DRACULA
(1973)/THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
(1968)Directors: Dan Curtis, Charles Jarrott
MPI Home Video
DRACULA
(1973)/THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE
(1968)MPI Home Video has wisely released these two Dan Curtis TV movie productions as a DVD double feature package. This duo represents two of the best "made for TV" horror pics of all time, and it's easy to understand why Jack Palance is a two-time Oscar winner.
DRACULA (also known as BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA) was produced in England in 1973 and released there theatrically. Here, it was sold to CBS and broadcast as a prime-time spectacular in 1974. I remember watching this when it was first broadcast, only to be interrupted by news coverage of the Nixon/Watergate shenanigans. I vividly recall how graphic this was to a five-year old tyke (the scene where Holmwood is attacked by a wolf was particularly profound).
On the outside, Palance seems like an unlikely Dracula, but he really relishes the part, playing him as a tormented soul, overwhelmed by love and his eternal existence. Palance gives his all with every line that he delivers and every physical attribute of the vampire king that he interprets. He is one of the most intimidating Draculas, and his animalistic growls and fits of anger bring a fresh, sympathetic vulnerability to the character.
Dan Curtis directed the film himself, and employing the fine assets of England's Pinewood Studios, DRACULA often resembles a Hammer horror film. Richard Matheson's script combines elements from Stoker's novel with new motifs later lifted for Coppola's overblown Hollywood take of the 90s (the Vlad Tepes connection for example). With a fine supporting cast of British actors (Simon Ward, Nigel Davenport, Fiona Lewis, Murray Brown), this is one of the better adoptions of the classic tale ever filmed.
In THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MISTER HYDE, Palance is even better suited to play Jekyll/Hyde, and this 1968 production proves that. Palance's performance as the kindly doctor who transforms himself into a philandering, sadistic fiend is superb. With convincing make-up by Dick Smith, remarkable art direction by Trevor Williams, and a supporting cast that includes Billie Whitelaw (THE OMEN) and Denholm Elliott, this is finest adoption of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel next to the 1932 Fredric March version.
The only drawback is that it's totally shot on videotape. If this was shot on film and released theatrically, it probably would've gotten the acclaim that it deserves. Sometimes it looks like an episode of Curtis' "Dark Shadows" (it even samples some of the same Robert Cobert music), but don't let that hinder your enjoyment of this two-hour epic. It's totally absorbing regardless.
The quality on both titles is passable. During the opening moments, DRACULA appears completely dark, and it's almost impossible to make distinct a pack of wolves running across the screen. Although darker scenes continuously drown out background detail, this fortunately does not occur too often, and brighter scenes come off much better. The color looks adequate, and reds don't bleed like they did in on MPI's previous laserdisc release (which wasn't too kind to the crimson walls of Arthur Holmwood's home).
This is the same print used for the previous VHS and laser editions, and their are some spots and scratches present, but the DVD is much sharper and represents the best the film has looked since its initial broadcast. The sound is quite robust and seems to have been given a facelift.
JEKYLL AND HYDE suffers from the cheap videotaped look. Since video cameras weren't nearly as advanced 30 years ago as they are today, the image often gets muddy and colors get funky due to the various lighting clashing with the limitations of 60s TV cameras. But, like I said, this production is so absorbing, just sit back and enjoy and you'll forget you're watching something shot on tape.
There are some extras included here such as videotaped interviews with Dan Curtis, which appears to be new, and one with Palance (who says he is yet to have the courage to watch "his" Dracula) conducted for the laserdisc release of years ago. These interviews are on the DRACULA side of the disc, and both only discuss that film, not JEKYLL AND HYDE. There is also a trailer for the British theatrical release of DRACULA. There are no extras on the JEKYLL side. By the way, the titles are mislabeled on the actual disc, so if you want to watch DRACULA, play the disc with the JEKYLL side up and vice versa. Highly recommended. (George R. Reis)