I, Monster

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This article is about the horror film. For the British music group, see I Monster.

I, Monster
I, Monster Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byStephen Weeks
Written byMilton Subotsky
Based onStrange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Produced byJohn Dark
Max Rosenberg
Milton Subotsky
StarringChristopher Lee
Peter Cushing
Mike Raven
Richard Hurndall
George Merritt
Kenneth J. Warren
CinematographyMoray Grant
Edited byPeter Tanner
Music byCarl Davis
Distributed byBritish Lion Films
The Cannon Group
Release dates
  • November 1971 (1971-11) (U.K.)
  • April 1973 (1973-04) (U.S.)
Running time
75 minutes
81 minutes
(extended cut)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

I, Monster is a 1971 British horror film directed by Stephen Weeks (his feature debut) for Amicus Productions. It is an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with the main characters' names changed to Dr. Charles Marlowe and Mr. Edward Blake.[1]

Plot[]

Psychologist Charles Marlowe (Lee) invents a drug which will release his patients' inhibitions. When he tests it on himself, he becomes the evil Edward Blake, who descends into crime and eventually murder. Utterson (Cushing), Marlowe's lawyer, believes that Blake is blackmailing his friend until he discovers the truth.

Cast[]

Production[]

It stars Christopher Lee as the doctor and his alter ego, and Peter Cushing as Frederick Utterson, a central character in Stevenson's original story. Mike Raven and Susan Jameson also star. It was photographed by Moray Grant, with music by Carl Davis.[2]

Peter Duffell, who had previously worked for Amicus, was offered the movie to direct, but turned it down.[1] Financing came from British Lion and the NFFC.[3]

It was intended to be shown in 3-D utilizing the Pulfrich effect, but the idea was abandoned upon release.[4]

Reception[]

The film performed poorly at the box office,[3] however recent reviews have praised the film for its faithful direction from the source material[5] with Drew Hunt of Chicago Reader listing it as one of Christopher Lee's five best roles.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Hallenbeck 2015, p. 112.
  2. ^ Miller & Johnson 2009, p. 226.
  3. ^ a b Bryce 2000, p. 72-79.
  4. ^ Hallenbeck 2015, p. 112-115.
  5. ^ Hallenbeck 2015, p. 115.
  6. ^ Hunt 2015.

Sources[]

  • Bryce, Allen (2000), Amicus: The Studio That Dripped Blood, Stray Cat Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-0953326136
  • Hallenbeck, Bruce G. (2015), The Amicus Anthology, Midnight Marquee Press, ISBN 978-1936168569
  • Hunt, Drew (14 June 2015), Christopher Lee's five best performances, Chicago Reader, retrieved 22 February 2017
  • Miller, Mark A.; Johnson, Tom (2009), The Christopher Lee Filmography: All Theatrical Releases, 1948-2003, McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0786446919

External links[]


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