Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971)

A Victorian scientist tests a serum that transforms him into a sensuous murderess.

Director:

Roy Ward Baker

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (based upon the story by), Brian Clemens (screenplay)

Stars:

Ralph Bates, Martine Beswick, Gerald Sim

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ralph Bates	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll
Martine Beswick	...	Sister Hyde
Gerald Sim	...	Professor Robertson
Lewis Fiander	...	Howard Spencer
Dorothy Alison	...	Mrs. Spencer
Neil Wilson	...	Older Policeman
Ivor Dean	...	William Burke
Paul Whitsun-Jones	...	Sergeant Danvers
Philip Madoc	...	Byker
Tony Calvin	...	William Hare
Susan Brodrick	...	Susan Spencer
Dan Meaden	...	Town Crier
Virginia Wetherell	...	Betsy
Geoffrey Kenion	...	First Policeman
Irene Bradshaw	...	Yvonne

Storyline

In Victorian London, Dr. Henry Jekyll attempts to create an elixir of life using female hormones stolen from fresh corpses. He reasons that these hormones will wipe out all common diseases and extend his life since women live much longer than men. However, once Dr. Jekyll drinks the serum himself, he transforms into a gorgeous but evil woman. He soon needs female hormones for his serum to maintain, so a number of London women meet bloody deaths.

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Plot Keywords:

looking at oneself in a mirror | death | evil woman | breasts | costume horror | 

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Taglines:

This film is filled with... SHOCK! AFTER SHOCK!

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

April 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde

Filming Locations:

Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The BBFC requested cuts to remove the inter-cutting of a murder and a rabbit gutting, and to edit a bedroom murder and the stabbing of Professor Robertson. The bedroom murder was shortened though Hammer re-edited the stabbing of the doctor to comprise flash shots of earlier killings. Despite initial BBFC objections the film was then passed, and all later releases feature this same edited print.

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Goofs

The first transformation scene uses the very clever (1971 technology) of having Jekyll "reflected" in a fake mirror which is actually a window to a matching set containing Sister Hyde. Unfortunately, the two actors rise out of their chairs at slightly different speeds.

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Quotes

Sister Hyde: There'll be a different kind of victim tonight, not a streetwalker but a pure young virgin. That will end the tug-of-war between us.

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Connections

Featured in Movie Macabre: Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde (1982)

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Soundtracks

He'll Be There
Music & Lyrics by Brian Clemens
Performed by Julia Wright (dubbed by Jackie Lee)

User Reviews

Superb variation on the classic tale!

First of all, the tagline and the claim in the trailer that you will actually see a man transform into a woman before your very eyes isn't exactly true. A man does change into a woman in this film; but the change doesn't take place 'before your very eyes'. That being said; this is still a great horror film. Hammer studios have done some great variations on classic tales, and this one stands up as one of their best. The story follows Dr Jekyll, a scientist that, when trying to find cures to every disease going realises that his efforts to prolong life will, ironically, be beaten by death. This then leads to him trying to 'beat' death with the use of chemicals, but somewhere along the way, as his experiments are oestrogen based, he ends up turning himself into a woman. Oops!

As you might expect, this isn't an entirely serious horror film. However, there are more than enough moments of horror: the scenes where Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde battle for 'control' of their body is a brilliant piece of psychological horror, and the parts where Sister Hyde goes out to kill women in order to get more oestrogen are gratuitously bloody and should delight any horror fan. The film is also very atmospheric; the scenes on the streets are filled with smoke and are very gloomy in the way that they are filmed, which makes for a delicious setting. The cast is also brilliant; Ralph Bates is sublime as Dr Jekyll; he creates just the right mood for his character and is very believable, particularly during the split personality scenes. Martine Beswick, whom you might remember as the Bond girl in "From Russia With Love" is both sexy and sadistic as the evil Sister Hyde. She is the stand out of the movie for me. And most other men. Also in the cast is the lovely Susan Broderick, and the competent Lewis Fiander as brother and sister duo; Howard and Susan, who make for an interesting sub-plot when they both fall for Dr Jekyll. If you haven't realized already; Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde is a great horror film, and therefore comes with the highest recommendation that I can muster.