14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Daughter of Dr Jekyll, June 17, 2000
This review is from: Daughter of Dr. Jekyll: Edgar Ulmer Collection, Volume Three (DVD)
The DVD release of "Daughter of Dr Jekyll" is one of those guilty pleasures fulfilled for fans of 1950's science-fiction and horror films. Fans of director Edgar Ulmer's similar output in this decade (think of "Man from Planet X" or "The Amazing Transparent Man") will enjoy this outing, and will expect to see the work of a stylist struggling against a meager budget. The film stars sci-fi veterans John Agar and Gloria Talbot, but perhaps the real star is the overworked fog machine ulmer uses to try to hide some obvious sets and models. The disc has its fair share of extras, including a trailer, posters/stills, an interesting monologue from John Agar, and an isolated music/effects track. the music is seemingly composed of cues from other sources...die-hard fans will recognize the recurring theme from "Robot Monster". Picture quality in all indoor shots is very sharp; some of the outdoors scenes are a bit fuzzy but add to that late-night television feel where most of us probably first saw the movie. Very enjoyable.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovingly restored!, November 26, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Daughter of Dr. Jekyll: Edgar Ulmer Collection, Volume Three (DVD)
This is a fine example of the archival capabilities of DVD. Presented here is DAUGHTER OF DR. JEKYLL, a silly yet often effective piece of "poverty row" filmmaking circa 1957. The film's director Edgar G. Ulmer almost makes you forget the budget with which he was filming. Excellent camera work and lighting give this film an oft times eerie atmosphere. The film transfer is mostly quite clear, with minimal flecks,lines and scratches. The picture is bright and sharp and the soundtrack wonderfully preserved. Ulmer's daughter's commentary is a welcomed and loving addition, giving the viewer a better understanding of the filmmaker's motivation. She claims this particular film was made for "a buck". Not hard to see, but one feels they are watching something just outside of the usual bargain basement thriller. This is a lovely way to restore a fun pseudo-classic. Buy with confidence!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bloodstains on your collar, February 27, 2003
This review is from: Daughter of Dr. Jekyll: Edgar Ulmer Collection, Volume Three (DVD)
Gloria Talbott was the Connie Francis of "B" movies in the 1950s. Having appeared as a child performer in the late 1930s, Gloria's heyday was in the 50s, appearing in several films, including "The Cyclops", "The Leech Woman", the infamously titled "I Married a Monster from Outer Space", and, of course,"Daughter of Dr. Jekyll", directed by legendary B-movie director Edgar G. Ulmer ("The Black Cat", "Detour","Bluebeard"). The setting is early 1900s England. The shapely, dark-haired and big-eyed Gloria plays plays Janet Jekyll (No, I'm not kidding!) who, having turned 21, returns to her ancestral home with her new husband John Agar,(No, I'm not kiddding!) to claim her inheritance. Janet, who has always thought her last name was "Smith" (No, I'm not kidding!) learns of her true name, and of her infamous father. Kindly(?) Dr Lomas, played by Arthur Shields, who was Barry Fitzgerald's real-life brother (No, I'm not kiddding!) is the executor of her late father's estate. Janet begins to be plagued by terrible nightmares, in which she has inherited her father's curse of lycanthropy (No, I'm not kiddding!), and attacks and kills young girls in her nocturnal prowlings. She wakes up with bloodstains on her nightgown, and learns that indeed, young girls have been murdered by a ferocious creature. Janet begins to doubt her own sanity...."Daughter of Dr. Jekyll" is a guilty pleasure, filmed on an obviously low budget, with spartan sets, ludicrous dialogue and costumes (John Agar's hideous striped jacket looks like one of John Payne's cast-offs from "Hello, Frisco, Hello", and one victim looks straight out of a Frederick's of Hollywood catalogue, in her black corset), and my favorite scene is in which Ms. Talbott and Mr. Agar are having breakfast, and through the lace-curtained window, one can see 1950s cars zipping down the street! (No, I'm not kiddding!) Also in the cast is the craggy and very American John Dierkes as "Jacob", a surly and suspicious handyman who always talks about "the lads" in the pub, and is laboriously carving out a wooden stake to plunge through "The werewolf Jekyll's heart" (No, I'm not kiddding!)The picture quality and sound on this DVD are superb, so one can really appreciate the tinsel sets and the aforementioned "breakfast scene" in their digitally enhanced crispness. There is also an interview with the late John Agar on the DVD, and a gallery of poster art and lobby cards. It's wonderful that such enjoyable, fun "junk" like this is treated with such reverence, and to give Mr. Ulmer his due, his films were never dull, and considering the miniscule budgets he had to work with, he delivered the goods, even though they were more than a little ridiculous. So, park yourself on your sofa with some refreshments, and enjoy "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll". ..... (sinister laugh) "Are you sure?" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!
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