Inferior Quasi-Sequel

 

THE SON OF DR. JEKYLL-1951-After the notorious Mr Hyde is killed and changes back to Dr. Jekyll, his baby son Edward is rescued by Dr. Lanyon (Alexander Knox) and adopted by Dr. Utterson (Lester Matthews). Years later Edward (Louis Hayward) is thrown out of college for some of his experiments. When he proposes to his fiance' Lynn (Jody Lawrance) the doctors decide to tell Ed of his heritage. Ed takes up residence in dad's house and is hounded by the newspapers and taunted by locals. Ed concocts his father's formula and against the wishes of his faithful butler Michaels (Rhys Williams) takes it. 

Unbeknownst to him someone has tampered with the brew. He passes out and turns into Hyde Jr. But when he tries to reproduce the results for the press of course it doesn't work. When a young man (Hamilton Camp) is attacked Edward is accused and arrested by Inspector Stoddard (Paul Cavanagh). It seems Ed is being railroaded. He escapes from the sanatorium and does his own investigating. Of course Lanyon is behind the whole thing. Apparently he lost his reputation when he defended Ed's dad and wants revenge by driving Ed crazy. 

Victor Adamson (aka Denver Dixon and father of future exploitation film director Al Adamson) is briefly seen as a coachman.

SON isn't very good. It's talky and predictable. Director Seymour Friedman made entries into series featuring Boston Blackie, The Crime Doctor and The Saint and later went into TV. 

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Black & White Hammer

THESE ARE THE DAMNED-1963-American vacationing in London Simon Wells (Macdonald Carey, a little too old for his role) is beat up by a gang of Teddy Boys. Although they all dress in leather jackets their leader King (Oliver Reed) wears a suit jacket. Somehow Simon winds up falling in love with King's sister Joan (Shirley Anne Field). While hiding from King on an island they come upon a group of children who are being used in a government experiment involving radioactivity.

This black and white thriller directed by ex-patriot American Joseph Losey (he'd gone to England after being blacklisted in the '50's) takes a little time to get started but is very effective and has an eerie climax. Also with Viveca Lindflors, Alexander Knox and James Villiers.

The above poster makes it seem like a horror film when it's actually a science fiction drama with some social commentary, This was a Hammer-Seven Arts co-production and the executive producer was Michael Carreras.

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