Dr. Orloff's Monster

Rating:
Summary: Flesh and the Robot
Review: I saw this originally in a Spanish-language version called "The Mistresses of Dr. Jekyll" and was not very impressed. But the longer, French-language version presented by Image is definitely an improvement.

The introductory material here helps to better explain the relationships between Jekyll, his wife, and his brother. The Spanish version deletes most of the female nudity, but since the murder victims are usually nude or near-nude when the robot killer strikes, that makes the murder scenes pretty hard to follow. Fortunately, that is not a problem with the French edition.

"Dr. Orloff's Monster" is not a great classic of the horror genre, but it is an entertaining excursion in the European Gothic mode, and worth a look. The print used by Image for the DVD is quite good.

Rating:
Summary: Dr. Orloff's Monster
Review: The story to this Franco film is interesting, but at the same time weak. Just why is Dr. Jekyll/Fisherman killing these women? Revenge against female kind? Visually the movie is great with atmospheric b&w photography. Nice bit parts abound in the film: the rude police inspector, the boxer/pimp, Franco as the pianist, the Spanish nightclub singer. But Dr. Jekyll is just too self pitying to generate fear. The print has a some scratches here and there but overall looks fine. The sound has crackles and a little hiss, but this doesn't make anything inaudible. Two trailers and some "deleted/alternate" footage is included. The "alternate/deleted" footage being unused takes of the first two murders. It points out how economical Franco is with what he shoots, no goofs, mistakes, every take is almost identical. Another great edition to your Franco collection!