The Daughter of Dr. Jekyll (1957) dir. Edgar G. Ullmer, Film Ventures
And we're back with terror and technocolor. Although this film is black and white.
It's sometime in the 1910's. Deep within the English countryside, Janet Smith (Gloria Talbot) arrives at a sprawling manor house with her fiancé George (John Agar). Tomorrow is her 21st birthday and she is due to inherit the house and all property therein.
There they meet the house staff and Dr. Lomas (Arthur Shields), Janet's guardian. Janet reveals she brought George with her to marry him as quickly as possible. Dr. Lomas is put off by this, calling it rash. He explains that she'll inherit everything tomorrow but there is an extra inheritance she doesn't know about. He's very ominous about the last bit.
The next day, as Janet and George explore the house they discover a hidden lab and notes. When they reasonably ask for an explanation, Lomas orders George out before he tells Janet everything. When the lovers next meet, Janet calls the wedding off.
Why? Werewolves.
Seems Janet's proper name is Janet Jekyll and her old man was a werewolf. Lomas shows them the Jekyll crypt. There's also mention of Jekyll rising from the grave, but that's just silly, isn't it?
Lomas leaves, but he makes sure to hypnotize Janet before he leaves. To calm her nerves, you see. Anyway, Janet wakes refreshed. Also the maid Maggie (Molly McCard) is dead. Yup, torn to bits, almost like a wolf did it.
The second night of the full moon, Lomas comes back. Before he leaves, he makes sure to ply Janet with brandy and drugged milk. That night a couple is attacked. The young man (Marcel Page) escapes, but his lady friend (Reita Green) isn't so lucky.
So Janet is feeling a lot worse. Can George figure out what's going on? Will Lomas stop being so danged obviously evil in every scene?
Not the worse film we'll be looking at this year, but not exactly a good omen. Odd for a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde film to cut out Mr. Hyde.
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