London 1906: Dr Charles Marlowe (played by Christopher Lee) creates a serum which brings out a person's alter-ego. When he tries it out on himself he is transformed into the fiendish Edward Blake. He starts losing control of his transformations, which start happening of their own accord and with increasing frequency. In addition, Blake's crimes turn to that of murder. Marlowe makes a will leaving everything to him should he not return within a period of three months or more. This arouses the concern and suspicion of his lawyer, Utterson (played by Peter Cushing), who turns detective believing Marlowe to be a victim of blackmail at the hands of Blake and, worse, that he intends to murder him. It is only after Blake attempts to murder Utterson that the lawyer discovers the shocking truth...
Originally intended to be shot in a 3D process which was quickly abandoned, this remains a very watchable attempt to remake Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. But why they decided to rename the principal characters as Dr Marlowe and Mr Blake is anybody's guess. It sticks quite closely to the original story and attempts to recreate key scenes from it on the screen. Notably where Blake injects himself with the serum in front of Dr Marlowe's estranged friend, Dr Lanyon (played by Richard Hurndall), and transforms back into the scientist in front of his very eyes causing him to die of shock. Although it is shot in silhouette (no doubt due to budget limitations and SFX demands) it is surprisingly effective. Lee clearly enjoyed the opportunity to play the part, which he didn't get to do in Hammer's own flawed but interesting take on the tale, The Two Faces Of Dr Jekyll (1960), but that film actually features one of the actor's finest performances for that studio, funnily enough. Lee is well supported by Cushing and Richard Hurndall is quite good as Dr Lanyon. Director Stephen Weeks, who was only 22 when he made this, displays a remarkably strong visual sense and his feeling for period detail is commendable. This is much enhanced by Moray Grant's lighting and Tony Curtis' art direction.
Originally intended to be shot in a 3D process which was quickly abandoned, this remains a very watchable attempt to remake Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. But why they decided to rename the principal characters as Dr Marlowe and Mr Blake is anybody's guess. It sticks quite closely to the original story and attempts to recreate key scenes from it on the screen. Notably where Blake injects himself with the serum in front of Dr Marlowe's estranged friend, Dr Lanyon (played by Richard Hurndall), and transforms back into the scientist in front of his very eyes causing him to die of shock. Although it is shot in silhouette (no doubt due to budget limitations and SFX demands) it is surprisingly effective. Lee clearly enjoyed the opportunity to play the part, which he didn't get to do in Hammer's own flawed but interesting take on the tale, The Two Faces Of Dr Jekyll (1960), but that film actually features one of the actor's finest performances for that studio, funnily enough. Lee is well supported by Cushing and Richard Hurndall is quite good as Dr Lanyon. Director Stephen Weeks, who was only 22 when he made this, displays a remarkably strong visual sense and his feeling for period detail is commendable. This is much enhanced by Moray Grant's lighting and Tony Curtis' art direction.