Hammer Studios put a unique spin on this classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson: Professor Henry Jekyll (Canadian born Paul Massie) is a homely schmuck working on proving that old theory about the duality of humankind. When he tests some experimental serum on himself, he transforms into the much more handsome and suave Edward Hyde. Unfortunately, he can't really control these transformations, and Hyde becomes the dominant personality more and more, and Hyde shows himself to be an effectively conniving and nasty individual.
Sir Christopher Lee is great fun in a supporting role, playing Paul Allen, Jekylls' friend and a compulsive gambler. Paul has also been carrying on with Jekylls' wife Kitty (Dawn Addams) for quite some time. It's rare that Sir Christopher got a chance to be this funny, or to be so loose in a performance. Likable Massie is quite good in the two vastly different primary roles. He's so charming as Hyde that you can't help but like Hyde to some degree, until his ruthlessness comes out. It's similarly refreshing that the wife is not that loyal, or understanding, and the lovely Addams does a capable job. David Kossoff (as Jekylls' colleague Ernst), and Norma Marla (as the alluring exotic dancer Maria) offer excellent support. The physically imposing Francis De Wolff only comes in towards the end, not given much to do as a police inspector who picks up Hydes' trail. And keep an eye out for a very young Oliver Reed as a tough talking pimp!
Hammer mainstay director Terence Fisher is in fine form, and the production design by Bernard Robinson is sumptuous, as you would expect after seeing his work on other Hammer horror films. The color photography just pops, and it's a treat that Hammer decided to shoot this in Megascope (a 2.35:1 aspect ratio). Screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz crafts an adaptation that is entertaining if ultimately light on horror elements. For one thing, we never seen an on screen transformation from Jekyll to Hyde, or vice versa. It's Massies' performance that sells those moments.
Overall, not bad. Worth a look for Hammer fans.
Seven out of 10.
Sir Christopher Lee is great fun in a supporting role, playing Paul Allen, Jekylls' friend and a compulsive gambler. Paul has also been carrying on with Jekylls' wife Kitty (Dawn Addams) for quite some time. It's rare that Sir Christopher got a chance to be this funny, or to be so loose in a performance. Likable Massie is quite good in the two vastly different primary roles. He's so charming as Hyde that you can't help but like Hyde to some degree, until his ruthlessness comes out. It's similarly refreshing that the wife is not that loyal, or understanding, and the lovely Addams does a capable job. David Kossoff (as Jekylls' colleague Ernst), and Norma Marla (as the alluring exotic dancer Maria) offer excellent support. The physically imposing Francis De Wolff only comes in towards the end, not given much to do as a police inspector who picks up Hydes' trail. And keep an eye out for a very young Oliver Reed as a tough talking pimp!
Hammer mainstay director Terence Fisher is in fine form, and the production design by Bernard Robinson is sumptuous, as you would expect after seeing his work on other Hammer horror films. The color photography just pops, and it's a treat that Hammer decided to shoot this in Megascope (a 2.35:1 aspect ratio). Screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz crafts an adaptation that is entertaining if ultimately light on horror elements. For one thing, we never seen an on screen transformation from Jekyll to Hyde, or vice versa. It's Massies' performance that sells those moments.
Overall, not bad. Worth a look for Hammer fans.
Seven out of 10.