MovieChat Forums > Jack the Ripper (1988) Discussion > Left hand and liver!

Left hand and liver!

posted 16 years ago by TheDuckfoot
8 replies | jump to latest

Interesting little fact.

I love this film, I watched it when I was a child when it first came out and fell in love with it straight away. I just love Michael Caine in it.

I just recently bought it on DVD and have watched it quite a few times. But it was only recently when I watched it that I noticed a little part of a scene that was interesting. In the scene where Abberline and his partner are investigating two suspects that have been brought in, Abberline is asking them if they know where a human liver is located and seeing if they are left handed (as apparently Jack the Ripper was left handed) neither suspect was left handed or knows where the liver is located. When Abberline is in the hallway afterwards his partner(forgot his name)tossing a coin in the air asks him does he know where the liver is and he points it out then Abberline catches the coin with his left hand! Doing this would make him a suspect! Dont know if the film makers scripted it in as a joke between the two or as a joke for the viewers that notice it, found it very interesting and funny. Was there any theories that Abberline was a suspect?

You're a daisy if you do. Doc Holliday.

[–] puirt-a-beul 16 years ago

Hey Duckfoot, you're right! I honestly hadn't noticed the left-handed catch until you pointed it out, but I've gone back just now and checked out that scene, and there it is ... pretty much a sly wink, I would think. Thanks for pointing it out!

I've never before read any suggestion that Abberline was considered as a murderer, no -- not Johnny Depp, surely !!! -- but heck, there's a lot about the case I haven't read, so who knows? Maybe that'll be the subject of Patricia Cornwell's next book?

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] Ms_Belladonna 15 years ago

"Was there any theories that Abberline was a suspect? "

Not yet.....but I'm sure someone will write a book on it sometime.

[–] Sphinxara 13 years ago

LOL! How prescient were your words, Badwold. Either they really are plumbing the depths for suspects or someone hit upon this thread!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2022896/Is-Jack-Ripper-Scotlan d-Yards-Chief-Inspector-Frederick-Abberline-named.html

Your name is of no importance and you live in the pipe in the upstairs water closet.

[–] kellymariekitty 11 years ago

I saw this bit and was more Interested in how the hell intelligent detectives believed that cos a guy picked his knife and fork up in his right hand he was right handed???????
I know that sounds daft but he was standing beside the bed. The cutlery was on his right so when abberline said pick up your knife and fork he picked them up with his right hand which of course he would. If its on your right side you won't pick it up with your left would you, cos then you'd have to cross over and pick it up in your left. For intelligent guys I thought this was stupid. I'd have given the a. Pen and said write something, not pick your knife up. Also I'm right handed but if somebody threw something at me sometimes I catch in the left hand, it depends how it comes at you.

I love this series but this bit of apparent intelligent thinking was stupid.

[–] Rikku25 11 years ago

I'm lefthanded and I would've turned to pick it up with my left hand. My right hand doesn't get to do much alone, except for switching gears in the car. (Germans drive on the right, so the gear stick is to my right)

You are right though: As far as evidence goes, the whole thing was pretty thin.

[–] kellymariekitty 8 years ago

Just re-read this because ive never noticed before hahahaha
Your american?

Only asking because in the UK the gear stick is on the left of you. so you would use your left to change gears not ur right :)

[–] Rikku25 8 years ago

Oh, right, I totally forgot about UK (or other drives-on-the-left-country) cars..*facepalm* :D

Thanks for pointing that out to me; will add to original post :)

[–] kellymariekitty 8 years ago

Hahaha no problem :)