Jekyll & Hyde (1990)

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.

Director:

David Wickes

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (derived from the story by), David Wickes

Stars:

Michael Caine, Cheryl Ladd, Joss Ackland

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Caine	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde
Cheryl Ladd	...	Sara Crawford
Joss Ackland	...	Dr. Charles Lanyon
Ronald Pickup	...	Jeffrey Utterson, Esquire
Diane Keen	...	Annabel
Kim Thomson	...	Lucy Harris
Kevin McNally	...	Sergeant Hornby
David Schofield	...	Snape
Lee Montague	...	Inspector Palmer
Miriam Karlin	...	Mrs. Hackett
Lance Percival	...	Beresford Mount, Prince's Private Secretary
Joan Heal	...	Mrs. Clark
Frank Barrie	...	Poole the Butler
Lionel Jeffries	...	Jekyll's Father
Martin Jacobs	...	Young Man (as Martyn Jacobs)

Storyline

Henry Jekyll is a troubled man. His wife died of pneumonia. He wants his sister-in-law, but her father forbids any contact, and his experiments into the dual nature of man have yielded a personality-splitting drug that he has tested on himself, changing him into an uninhibited brute who seeks violent and undignified pleasures. Jekyll quickly becomes addicted to the sordid freedom induced by the drug. He can commit the most enjoyably revolting deeds, then return to his laboratory and use an antidote to change back to his original form, so that his lofty persona remains untarnished. But Jekyll's forbidden affair with his sister-in-law becomes a scandal, and with the growing rage within him, his other self no longer needs the drug for release. As Jekyll loses control of his transformations and his antidote becomes less effective, the Police begin to suspect his part in his alter-ego's increasing violence.

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Plot Keywords:

character names as title | dr. jekyll and mr. hyde characters | surnames as title | three word title | transformation | 

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some terror/violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the time of the movie's release, Sir Michael Caine was age 57 and Cheryl Ladd was age 39.

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Goofs

When Dr. Jekyll sits in a chair and takes pictures of himself turning into Hyde, he takes his ring off his pinky before drinking the potion. However, when he is turning into Hyde, the ring is back on his finger.

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Quotes

Mr. Hyde: I am saving my neck. From the gallows.

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Connections

Version of Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)

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Soundtracks

Blue Danube
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Strauss

User Reviews

A Solid Retelling of a Classic Tale

In August 1884 London, the respected Dr. Henry Jekyll (Michael Caine) experiments with a potion that turns him into the monstrous Mr. Hyde. The Hyde part is not such a nice character, though, raping, murdering and breaking stuff if it comes into his path.

Reviews tend to be less than favorable for this film, with Mike Mayo calling it "tepid" and saying that it "never really gets to the heart of the matter." He even blasts the special effects, saying that "the Hyde makeup looks like a lumpy onion with a bad attitude." I accept that the Hyde character is a bit too unhuman, but Mayo mistakes what "the heart of the matter" is.

The story is not centrally concerned with Jekyll or Hyde, but rather the world of technology and science against religion and Victorian values. There is a constant social commentary that the world moves forward and science replaces ignorance, as men increasingly become like gods. Whether this message is right or not is beside the point: it is the argument Jekyll makes to his class against his father-in-law.

I love Michael Caine and everything that he does, but it is Edward Snape, the snooping news reporter, that is by far the most interesting character in this television film.

I thought the film was fun and quite good, regardless of the naysayers. If a version existed with audio commentary or some further insight into the film's background, that would be wonderful. But as it stands, it's a fine film, and a very welcome version of the Jekyll and Hyde story.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

David Wickes TV, King Phoenix Entertainment, London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1