in subtle but pervasive creepiness, playing real life British serial killer John Christie. In the post WWII years in London, Christie rents out a flat to a struggling young couple, Timothy and Beryl Evans (John Hurt and lovely Judy Geeson). He offers to perform a certain service for them, which proves to be extremely fateful for this unfortunate man and woman.The great American filmmaker Richard Fleischer brings a masterful level of realism and authenticity to this based-on-true-crimes story. (His other films in this genre, "Compulsion" and "The Boston Strangler", are also well worth seeking out.) It's sedately paced, so it's not for people with short attention spans, but the rewards for sticking with it are substantial. You do come to be invested in these characters, and care about some of them. It would be impossible not to take pity on Timothy, or for that matter, Christies' wife Ethel (Pat Heywood), who realizes that she *didn't* know the man whom she married all that well. Lord Richard is very impressive; delivering a performance that truly gets under a persons' skin. He's such an unflappable, practiced liar that he always comes off more convincing than the harried Timothy. If you're not familiar with the real story, you keep watching and wondering if he's ever going to get caught.Geeson is very appealing, and the young Hurt does earn the audiences' sympathies, given the way that Timothy just plays right into our villains' hands. You can understand Timothy getting righteously upset when he realizes that he's been lying to cover up for a character who is revealed to be quite dubious in the first place.This is an excellent star trio being showcased here. But the supporting cast also features some top notch players such as Heywood, Andre Morell as a judge, Robert Hardy and Geoffrey Chater as opposing attorneys, sexy Isobel Black as Alice, Gabrielle Daye and Jimmy Gardner as the Lynches, and Sam Kydd as a furniture dealer.Production design, cinematography, and location work are all first rate, and John Dankworth supplies a solid music score that is used sparingly.This one is not to be missed.10 out of 10.

The first time I saw this movie was at least 30 years ago. Sleepless night. Richard Attenboroughs' portrayal of the nerdy "doctor" who was a real life serial killer terrified. Watched again 10 years later. Same effect. No sleep.Sets are extremely claustrophobic & the soundtrack of endless clattering tea cups & kettles, w/trains rattling by the flat all day & night are a set-up to hiss of gas pipes that creates an ambiance so depressing, eerie, and unbelievably frightening when you realize what's coming to Christie's victims...aagh. This movie is as suspense-filled as any Hitchcock movie.John Hurt ~ electrifying as always ~ plays a man falsely accused ~ got the gallows when he had no idea what happened ~ genius performance ~Horribly horrifyig horror movie This is one of the scariest movies ever. Extremely hard to watch but absolute genius acting

Long before the horror of Fred & Rose West, one John Christie undertook similar heinous acts of murder and burial, in 10 Rillington Place, Notting Hill, London, just after WWII.Richard Attenborough IS Christie, a small, bald and bespectacled man who can almost never tell the truth. Through injury, he became semi- invalided out of regular and useful employment and resorted to sub- letting his apartment at the infamous address, that he shared with his dutiful wife, Ethel (Pat Heywood).Despite its utterly grim premise, Rillington Pl, is a sober and utterly absorbing and compulsive drama that sees some of Attenborough's finest ever acting. Never glorifying in the subject but likewise, never shying away from how the devious and conniving Christie wormed his way into people's desperate lives, the main thrust of the narrative is about new tenants, illiterate Welsh Valley's Timothy Evans (a young, utterly superb John Hurt, sporting a fine accent) and his wife, Beryl (Judy Geeson).With the couple in arrears with their rent at Rillington Place, Beryl finds that she is, again pregnant. Almost unable to cope with the baby they already have, Christie suggests a favour. Back-street abortionists were a real scourge of the period, illegal of course and it's obvious he gets a kick out of extinguishing life, whether it's living in the womb or outside, as a person.I'm not going to give much away, though in the middle of the film, when Evans goes to visit his Aunt and Uncle back up in South Wales, we start seeing a well-constructed crime drama unfold as Evans first confesses to what Christie has indeed done and the resulting Case at the Old Bailey.Once that chapter is concluded, we might expect the end of the film, but no, this goes on, as first Christie's wife leaves him, he sells the furniture and then stays at a hostel for the homeless. Meanwhile, the new residents at number Ten, Rillington Place, make an unpleasant and unexpected discovery....

I have to admit, i usually stay away from a lot of 'older' films. They tend to be very slow paced, very badly dated, and a lot of the time very poorly acted.This film thankfully is one the exceptions to the rule. Richard Attenborough (who most people my age will probably only recognise as the old bloke from Jurassic Park) puts in an exceptional performance in the true life story of John Reginal Christie and the murders at 10 Rillington Place. From what i have read of Christie, Attenborough acts him out perfectly as the quiet, unassuming and nonthreatening landlord, whilst at the same time managing to hold a creepy undertone throughout.A young couple Timothy and Beryl Evans (played by John Hurt and Judy Gleeson) choose to stay at rundown 10 Rillington Place as Tim's big dreams of becoming a somebody have not yet come into fruition (quite possibly because he is a very slow and very stupid dreamer that will never amount to anything.) Tim knows he has done well in managing to persuade Beryl to not only live with him, but to also have his first child. Unfortunately for both of them, they do not realise they have just moved into the dungeon of serial killer John Christie, who immediately takes a liking to beautiful Beryl.John Hurt also plays his part superbly. Having only seen his more recent work in titles such as Harry Potter and Hellboy 2, it was nice to see him in his younger days, when he was earning his way to becoming the great actor he is today. He plays the very simple Tim in this film, and you really do feel for him by the end of the story.Overall, if you are like me and try to avoid the old black and white films, then break that rule for this one. I have seen many recent 'great' horror films, and not many of them manage to keep the dark suspense and hostile atmosphere that this one manages throughout. And with John Hurt and Richard Attenborough putting in wonderful performances, you really cant go wrong with this one.One more thing to add that i am starting to notice the more and more older films i watch, the women were much more attractive than they are nowadays. Judy Geeson as Beryl is absolutely gorgeous, and on top of that is a very talented actress. If only there were more like her in our current times.Excellent film, and i would definitely recommend it. Especially for those of you who have read about Christie or for those of you who hold an interest in any serial killers.'Just a whiff of gas, like at the dentists' Thank you for reading :)