The Man Who Could Cheat Death

Hammer riffs on Dorian Gray and Jekyll & Hyde to produce a fairly entertaining, if somewhat predictable, gothic horror. Anton Diffring is occasionally sinister, but mostly hammy, in the lead role, Hazel Court is lovely, and Arnold Marlé is excellent as the film's moral conscience. Surprisingly, Christopher Lee is pretty anonymous.

Oh, the glorious Technicolor! Misty scenes outside are beautiful, cinematography in them is much like those silent films, however, the most of the plot happens in rooms. Anton Diffring is constantly overacting, but this is a good thing - crazy scientists must be overacting to be fun. Story itself isn't interesting and reminds of any other crazy scientist movie of that era.

Hazel Court is a stunner and the movie itself is interesting but rather stagy.

"...a must for British horror fans."

Good early Hammer picture!

Not bad.