Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde

Rating:
Summary: Great male to female transformation
Review: If you're at all interested in the idea of a man transforming into a woman, this is the movie to see. Fanstastic performance by the beautiful Martine Beswick. You really see the mental transformation from man to woman.

Rating:
Summary: LOVELY BUT LETHAL
Review: In a clever gender-bending twist on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale, the research done by Dr. Henry Jekyll(Ralph Bates) involves experimentation with female hormones. The inevitable Jekyll-into-Hyde transformation takes place, and he changes into a ravishing female version of himself(movie siren Martine Beswick). Hammer Films' 1971 "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde"s plot unravels slowly as the camera winds down foggy, moon-lit London streets. The edgy pace picks up, however, hustling to a typically thrilling ending. Once promoted as the new, younger Christopher Lee, Ralph Bates has the lead role. Sadly, he died young at age 51 of cancer. The distaff Hyde is played by exotic Martine Beswick, who was lovely as Bond Girls in 2 films. She danced in "One Million BC" for Hammer, and was awarded the lead in it's sequel, "Prehistoric Women". Today she runs a furniture moving business in London. Hammer veteran Roy Ward Baker directed "Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde". He is perhaps best known for the early Titanic classic "A Night to Remember". This Technicolor DVD is 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. It is uncut, with 3 provocative minutes never seen in American theaters. You get a trailer, radio spots, bios, and a fascinating audio commentary with the director, writer, and Beswick. Their memories of the inner workings of Hammer Films is delightful. This is a great spin on an old tale, and Bates and Beswick are excellent as two halves of the same whole.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific DVD package for unsung late-era Hammer thriller
Review: Seemingly neglected for years by the usual Hammer crowd, due perhaps to the schlocky, sensationalistic promotional ad campaign by distributor AIP here in the States, or the presumed staleness of the time-worn source material, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde actually holds up today as one of late-period Hammer's better horror efforts. Not surprising considering the talent behind it, particularly director Roy Ward Baker (whose numerous genre credits include Asylum, The Vampire Lovers, Quatermass and the Pit, and the superior Titanic-flick A Night to Remember), writer Brian Clemens (Avengers, Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Captain Kronos), and producer Albert Fennell (Avengers, Burn Witch Burn, Captain Kronos). Originating as a joke idea tossed out by Clemens at a dinner party, the script's sex-change twist, as presented in the movie, is really not much more incredible than Stevenson's original dual-personality concept, and is worked both for shocks and some wicked humor. The screenplay interweaves multiple subplots (including bits borrowed from the Jack the Ripper and Burke and Hare mythos) with several moderately gory murders and some brief nudity, faltering only slightly at the somewhat anticlimactic finish. The metamorphoses of Jekyll (Ralph Bates) into "sister" Hyde (Martine Beswick) and back are accomplished on-camera in a number of clever ways that DO NOT involve the traditional makeup-and-lap-dissolve techniques (and are all the more effective for it), and the basic physical resemblance between Bates and Beswick is close enough to really sell the effect. Overall one of late-era Hammer's few really respectable efforts, worth a serious look for fans of the studio's output or Jekyll-and-Hyde completists.
Once again Anchor Bay's DVD puts to shame most efforts by bigger video companies on "bigger" films. The uncut, 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen source print is bright, sharp, and detailed, with excellent color and contrast, and virtually spotless. Extras include a super-clean widescreen trailer, radio spots, poster and still gallery, filmographies, French language track, and audio commentary by Beswick, Baker, and Clemens. While less animated and 'dishy' than some (see Anchor's Lust for a Vampire DVD), the wide-ranging discussion is still quite interesting for fans of the film or the work of any of the principals. In sum: yet another classy, definitive release from Anchor and a must-have DVD for Hammer aficionados. Four stars for the movie; five for the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Cropped SEVERELY to 1.85:1 rather than shown properly.
Review: This DVD was made using a "master" which was cropped in on the sides and then severely cropped down from the top and up from the bottom to yield the much sought-after concept of "letterboxing" at an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 which is altogether too narrow. Films made at this time in Britain were to be shown at 1.66:1 at the most, and as a result of the cropping-on-the-sides and cropping-top-and-bottom what you see on this DVD is missing QUITE a bit of visual information on All Four Sides. You might as well be watching the actual film through a mailslot in a door. This is not the first title Anchor Bay has cropped inaccurately, erring unfortunately on the side that says, "make it fit Academy ratio, even if we show less than we should". At one time AB argued it cropped to Academy ratio to conform to anamorphic standards, but that's bogus. A film can be shown anamorphically at 1.66:1. What IS a big shame is that this title will probably not be re-released in a more complete visual form. The audio commentary from paricipants Roy Ward Baker and Martine Beswick is most welcome, however, and a good enough reason to watch. Just know that visually, you're missing a lot of what you should be seeing -- this entertaining film isn't framed properly, and quite a bit of visual information available even in the Lumiere VHS version is missing from the DVD. Release to DVD is no insurance against bad handling, unfortunately, and even by AB, which is doubly shocking.

Rating:
Summary: Tight little Hammer Thriller with Atmosphere
Review: This film is a nice little Hammer shocker that is fun. The casting of the leads, Ralph Bates and Martine Beswick, is superb. There is ample atmosphere, fog shrouded England, sex and violence to go around also. I can only say the PG rating indicated must have been for the old U.S. cut when released, as this film is an R. Also nice, is these Republic are now being done in SP instead of the EP before.

Rating:
Summary: Underrated Hammer Glamour
Review: Truly one of the greatest Hammer Films of the 1970s. Screenwriter/Producer Brian Clemens brings a breath of fresh air to the Hammer establishment that had been missing for some time. Bizarre and inventive, without being exploitive, Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde is a gloomy amd atmospheric Victorian horror. Everything is played seriously, which makes the film more believable and enjoyable. The two leads are perfectly cast. Martine Beswick is menacing as Sister Hyde without being camp, and Ralph Bates puts in a sensitive and understated performance as Dr. Jekyll. Roy Ward Baker's snappy direction compliments everything nicely. The score by David Whitaker adds much to the proceedings. As usual Anchor Bay has put together a great package for an underappreciated film. Presented uncut, the picture appears slightly grainy, no doubt due to the dense fog in much of the story. Otherwise it is a fine transfer. Also included is a fun and informative commentary, talent bios, and radio spots. The real treat is the photo gallery, not because of the photos themselves, but because the rich score accompanies it. A fine treat.