Joseph E. Levine tried to duplicate the success he had with Fatiche di Ercole, Le (1958) (U.S. title: "Hercules") in the U.S. by using the same techniques. He spent $1 million (an extraordinary sum in 1959) on the promotional campaign that included extensive use of TV spots. This was backed up with the saturation booking of 643 prints.
Unlike his other negative pick-ups, Joseph E. Levine did not have to dub this film into English for the U.S. release. He did replace the original Stanley Black score with a more dynamic score by Jimmy McHugh and Pete Rugolo.
Joseph E. Levine held a luncheon for major distributors to kick off the campaign for his U.S. release of this film. For this event, he borrowed $1 million in cash which was brought into the room with a cadre of Brinks guards. The cash was to demonstrate to the exhibitors how much he was going to spend in the U.S. to promote the film.
This film was well remembered by horror and thriller fans from this period. The massive advertising campaign generated huge ticket sales and a high number of holdover dates. But, according to Joseph E. Levine, the film was a failure in the U.S. He claimed, "We dropped dead in every one! You'd think somewhere, a small town maybe, someplace, it would have done business. But no. That's a record they'll never come close to."
For the US trailer, voice specialist Paul Frees looped the voice of Jack the Ripper. For the film itself, Frees did the opening narration over the Paramount logo.
A Swiss-German horror film with Klaus Kinski as the notorious Jack the Ripper. A respected doctor by day, Kinski dismembers London prostitutes by night, until the local Inspector's girlfriend (Josephine Chaplin) goes undercover to catch him. Written by Ørnås
During the latter half of 1888 a notorious serial killer nicknamed Jack The Ripper terrorises the East End of London by murdering prostitutes in a terribly violent way. Public outrage follows. Inspector Frederick Abberline is assigned to the case but finds that it is not just a simple murder enquiry. Based on a real life event, this film claims to have had access to top secret Home Office files and believe that their ending is the correct solution to the age old mystery. Written by Rhino
