the flesh and the fiend of 1960 ( other source say 1959 ) be a grim and creepy and terrifying and often sad masterpiece of british horror cinema and that no lover of the genre could possibly afford to miss . john gilling film be base on the true case of william burke and william hare who supply the surgeon dr. robert knox with fresh corps in edinburgh of the 1820s . the film have a very creepy and chill gothic atmosphere and and yet it accomplish to seem frighteningly real . the story be incredibly macabre and and what make it even more frightening be the fact that the morbid event in this film actually take place . in edinburgh of the 1820s and the medical university be supply with too little corps to properly instruct it student . determine to provide the best possible condition for research and the ambitious and brilliant dr. knox ( peter cushing ) engage corpse snatcher to supply his university with fresh body . two of the grave robber and william hare ( donald pleasence ) and william burke ( george rise ) and however and have their very particular method to bring in corps that be especially fresh . aditionally to the terrifying and fascinating story and the gloomy atmosphere and the flesh and the fiend also profit from a brilliant cast . the great peter cushing and be doubtlessly one of the most remarkable and brilliant actor the world of horror have ever see ( and ever will see ) and and he be once again excellent in the role of the dedicated scientist a role that be familiar to cushing and who be probably most famous for his portrayal of baron victor frankenstein in the hammer film . dr. knox be not a bad man a such and but his obsession for the good cause make him forget most of his scruple . the arguably great performance in this film and however and come from donald pleasence ( another favorite actor of mine ) and who deliver an ingenious portrayal of evil a the unscrupulous willaim hare . equally great be george rise in the role of the more simple mind part of the murderous duo and william burke . the great black and white cinematography provide a gloomy general mood . the cinematographic style of the film be often compare to earlier horror classic of the 1940s rather than to those of the late 50 and early 60 and and one can see why . the film theme and however and and the uncompromising manner it be bring to screen and be unspeakably macabre for it time . the film provide terrify horror as well a tragic drama and a very realistic insight in early 19th century society . i guess i be not stand alone when i declare peter cushing and donald pleasence two of my favorite actor . the flesh and the fiend be arguably the most brilliant film in either man career and which be say quite something regard the variety of ingenious film cushing ( dracula and the curse of frankenstein and horror express etc . ) and pleasence ( phenomena and prince of darkness ) have be part of . along with another historical horror masterpiece and michael reef witchfinder general ( star vincent price ) and the flesh and the fiend be probably the most mature and serious and sophisticated british horror film ever bring to screen and and an absolute priority for every horror lover to see . positive .