Barbara, il mostro di Londra

I am looking back on this movie with rose-tinted spectacles. I saw it when it first came out at the movies and it was quite risqué at the time. Nowadays, the levels of nudity and prurience would probably be laughable but I do remember feeling a stirring in my loins at the scene where Dr Jekyll realises he is now a woman and the first thing he does is have a good gander. Probably exactly what I'd have done at the time! Plot-wise it's pretty much the straight Jekyll/Hyde story and apart from the twist of changing sex very little is different.

Good performances from Ralph Bates and Martine Beswick who in my opinion didn't get the roles she deserved as she was very much Hammer's leading lady and not a mainstream actress. Very much in the mould of a dark haired version of Ingrid Pitt.

Oh well, I guess a DVD version of this will be available soon if not now and I will watch with relish. However, be warned, I recently bought a DVD of Vampire Lovers and was totally disappointed - obviously my memory of this other movie was tinged with nostalgia for a more innocent time.

At any rate, a movie to be enjoyed when placed into the context of it being made in the early 70's, Hammer were not making a lot of money and were trying to bring a little sex into their horror movies.

You probably know of the regular Jekyll and Hide story, well this Hammer film directed Roy Ward Baker film adds an interesting variation to what you may already know. In Victorian London Dr Henry Jekyll creates a magic potion using hormones stolen from female corpses - he believes that women live longer than men so using their hormones would be more advantageous. After drinking the magic potion, he becomes Sister Hyde - a hot but dangerous woman. As she, he must get more female hormones to make sure the potion doesn't wear off, so she sets off on a murderous rampage through London.

A typical Hammer film where it's as much tongue in cheek as it is horror. Ralph Bates does well as Dr Jekyll, and Martine Bestwick (who you may have seen in the Bond film "From Russia with Love") is excellent. Don't expect a deep delve into feminism or gender struggles, this is a light-hearted horror film through and through. At most if you want to read into it you might perceive sexual repression; Jekyll is married to science while Hyde explores more 'fun' pursuits.

A decent enough film which twists the original Robert Louis Stevenson story in a way that only the 1970's could. 6 out of 10.

Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde: interesting adaptation but it feels more dated than the silent version in some ways. Some of the Hammer 60s/70s aesthetics and attidtdes I guess. It was advertised on Legend Channel as a blackly comic variation on the tale but I have to admit any humour passed over my head apart from Jekyll's annoyance at dresses being ordered by Hyde. A good turn by the villainous Burke & Hare. Happy to murder women to keep the doctor supplied with bodies. While Jekyll is prepared to kill after he takes his potions, Sister Hyde(his alter ego) is the more bloodthirsty. The internal battle between the two personas is well portrayed. Good performances from Ralph Bates as Jekyll and Martine Beswick as Hyde. Directed by Roy Ward Baker from a screenplay by Brian Clemens based on the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. 6.5/10.

Dr. Jekyll (Ralph Bates) is a scientist researching the cure of many diseases. He is a very reserved and shy man, and spends most of his time working on his laboratory. One day, his friend Professor Robertson (Gerald Sim) visits him and advises that he would probably die before the conclusion of his studies. Dr. Jekyll decides to research an elixir of life, based on feminine hormones, to extend his life and consequently end his work. He uses female corpses to get the hormones. The effect of the elixir releases his '"feminine repressed side" and he becomes an aggressive and beautiful woman, Ms. Hyde (Martine Beswick). When the bodies finish in the city morgue, Dr. Jekyll starts killing women to proceed with his research.

"Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde" is another charming movie by Hammer and a great entertainment. The theatrical style uses few locations and the gore and killing are not graphic. Fans of Hammer Film Productions will certainly enjoy this different version of the classic story Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Médico & Irmã Monstro" ("The Doctor and Sister Monster")

London. We see first how Jack the Ripper kills one whore. Then we see that Ripper actually is Dr. Jekyll. Jekyll has killed womens to produced he's "elixir of life". But when he drinks it he becomes a sexy and evil femme fatale Hyde.

Sounds like a bad film? It is not.

This is one of few interesting horror films from Hammer at 70's. Director Roy Ward Baker(Vampyre Lowers) has made a film that really takes you at the late of 19's century. Ralph Bates(Horror of Frankenstein) is good as "the Ripper" Jekyll. In this version Jekyll has to do evil before he drinks the elixir. That make story more interesting. Jekyll first robs the graves with criminals called Burke and Hare(famous real life body snatchers from Edinburgh). Then he has to kill to do good. And when he finally takes a drink things are rally getting on. Martine Beswick(One million years B.C.) is beautiful, sexy and wicked as sister Hyde.

It is a good film. But still... I think that(as a fan of Robert Louis Stevenson's story)this could work better if writer/producer Brian Clemens would have made two films. One of Jekyll & Hyde, another of Jack the Ripper. But after all this, it is worth to see.

But do not watch that comedy Dr. Jekyll and ms. Hyde. That sucked so much!!!