The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 26, 2020

Doing well with their horror releases, Hammer Films stepped away from the scary stuff for 1959’s “The Ugly Duckling.” Taking inspiration (or “ideas stolen”) from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” the movie offers a comedic take on shifting identities, putting actor Bernard Bresslaw in charge of portraying a two personalities emerging from one man. While the source material is meant to deliver chills, “The Ugly Duckling” aims for laughs, ending up as more of a precursor to “The Nutty Professor,” with a gentle slide into a British gangster picture. It’s not exactly a distinctive creative detour for Hammer, but Bresslaw makes it all worthwhile, doing his part to act up a storm while the screenplay fumbles with funny business.

Bresslaw portrays Henry, a dim-witted man who can’t seem to make anything happen in his life. While experimenting in his brother’s pharmacy, Henry discovers an old formula created by his distant relative, Henry Jekyll, allowing him to transform into the confident Teddy, who quickly gets wrapped up in a diamond heist and confuses Snout (Jean Muir), a young woman who’s in love with Henry.

“The Ugly Duckling” doesn’t play a game of switcheroo, making it clear from the start that while it deals with Stevenson’s work, it’s mostly in the mood to screw around, leading with Bresslaw’s appealingly broad performance. There’s amusement in the Henry/Teddy scenes, watching the former goon take command of dance hall popularity and impress gangsters with acts of danger. How amusing any of this actually becomes is up to the viewer, as the writing makes attempts to conjure up some funny business, keeping Henry a dull one prone to accidents, giving the enormous star a shot at physical comedy, which he accomplishes with complete comfort (the actor would go on to become a staple of the “Carry On” films). “The Ugly Duckling” reaches its potential in its early scenes, observing Henry try to master dance and work around his family pharmacy, generating some romantic interest from Snout, with Muir another charming addition to the movie. Once Henry becomes Teddy, there’s a slight change in tone (and a bit of extremity as Teddy proves his toughness via Russian roulette), but the endeavor doesn’t dive into darkness, remaining approachable even if fails to land many jokes.

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Trying to do right for an obscure Hammer release, Sony offers what appears to be a fresh scan of "The Ugly Duckling." The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation is on the sharp side, handling detail quite well, surveying textured costuming and facial surfaces, and trips to dance halls and streets are dimensional. Sets are also open for study, with distinct decoration, especially with pharmacy scenes, which contain lots of items for sale and advertisements. Delineation is comfortable, offering deep blacks for evening events, while dense costuming is protected. Source is in strong shape.

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a distinct appreciation of dialogue exchanges, picking out the nuances of performances, especially with Bresslaw, who's playing two sides to one man. Musical performances and scoring needs are met, coming through with sharp instrumentation and a louder big band sound. Sound effects are clear, and atmospherics are appreciable, especially in celebratory settings.

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on this disc.

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Ugly Duckling" is a bit bottom heavy, offering a madcap climax that deals with stolen and replaced jewels during a fashion show. The broadest bits don't connect, but the spirit is there, with the production trying to maintain a sense of wackiness while it messes around with criminal endeavors. Hammer wasn't known for their silliness (at least the intentional stuff), and they don't score big with "The Ugly Duckling," which is more amusing than uproarious. The desire to shift gears is laudable, to get away from angry monsters and doom. The vision is there, but the execution has its issues. It's a viewing experience best remembered for the actors, who give the lukewarm material their all, trying to keep brightness alive with chipper performances.