The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne (2-Disc Special Edition) [Blu-ray + DVD]

Interesting take on the Jekyll/Hyde story, with excellent performances, including the simply stunning Marina Pierro and particularly Gerard Zalcberg as Mr. Hyde (truly evil here, and, um, sporting quite a weapon...). Reliable Euro-horror standbys Udo Kier and Howard Vernon are fun as always, and fimmaker Borowczyk's zone-flooded visuals are largely impressive, especially the laboratory bathtub sequences (the fully lit party scenes are strangely TV-like in their flatness though). Ambiguous, perfect ending - there's either a killing spree on the way, or the two protagonists are going to literally eat each other alive. Recommended, but it's quite graphic in both violence and sexuality for the meeker horror fans.

Arrow Films haven't just released the most important Blu-ray/DVD of the year, they have delivered the art world one of its great lost treasures in a version that is jaw dropping in its execution and presentation. This exhaustive special edition disc that now houses Borowczyk's once lost film is absolutely stunning and film lovers everywhere owe a sincere thank you to its chief creator Daniel Bird and his entire team, including co-producer Michael Brooke. Arriving on disc with pristine picture quality and sound, The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne can finally be seen as Borowczyk originally intended. Watching this version was an absolute revelation to me and, while I hate to use this cliche, it really was like seeing it for the first time.The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne has been granted a Criterion Collection style release and contains a number of absolutely essential bonus features, most of which were created by Daniel Bird. First up, the disc has an engrossing and fascinating commentary track made up of a 1981 archival discussion with Borowczyk and new interviews with cinematographer Noel Very, editor Khadicha Bariha, assistant Michael Levy and filmmaker Noel Simsolo. Expertly put together by Bird, this is one of the most rewarding commentary tracks I have heard in ages.Two short films can be found on Arrow's disc including a newly discovered Borowczyk animated work called Happy Toy, a charming and surprising film from 1979. Also on hand is the startling Himorogi, a 16 minute 2012 homage to Borowczyk by his greatest muse Marina Pierro and Alessio Pierro.A number of interviews are included on this special edition as well including a touching chat with Udo Kier and a thought-provoking talk with the fiercely intelligent and intense Pierro (who appears off-camera). We are also treated to a discussion with Alessia Pierro on Himorogi and the charming collaborator Sarah Mallinson.Rounding out the superlative extras on The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne are a number of featurettes including a terrific 30 minute introduction to Borowczyk, which is both wonderfully informative and personal, by the disc's co-producer Michael Brooke. An insightful video essay on Borowczyk by Adrian Martin and Cristina Alvarez Lopez entitled Phantasmagoria of the Interior follows as well as two terrific Daniel Bird works, Eyes That Listen (a profile of the daring composer Bernard Parmegiani) and Return To Melies: Borowczyk and Early Cinema (an ingenious look at how silent cinema helped shape Borowczyk and especially The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne). The theatrical trailer and a long booklet is also included.Arrow's special edition The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne is not only an absolutely essential purchase for Borowczyk fans but also for art and cinema lovers in general. The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Miss Osbourne is one of the most important films of the past fifty years and with Arrow's Blu-ray/DVD combo it has finally been given the proper release and respect it has been deserving of for such a very long time.

Walerian Borowczyk is the Ed Wood of art films. He directs like a child with a camera who can't even tell when it's running, letting scenes ramble on to no purpose (using jittery handheld shots like a torture device on the viewer) and making good actors seem like amateurs in the process. Every scene is handled with clumsiness and confusion. His attempts at intellectual depth sound like a kid imitating the adults talking in the next room. His approach to women is childish and voyeuristic, using them as targets of hatred and lust, and he photographs their bodies accordingly. Borowczyk makes the psychopathic Hyde the hero, frantically deconstructing rooms and people's bodies without purpose or even relish, like a nasty little boy doing every naughty thing he can think of. This Hyde is not living in total freedom, but is enslaved to his compulsion to wage war on an adult world he cannot join. Borowczyk does nothing with his one potentially interesting idea -- that Dr. Jekyll's fiancé learns his secret and transforms herself into a Ms Hyde and be his partner in chaos. She doesn't even change physically (except for wearing 'feral' eye contacts) nor does she reveal any female insights on living the Hyde life, and after some more pointless mayhem she and Hyde proceed to chew each other (hopefully!) to death. The vastly superior Hammer film Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde treats this concept far more interestingly -- watch it and pass Borowczyk's foul pseudointellectual POS by.

A superb Arrow video release of one of Borowczyk's best films, loaded with bonus features and impressive packaging. Heartily recommended.

Well done!

The storyline is OK, but the acting is a little hokey.

Great Restoration!.Lot's of features.The short film(Himorogi) is a treat as it keeps morphing while it plays as well as the music,making me wish it were longer.Then it would not be a "short" would it?.Nice interview with Marina(wish it was on camera)but still nice to hear her voice!!!.Also nice interview with Alessio explaing the short film.Not sure why it's a Two-Disc set,as the DVD is identical to the blu-ray. A "portable" copy to take on a road trip.Speaking of "Trips",enter the world of Walerian Borowczyk and you've been transformed.p.s. Marina Pierro is so photogenic,absolutely beautiful on film.

My first exposure to Borowczyk's work was "Immoral Tales", one of his notoriously known soft-core erotica films. It wasn't so much the subject, or even the nudity that impressed me. It was the way in which the stories were told and shot. I hadn't seen anything quite like it before. Then "La bete" after that. I was even more impressed. There was this incredible style and attention to detail which made these more than just soft-core erotica. Others followed "Immoral Women", "La Marge" with Sylvia Kristel and Joe Dallesandro "The Art of Love" and "Love Rites" with his muse Marina Pierro. His early short film animations inspiring the likes of Terry Gilliam's animations for Monty Python, as well as "Blanche" and "Goto: Island Of Love". I was hooked by this director's approach and style. The hardest film to see of his canon was "The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Miss Osbourne." I came across a terrible vhs dutch subtitled bootleg which immediately took me by surprise even with its terrible picture and sound quality. Unlike most horror films I've seen this one had a depth and logic too it that I almost could not follow. It seemed like a surrealist nightmare, on a scale all its own. Part social satire / black comedy / horror / slasher film. Slowly it grew to be one of my favorites of Borowczyk's work. I had heard the original negative was lost, and that acquiring the rights to the film was preventing it from being released. Thanks to Arrow's comprehensive work, the film is presented in all its original glory. The stark difference from the old vhs bootleg to this nearly pristine blu-ray shows it light years beyond in terms of quality. Both English and French editions are here, with tons of extras and essays to more deeply appreciate this horror masterpiece. It's an original re-telling and re-working of the classic novel that always makes me want to watch it again and again. Five stars, unreservedly. Anyone serious about film studies needs to seek out this director's body of work.

Very strange film. Not my favorite of director Walerian Borowczyk. For a very special film, watch first his "Goto, Island of Love" then explore this and others if you found that one interesting.

Great!!!...

This is a very strange version of the classic tale. The acting is a little campy but there is fun to be had with this film.

A bit slow and dreamy flick by Borowczyk. Nice!