The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Starring:Jack Palance, Denholm Elliott, Leo Genn, Torin Thatcher, Rex Sevenoaks, Gillie Fenwick, Elizabeth Cole, Duncan Lamont, Paul Harding (II), Oskar Homolka, Tessie O'Shea, Jeanette Landis, Liza Creighton, Billie Whitelaw, Donald Webster, Patrick Crean, William Nunn, Geoffrey Alexander, LaVerne Paul, Joe Austin (II)
Director: Charles Jarrott
Studio: Mpi Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Good films, lousy DVD
Double the Palance, Double the Fun
Jack Palance As Dracula? YES!
Very good adaptations of two horror classics
Jack Palance into Horror Palace

Dan Curtis' Dracula/The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Starring: Jack Palance , Denholm Elliott , Leo Genn , Torin Thatcher , and Rex Sevenoaks
Director: Charles Jarrott , and Dan Curtis
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: 0788602012
Release Date: 2000-10-03

Customer Reviews:

Good films, lousy DVD.......2003-07-15

These two Dan Curtis productions are well worth watching, particularly Dracula which features a great performance by the underrated Jack Palance as the Count. However....

The reason I have given this such a low rating is because of the appalling quality of the transfers. Dracula starts out so dark that you can't see anything. My VHS copy (not from MPI but a UK tape) clearly shows a lake, Castle Dracula, and a pack of dogs running to the castle. Here, we hear the dogs but the screen is almost pitch black. Things don't get any better later on as brighter colours bleed (no pun intended) into each other, particularly reds. There's barely a moment in the film where I wasn't distracted by the lousy transfer.

Jekyll and Hyde's problems lie with the source material and is marginally more watchable. It was filmed on videotape and looks like a second or third generation copy. This is more forgiveable considering that the original print may have been in poor condition, but no restoration work has been performed which is a shame.

Hopefully Dracula will get another DVD release sourced from the same print used for my VHS copy. It's not perfect, but at least it's more watchable than MPIs terrible DVD version. I have no idea what the later single MPI DVD release of Dracula is like, but I'm assuming it's of exactly the same appalling quality as this one.

Double the Palance, Double the Fun.......2002-01-29

This 2fer disc is definietly worth it's weight in gold. Produced by Dan Curtis (the man behind Dark Shadows) these 2 movies originally aired on television in 1968 and 1972. The Dracula was improvised making the woman Dracula goes after as the reincarnation of a lost love (ala Barnabas Collins and Josette Dupres). I would love to know Jonathan Frid and Kathryn Leigh Scott's opinions of this movie. The Jekyll/Hyde was shot live on tape in the same way Dark Shadows was. In fact several of the sets and music can be recognized from Dark Shadows. Definitely an improvement over the VHS releases of both which were included with commentary by Elvira, which if you ask me was a waste of time and energy. Important note: to anyone who buys 2 sided discs by MPI Homevideo. The feature usually listed as being on side A is usually on side B and vice versa. In other words, the side labeled as Dracula is the side with Jekyll and vice versa. I've had this experience with 2 sided MPI discs before and have already emailed them about this. Although they replied with gratitude of pointing this out, I don't know if they rectified newer copies. Buy this disc by all means, but watch out for this.

Jack Palance As Dracula? YES!.......2001-11-20

I remember waiting for "Dracula" to air on network television. The creator of the Dark Shadows soap opera was bringing the novel of Bram Stoker's "undead stalker" to the small screen. Jack Palance was announced to play the lead. To tell you the truth, this would not be the first name that would come to mind to cast the role that has been played over and over, but Palance makes one of the greatest "Counts" of all! There is just enough sympathy created for the character to make you almost care, but they don't overdo this element. He's still a bloodthirsty vampire stalking victims. This is a great DVD to add to your horror collection. The companion "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" was equally good for atmospheric sets, acting, and great direction. I was glad this became available.

Very good adaptations of two horror classics.......2001-02-16

This two sided dvd contains two films from producer Dan Curtis (who was responsible for the famous gothic soap opera "Dark Shadows"). The first is a very good adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". This novel seems to be an awkward one to film because almost every version you see changes the plot somewhat or takes liberties with the characters, especially Lucy and Mina. This version is actually the closest I've seen to the original novel. Like the novel, Dracula falls in love with Lucy and later uses Mina as a pawn for revenge (various versions, like the recent Coppola film, have Dracula falling in love with Mina instead of Lucy). The only plot change from the original novel (that I recall) in this version is the way Dracula is killed. In addition to the faitfulness to the novel, this is a handsome production. It was made for television (in the U.S.), so you do have the awkward editing (for commercial breaks) and zoom shots. It has an excellent gothic feel to it and was filmed in beautiful houses and castles in Europe. Jack Palance plays a great Dracula - he is hulking and menacing and brings a sympathetic edge to the character. Also included is the original European theatrical trailer and brief interviews with Dan Curtis and Jack Palance.

