The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1968 film)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1968 Canadian-American television film based on the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. It was directed by Charles Jarrott, produced by Dan Curtis, and written by Ian McLellan Hunter.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
DVD cover art
Directed by	Charles Jarrott
Screenplay by	Ian McLellan Hunter
Based on	Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson
Produced by	Dan Curtis
Starring	Jack Palance Denholm Elliott Tessie O'Shea
Music by	Bob Cobert
Production company	Dan Curtis Productions
Distributed by	American Broadcasting Company
Release dates	January 3, 1968 (1968-01-03) (Canada) January 7, 1968 (1968-01-07) (US) September 22, 1972 (1972-09-22) (UK)
Running time	120 minutes
Countries	United States Canada
Language	English

It was one of a series of adaptations of famous novels done by ABC.

Plot

Cast

• Jack Palance as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde
• Denholm Elliott as Mr. George Devlin
• Tessie O'Shea as Tessie O'Toole
• Torin Thatcher as Sir John Turnbull
• Oskar Homolka as Stryker
• Leo Genn as Dr. Lanyon
• Billie Whitelaw as Gwyn Thomas
• Rex Sevenoaks as Dr. Wright
• Gillie Fenwick as Poole
• Elizabeth Cole as Hattie
• Duncan Lamont as Sergeant Grimes
• Paul Harding as Constable Johnson
• Donald Webster as Garvis
• Geoffrey Alexander as Enfield

Production

Dan Curtis originally engaged Rod Serling to write the script and Jason Robards to star, with filming to take place in London. Robards, however, was unhappy with the script, and filming in London proved difficult due to a technician's union strike. Filming was pushed back, and Robards decided to drop out. With a new script by Ian McLellan Hunter and a new leading man in Jack Palance, Curtis decided to film in Canada, where it would be cheaper to do so than in the US.

Filming took place in Toronto over seven weeks in 1967. Curtis had to pay $200,000 to build a replica of Washington Square in Toronto, and Palance was injured while filming a stunt. The budget was approximately $900,000, of which ABC paid approximately half. The show was nominated for four Emmy awards - Outstanding Dramatic Program, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama, Best Graphic Design, and Best Make-up.

References

1. Jack Palance Signed for "Jekyll and Hyde", Los Angeles Times, 24 July 1967: d30.
2. 'Jekyll' Film Has Hideous Problems, Humphrey, Hal., Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 1968: e24.
3. TV Actors--Get 'Em Wholes'l in Canada, Humphrey, Hal., Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 1967: c20.
4. Jack Palance Injured in Stunt Mishap, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sept. 1967: b5
5. TV REVIEW: 'Case of Jekyll and Hyde' Makes Its Debut on ABC, Dutton, Walt., Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 1968: c12.
6. "RPM Magazine Vol.9 No. 11 - May 11, 1968" (PDF).

External links

• The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at IMDb