In celebration of the November 13th birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classic “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, we look at a derivation of that work with the shake and bake Hammer picture, “Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde”.
Stevenson wrote the tale about Dr. Jekyll who developed a serum that would transform himself into a more self-assured, sinister, promiscuous version of himself so that he might more easily pursue some of his “unstated vices and not deal with the shame”. Thus, Mr. Hyde was born. Hyde is variously represented as a savage, violent, night reveler. He drinks, carouses, hangs out with ladies of the night and raises hell: basically, a retro rock star!
In this Hammer picture, Jekyll’s dark side transforms into a female version of himself but who is no less psychotic and destructive than your run of the mill male Hyde. A lot of ruckus, boob flashing, blood and gratuitous murder is the outcome. Your typical Hammer picture!
Just as a side note, in “Edge of Sanity” (1989), Anthony Perkins played a Dr. Jekyll whose experiments with the human psyche led him to develop a serum that combined ether and cocaine and thus unleashed the Beast, Mr. Hyde. Had to throw in that little tidbit. lol.
A wild time! Stevenson might be amused.
