Lack of good storyline.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Robert Louis Stevenson's wonderful story (107 pages long in the small paperback edition that contains three of his other stories) is one of my all-time favorites. It's totally depressing that not one attempt has ever been made to film a movie that's true to Stevenson's work. It's almost as though no one in Hollywood has ever read the actual story. Or maybe they just don't care, they don't think it's dramatic enough, or scary enough, or interesting enough, they have to "Hollywood it up." In any case, this particular version is a joke, probably farther from the original story than any other movie I've seen or heard of. It really is absurd. If you don't understand what I mean, go read the story.

An excellent and unfairly maligned Hammer film production, made during the period when Hammer were still updating the old horror movie classics with their own versions. THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL is an old-fashioned film for Hammer, in that it focuses more on characters and strong acting rather than the bloodshed and special effects that previous adaptations of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and Dracula included (not to demean them in any way). Director Terence Fisher, one of the best of the studio, brings life and vitality to the film which despite a lack of action is never boring thanks to the gripping script and strong characters. Once again the production values are excellent, with an accurate and convincing portrayal of Victorian London in which the locations and costumes are immaculate. The music is also great and helps add to the overall experience.Although the plot is literate and focuses on the psychology of Jekyll's character, that's not to mean it isn't exciting at all. Indeed there are some wonderful set-pieces and powerful moments as the climax draws close, with a murder, a spectacular suicide through the roof of a ball room, an excellent inferno and the conclusion, which thanks to Massie's acting is also really something to be seen. Massie plays both Jekyll and Hyde in the film to good effect, with the twist being that Jekyll is a dark, bearded and brooding scientist with bushy eyebrows whereas Hyde is a clean-shaven and handsome cad, a hit with the ladies at the local club. Although a relative unknown - this was his only horror role - Massie really delivers a tragic performance of a man with two personalities trapped inside his own, and I loved the ending moments where both Jekyll and Hyde argue inside his body as each struggles with the other for control. I'd even go so far to say that Massie rivals Frederic March's previously peerless performance in the leading role.THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL also boasts a strong supporting cast, with good performances from Dawn Addams as Jekyll's unfaithful wife, and in particular Christopher Lee who has a ball at portraying a completely ruthless and evil vice-ridden man. Francis De Wolff is an investigating policeman and David Kossoff a friend of the family who tries unsuccessfully to help out. Bit parts also go to Oliver Reed, in one of his first as a club member who tries to make trouble and ends up being clubbed over the head, and Joe Robinson as a boxer (what else?). An interesting point has been made that not one character in this film is without fault, and that each of the three (or is that four?) leading characters are each as selfish as each other and get what they deserve. With a premise like that, there's no escaping a tragic conclusion but this film offers a powerful and gripping ride in getting to that conclusion. Highly recommended.

I always perk up when I see Terence Fisher's name on the directing credits for a Hammer movie...I know the results may not be perfect, and may get a little bogged down here and there, but his movies are usually worth watching at least once. And that's the case here.As usual with a Hammer film, they try to go down a different track than a corresponding Universal film would take. Here they apparently decided to incorporate some of the themes from "The Picture Of Dorian Gray" and do more soap opera and emotional violence than actual physical horror.Jekyll's alter ego is actually a handsome, charismatic fellow (although still a sociopath), which is a lot of fun. And the plot lines get quite tangled as Hyde ends up becoming friends with the man who is cheating with his wife and even chasing his wife in his alternate personality.Although the copy I saw was muddy and sepia tinted, the "Two Faces" has the usual excellent sets, costumes, and acting, although the dialog gets a bit purple now and then and Fisher seems to think we'd rather watch a Can-Can dance sometimes than get on with the murders and rape at the climax of the movie.It was also fun to see Christopher Lee in this in a supporting role instead of either the monster or the protagonist. He's charming, sexy, and completely believable as the rake and philanderer who becomes Hyde's "best friend" and adds enough energy and variety to the movie to elevate it a couple of notches. So this is typical Hammer - way better than you'd ever expect from what might be a typical shock/exploitation approach, and yet somehow never more than just another genre horror piece. This ain't "ART"...but it's still darned good "Craft".

This is one of Hammer's lesser known films, their attempt to due justice to this second-string horror tale.The film's biggest weakness is Paul Massie, who plays Jekyll and Hyde, and none of Jekyll's intimates can figure out Hyde is Jekyll with a shave and a sissy accent. You all though Lois Lane was dense, and usually the EVIL one has the beard.Hyde engages in all sorts of Victorian depravity, which apparently includes seeing a woman's knees in public. But Jekyll/Hyde really only wants to have sex with his wife, it seems.The real villain in this movie is Christopher Lee, as Jekyll's friend who is also having an affair with his wife, but is still tapping his friend for money. When he and the cheating wife get theirs, you cheer. Then Jekyll turns on everyone else, and you don't feel so much sympathy for him.You have the typical Hammer Reveal at the end of the film, but overall, it's not really great.