The opposite side of the dvd is "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" which also stars Palance. This production also has handsome production values but was filmed on videotape, so you feel like you are watching a PBS drama. Also, Palance's transformation to Mr. Hyde is somewhat humorous - his makeup job makes him look like the Joker from "Batman". Acting is good all around, especially Denholm Elliot and Billie Whitelaw, who was introduced in this film.

On the technical side, these films apparently have not been restored and there is some nicks and scratches (especially on "Dracula") but not enough to distract. Many of the outdoor scenes in "Dracula" are very dark. Some enhancement on these scenes would have been welcome.

A recommended purchase, especially for "Dracula".

Jack Palance into Horror Palace.......2000-09-19

Jack Palance make two brilliant performances in this two tv movies. In the first, the teleplay of Richard Matheson conects Bram Stoker's charachter with a lost love before Coppola's movie. The second is a very reliable version of Stevenson's classic. Filmed in videotape, the look is, perhaps, a little ugly, but it's very interesting by the vision of the two classics and the great casting (not only Palance).

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Average customer rating:

The definitive adaptation
Jack as Jec "Doctor Jeckyll and Mr Hyde"
A must see!
Wisdom Through Violence
a Faithful representation of the book

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Starring: Jack Palance , Denholm Elliott , Leo Genn , Torin Thatcher , and Rex Sevenoaks
Director: Charles Jarrott
Manufacturer: Mpi Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Dan Curtis' Dracula
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Double Feature (1932/1941)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

ASIN: B000060MVE
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Customer Reviews:

The definitive adaptation.......2007-01-09

Jack Palance will forever define the leading role in film adaptations of the Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde tale. His style and appearance were a perfect match for the role. A must have for the classic horror movie enthusiast.

Jack as Jec "Doctor Jeckyll and Mr Hyde".......2006-11-16

This is a fast moving version of the Stevenson story that benifits from strong casting. Palance is an athletic and very menacing Hyde. The atmosphere of foggy London of the 1880's is captured quite nicely. All in all alot of fun to watch!

A must see!.......2006-08-24

This movie was the first movie version of Dr.Jekyll & Mr.Hyde that did not make me feel sorry for Dr.Jekyll at the end. The story telling and acting helped to bring forth the directors vision ( or at least what I believe is the directors vision) in showing the progression of Dr.Jekyll slowly becoming Mr.Hyde to the point where the only difference between one or the other is the face they wear.

Wisdom Through Violence.......2006-04-28

I agree with the other opinions that this version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale is by far the best adaptation to date. I actually give it 4 and 1/2 stars out of five. I'm still waiting for the film version that sticks strictly to the plot and outline of the original 1885 story. Anyway, the 1968 Dan Curtis production is the closest we have to the story and the most powerful (more than I can say for either the 1932 Frederic March flick or the 1941 Spencer Tracy effort). Jack Palance was tragically passed over for an Emmy and Golden Globe for his superb performance of Jekyll and Hyde. Having read the unabridged edition of Stevenson's tale and after seeing this film I realize (perhaps too late) how the story has always been a metaphor for drug addiction. Stevenson claimed he quickly wrote the story down after having a nightmare but this is hardly your typical Gothic horror tale. It's possible Stevenson never acknowledged the story's underlying genius. Whether we wish to admit it or not, Mr. Hyde exists in all of us and we all have our drug of choice (whether it be food, alcohol,presciption drugs, heroin, sex, religion, etc.) that can bring out the hidden realms of our personality. This is a lesson well taught by this wonderful and under-appreciated film. To paraphrase the words of one of the film's main characters, "If the wisdom of tomorrow is learned through the violence of today, can there really be a tomorrow?"

a Faithful representation of the book.......2005-09-04

. I first saw this TV presentation back in 1969. Then, a local PBS station, in 1978, rebroadcast this presentation in which I've made a VHS tape of that broadcast. Now, after searching, this broadcast is available on DVD.

Jack Palance did a superb performance in the title role. His portrayl as the timid doctor and as the monster were well acted. No other actor (even the original actor who was supposed to have this lead role if it wasn't for a strike that happened during the production, Jason Robards) could have filled the shoes as did Jack Palance.

The classic British scenery and atmosphere made the story more believable and more realistic-not as cardboard as the movies were of old and new.

Classic storytelling at its best.

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