The familiar story of the dangers of scientific experiment, as written by Robert Louis Stevenson, but every classic story needs a new angle, and this Kirk Douglas version has a fairly USP; it’s a musical. And not just any music, but the tunes of Lional Bart, whose tunes made Oliver! a memorable Oscar winner back in 1968. There’s some debate over the provenance of the selection of aspiring show-stoppers featured here, there are suggestions that these songs are off-cuts from that Dickens musical; either way, it should be said that the songs here are really quite catchy, particularly the opener.
Douglas clearly fancied this; his own production company were responsible, and generations who grew up on his sea-shanties in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will know he’s got the pipes. But this is a fairly off-message take on Stevenson’s story, with mild-mannered Jekyll transforming into hairy-handed Hyde, but romance is central to the story rather than mystery. Want to see Jekyll sing a song about buying and riding a bicycle to see his lady-love? Well, there’s a link at the bottom of this article, so this is your chance…
The support is a mixed bag; Jekyll fancies Susan Hampshire, but is drawn to the blowsy actress well played by Susan George. Michael Redgrave does well with his song, as does Donald Pleasence, hardly the first name one thinks of in musical theatre but more than holding his own here. There’s also plenty of strange deviations from the text; Hyde visits the Houses of Parliaments and flings rotten tomatoes at the speakers, a fairly high-profile form of public dissent.
There’s a particularly striking and original scene in the final stages of David Winters’ film, shot cheaply on videotape, in which Jekyll and Hyde appear simultaneously in the same room, reflecting the doctor’s tortured state of mind. That’s a cool idea, and would work in a more horrific treatment, but this is more your lush, chocolate-box Sunday afternoon musical. Those who hate musical theatre should stay away, but fans of Bart’s work, and even his offcuts are tuneful, might want to avail themselves of this forgotten novelty, featuring a genuinely Jekyll and Hyde performance from Douglas.
Don’t mind a musical, but that bicycle song turned me off.
Sigh.
Bicycles should never be subjects of songs. Queen had to learn that the hard way.
Daisy Daisy?
Nat King Cole or The Countdown Kids?
Both.
Both lack any sort of bite. Where’s the edge?
On tour with U2?
Musical = Nope in my books.
Thanks for the warning.
Sigh. Not even this groovy song?
Nope.
I can’t say with 100% surety, but I think the last musical I purposefully watched was the Sound of Music back in the 90’s.
How did that work out for you?
The Sound of Music was a staple in our household growing up so I didn’t think too much about it.
But once I realized what a musical was, I chose to not watch those kind of movies. Music just didn’t have a big place in my mind when it came to watching movies.
That was a jaunty little number. Would not have thought J&H appropriate for a musical, but apparently there are over 123 film versions so it’s not surprising. Can’t remember which one I’ve seen, but it wasn’t this one.
I am singing I Bought A Bicycle for the rest of the day.
How lovely for everyone in the vicinity.
It’s a pastoral scene.
Ah, singing to the horse?
Of course. He likes it.
That’s nice that he likes musicals, our Winnie is partial to Led Zeppelin.
I went to Manchester to see Robert Plant. And met Jimmy Page. Fact!
Cool, don’t think I’d want to as I’m not a fan myself. I expect they are very nice chaps.
Who would you prefer to meet?
Tom Hiddlestone.
also Tom Hardy.
You only get one wish, I’ll have to cancel Hiddlestone, sorry, no multiple orders.
Fek then cancel Hardy, Hids comes first.
Just spoke to Tom, he seems a bit miffed that you felt his visit would not be enough on his own.
Hah as if.
Seemed quite down about it. Just sayin’
He’ll get over it.
Said he’s bought a bicycle for the occassion.
A bicycle made for two?
Of course, what would be the point otherwise? I guess if you get a three saddle one like The Goodies you could have them both.
I’ll have him sent up.