The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll (1960)

Set in 1874 London, a mild mannered doctor (Paul Massie) is conducting experiments on the duality of the human mind. Meanwhile, his wife (Dawn Addams) is having an affair with his best friend (Christopher Lee). Loosely based on the novella by Robert Louis Stevenson and directed by Hammer veteran Terence Fisher. Stevenson's tale has been adapted with various variations over a 100 times into films, television and stage productions. This one plays down the horror elements and concentrates on the more dramatic aspects of the story. We never actually see Jekyll's transformation into Hyde and really it's just a matter of a clean shaven Hyde as opposed to a bearded Jekyll. Massie's Hyde is good looking as opposed to the more sinister portrayals of Hyde. Unfortunately, Massie isn't a very interesting actor and the film might have benefited if he and Christopher Lee had switched parts. Addams' adulterous wife and Lee's parasitic best friend are far more interesting than Massie's bland Jekyll and Hyde. The film itself looks terrific thanks to Jack Asher's vibrant lensing and Mayo's costumes especially during the can-can sequence. With Oliver Reed, David Kossoff, Francis De Wolff and Norma Marla.