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In Hammer Films’ very loose adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic story, Paul Massie plays Dr. Jekyll, a scientist who ingests a potion that leads to a recurring change of personality. His new alter ego, Mr. Hyde, is a devious, dangerous fellow who plots revenge on Jekyll’s adulterous wife (Dawn Addams) and money-grubbing friend (Christopher Lee). But Hyde’s deadly intentions don’t end there — he ultimately seeks to vanquish Dr. Jekyll, too.

Jekyll and Hyde, as a split-personality character, must be a challenge to pull off in any believable way. Massie definitely puts some effort into it, but his tactics aren’t always convincing — particularly the unnatural vocal tone he gives Jekyll. What really ruins the illusion, however, is Hammer’s ridiculous idea that Jekyll should be bearded while Hyde is clean-shaven. I’m all for suspending my disbelief, but fake-looking whiskers that come and go in a flash? Come on, Hammer.

If you can overlook the bizarre on-again/off-again facial hair, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll is otherwise a moderately entertaining effort from Hammer. Dawn Addams and Christopher Lee are well utilized, the widescreen photography is lush and saturated, and the sets and wardrobe are a notch above the studio’s usual, already-remarkable standards. For an intimate three-character drama, screenwriter Wolf Mankowitz and director Terence Fisher keep a good pace and open the story up with a few small moments of action and intrigue. Highlights include Dawn Addams crashing through a skylight, and an exotic snake dance scene that ends with a woman putting the snake’s head in her mouth. Kinky much?

With David Kossoff, an uncredited Oliver Reed, and Norma Marla as the snake dancer, who is also a lover of Mr. Hyde’s.