The hits just keep on coming, haha, this time with an undiscovered John Agar flick. If we were in Vegas, the oddsmakers would only offer even money on us, so unstoppable are we at the moment. I mean, two Robert Towne movies, and a John Agar? All in a row? And they say lightning never strikes twice. Try thrice!
The movie was "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll"(1957). The time is the early 20th century. "Janet Smith" (Gloria Talbott) is returning to her childhood home, where she was raised by her guardian, Dr. Lomas (Arthur Shields). It is Janet's 21st birthday, she's now a legal adult. She wants to thank Dr. Lomas for everything and also to tell him the good news : she's getting married. Her fiancee is the handsome "George Hastings" (Agar). He's come along with her for the trip, and while they are there, Dr. Lomas has some news for Janet as well. "Since you are now 21, there are some things I am bound to tell you. But.......I must tell you alone". Janet insists that George is entitled to know anything having to do with her, but the doctor says otherwise. "These are things that you alone must hear. Then, if you decide you wish to tell George, you may do so".
Once George leaves the room, Dr. Lomas begins : "The first bit of news has to do with your late father's will. He left you his entire estate, which was in trust until your 21st birthday. That's today, so it's now yours. Now, the second thing you must brace yourself for. Janet, your father was not Mr. Jonathan Smith as I always told you. I did that for your own protection, because........your actual father was Dr. Henry Jekyll, whose background I'm sure you're aware of".
Janet nearly faints. On the one hand, she's just learned she's now fabulously wealthy. On the other, she's the offspring of diabolical killer, a man of infamy throughout all of England. Dr. Jekyll was said to have a split personality. Some claimed he was a savage, even a werewolf. She calls George back into the room and tells him what she's learned. "You can't marry me"!, she cries. Janet is worried that she will inherit her father's affliction. Dr. Lomas assures her it isn't hereditary. "You see, Janet, I worked with your father. What happened to him was due to an experimental formula he was using. It caused the changes in him. So you see, it wasn't something in his genetics. You're in no danger". George reassures her also, but is wary of Dr. Lomas. He finds the whole situation extremely creepy.
"Let's get out of here, Janet. We don't need this inheritance, I'll make enough money. This talk of madness is frightening you. It's nonsense, ignore it"!
Agar is playing it straight this time. If you were hoping for another Smugfest, you'll be disappointed, but he's actually quite good. He wants Janet to leave with him, howwevver.....Dr. Lomas announces one final stipulation : "The inheritance is conditioned on your permanent residency in this house". She mulls it over, but is concerned about what will become of her kindly old caretaker : "And what will happen to you if we leave"?, she asks him. "Oh, in that case, I'll have to go, too". That seals the deal. Janet is very fond of Dr. Lomas, who devoted his life to raising her. She overrules George and decides to stay. As they are checking out the place, going from room to room, George notices a hollow sound in one wall. "In a place like this, that usually means a hidden chamber". Janet is playing around with a Suit of Armor, and sure enough, when she raises the visor a bookcase rotates. There in all it's splendor is Dr. Jekyll's lab.
"Is this where he......."? Janet trails off.
"Oh, now darling", replies old Dr. Lomas, "don't think of things like that. It hasn't been used in years, except as a storeroom".
Janet accepts his explanation, and she and George retire for the evening (in separate rooms because they aren't yet married). That night, Janet has a terrible nightmare. She dreams she's become a werewolf, running wild in the woods. She sees herself hunt down and kill Maggie, her maid. Her screams wake George, who runs to her bedside. He shakes her out of it. "Janet, wake up! You're having a bad dream"! But her dress is smeared with blood.
How is this possible? She never left the room.
We've been let in on a secret earlier, but I can't tell you what it is. There will be another murder, which Janet "dreams" of as it occurs. Again she awakens covered in blood. Finally, Dr. Lomas locks Janet in her room at night, so she can't possibly leave. He stations himself right outside her door as a secondary measure. He also hypnotises Janet, in an attempt to unlock her memory of the nights in question, to see if she really was just dreaming.
There's not a whole lot of story in "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll", but there's plenty of atmosphere. It was directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, who made an earlier horror classic called "The Black Cat". He also made the legendary B-Noir "Detour" and the memorably weird "Man From Planet X". Ulmer began his career as an art director, and he's put that talent to good use here in "Dr. Jekyll". His production design compensates for the lack of plot, and he's got an excellent lead in Gloria Talbott, who gives Janet a convincing fragility. Despite the fact that John Agar doesn't do his thing this time around, any time you get him in a movie - in any capacity - is reason to count your blessings. I thought I'd mined every last nugget from the Agar Oeuvre, so I myself am thrilled to have found him in a leading role in this spooky surprise. As for Dr. Lomas, you'll be saying "I've seen that actor before......what's his name again"? He's got the Ultimate Irish Face with a voice to match. It took me half the movie, but I finally remembered : "Oh yeah, it's Barry Sullivan"! The the movie ended and it wasn't Barry Sullivan after all, but Arthur Shields.
Who just so happens to be Barry Sullivan's brother, and looks just like him!
The "Jekyll & Hyde" transformation scenes aren't anywhere near as great as you remember from the Frederic March classic. Ulmer must've spent all his dough on fog machines instead. There's also a nice set featuring Dr. Jekyll's crypt. It's a great looking film, nicely photographed. The townspeople are intent on driving a stake through Janet's heart, but does she deserve it? See for yourself. I give "Daughter of Dr. Jekyll" Two Solid Thumbs Up. Highly recommended for it's look, less so for it's story, definitely worth a view. ////
That's all for the moment. It's now Sunday afternoon. Gonna head out for a CSUN walk and then back to Pearl's. See you tonight at the Usual Time!
Tons of love. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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