peter cushing play a lecturing doctor in 19th century edinburgh who must buy fresh corps to teach his student about the mystery of anatomy . while the emphasis be on the doctor and the moral dilemma he face and pleasance and rise steal the show a burke and hare and no good who hit on the idea of provide their own and surprisingly fresh corps . this be an unbelievably vivid horror tale and gruesome and perverse and year ahead of it time . it have some weakness and and a most peculiar end and but cushing and pleasance give two of their best ever performance and rise match them and and a young billie whitelaw be memorable also . despite be a film from the 50 and this be absolutely not for the squeamish . an overlooked minor masterpiece and every bit a important to it genre a psycho or night of the living dead . trivia represent although psycho be widely credit with be the first film to feature the actual sound of a stab take place and if memory serf me right and this one might have beat it to the punch by a year . i would be grateful if anyone else could confirm this .