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Abbott & Costello Meet Jekyll & Hyde and Hammer's first Hyde
I've been on a Jekyll/Hyde kick, apparently, having recently got the Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters DVD set, and a 5 movie set from Hammer featuring The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll. I hadn't seen either of these movies before, so I was excited to see them.
I had heard Karloff's Jekyll was far more sinister than any other version, and I can see that is true! Hyde was a tool for Jekyll to get what he wanted. Plus, there was the creepy "old man raises girl into woman and macks on her" angle. Karloff was great in the role, and the make-up by Westmore was nice, if a bit more "rubber mask"-like than what Jack Pierce would have given us. I understand Eddie Parker played all of Hyde's parts, after the transformation dissolves. Abbott and Costello were far more slapsticky in this one, lots of physical comedy. The whole family watched this and really enjoyed it. I think it's my second favorite after "Meets Frankenstein". Plus...that ending!!!
I had NO idea what to expect from Hammer's version, other than Christopher Lee was in it, but not as the title character(s). This is a very different take on the story, with the quiet, bearded Jekyll becoming the clean-shaven and amoral Hyde. Jekyll looked a bit Charlton Heston-like. I wasn't familiar with the actor, Paul Massie, but he was fine. I do think Christopher Lee, by his very presence stole the movie, and Dawn Adams was good as the treacherous wife. She was also in The Vampire Lovers as the countess, so it was nice to see an earlier Hammer job for her here.
I appreciated the new spin on the tale, although it barely qualifies as a horror film, and would probably be considered a thriller at best. The ending was very downbeat, but ultimately satisfying.
Chris
I had heard Karloff's Jekyll was far more sinister than any other version, and I can see that is true! Hyde was a tool for Jekyll to get what he wanted. Plus, there was the creepy "old man raises girl into woman and macks on her" angle. Karloff was great in the role, and the make-up by Westmore was nice, if a bit more "rubber mask"-like than what Jack Pierce would have given us. I understand Eddie Parker played all of Hyde's parts, after the transformation dissolves. Abbott and Costello were far more slapsticky in this one, lots of physical comedy. The whole family watched this and really enjoyed it. I think it's my second favorite after "Meets Frankenstein". Plus...that ending!!!
I had NO idea what to expect from Hammer's version, other than Christopher Lee was in it, but not as the title character(s). This is a very different take on the story, with the quiet, bearded Jekyll becoming the clean-shaven and amoral Hyde. Jekyll looked a bit Charlton Heston-like. I wasn't familiar with the actor, Paul Massie, but he was fine. I do think Christopher Lee, by his very presence stole the movie, and Dawn Adams was good as the treacherous wife. She was also in The Vampire Lovers as the countess, so it was nice to see an earlier Hammer job for her here.
I appreciated the new spin on the tale, although it barely qualifies as a horror film, and would probably be considered a thriller at best. The ending was very downbeat, but ultimately satisfying.
Chris
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