The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov July 21, 2026

Lance Comfort's "The Ugly Duckling" (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with actors Jess Conrad and Gerry Phillips, and musical director Lionel Blair; new program with critic Robert Shail; new program with critic Kevin Lyons; vintage promotional materials; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Teddy Hyde

It feels like Bernard Bresslaw’s part should have gone to Terry-Thomas. Hard cheese, one of Terry-Thomas’ favorite expressions, would have popped up in various hilarious situations that seem to be begging for it. Splendid, another one of Terry-Thomas’ favorite expressions, would have fit perfectly in other situations as well. Also, Terry-Thomas’ brand of comedy, which usually promotes a wide range of unforgettable facial expressions, would have been ideal in The Ugly Duckling

Some years after the passing of his notorious uncle Dr. Henry Jekyll, Henry Jackie (Bresslaw), quite possibly London’s clumsiest resident, makes an earth-shattering discovery. Following an accidental explosion in his brother’s pharmacy, Jackie picks up a metal box from a secret compartment that has preserved Dr. Jekyll’s formula for his transformative potion. Barely able to contain his excitement, Jackie then quickly prepares and drinks the potion, unsure precisely what its effects will be on him.

Minutes later, the potion fixes all of Jackie’s personality flaws, ramps up his confidence, and transforms him into a perfect macho heartthrob that instantly attracts the attention of both sexes. Jackie also begins responding to a new name: Teddy Hyde.

At one of London’s poshest dance clubs, Hyde is then recruited by Dandy Kingsley (Elwyn Brook-Jones), a criminal mastermind pretending to be a legitimate businessman, who needs a fearless and brilliant safecracker to help him steal a priceless jewel collection. After ironing out all the details of the risky heist, Hyde, Kingsley, and a few of his fellow gangsters go to work. However, shortly after Hyde steals the jewel collection, the potion begins wearing off.

Directed by Lance Comfort, The Ugly Duckling borrows a few familiar ideas from Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel and then runs so far away with them that it is impossible not to describe it as an original project. Obviously, this is a good development because virtually all films that have something to do with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are extremely similar.

However, even though Bresslaw is quite good while juggling two drastically different personalities and there are plenty of decent laughs, The Ugly Duckling has an unmissable weakness whose impact on its overall quality is impossible to brush aside as well. The Ugly Duckling is a small film that looks and behaves like one. For example, the jewel heist is essentially a series of very straightforward short sequences in which Bresslaw does the absolute bare minimum to demonstrate that Hyde fits perfectly into the underworld and, eventually, that his IQ is superior. A bigger film, and especially one with Terry-Thomas taking on Bresslaw’s part, would have dramatically expanded the heist and created far more excitement. After the potion begins wearing off, it just feels like there should have been at least half an hour of mad mayhem where everything that can go wrong does go wrong.

All supporting actors also look good, but once the final credits disappear, it is awfully difficult to recall a great sequence where their contributions were crucial. Bresslaw does all the heavy lifting.

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Ugly Duckling arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

The overall quality of the visuals is very good. In fact, other than some sporadic darker nuances that can be a little better balanced, it is difficult to see where any meaningful improvements can be made. Delineation, clarity, and depth are already very good or excellent. The dynamic range of the visuals can be improved a bit, but this adjustment will make a meaningful difference in native 4K. Here, there is nothing that one can be unhappy with. Grain exposure is very good. I did not see any traces of problematic digital corrections, such as sharpening, filtering, contrast boosting, etc. Image stability is excellent. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Ugly Duckling Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The lossless track is excellent. I am not surprised because all masters that emerge from Sony's vaults, older and more recent ones, have outstanding audio tracks. The original soundtrack does not create any memorable excitement, even during the mass footage from the dance club, which also isn't surprising. All exchanges are very clear, sharp, and easy to follow.

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

• Jess Conrad, Gerry Phillips and Lionel Blair: Dancing the Cha-Cha-Cha - in this new program, actors Jess Conrad (Bimbo) and Gerry Phillips (Tiger the Rocket), and musical director Lionel Blair recall their contributions to The Ugly Duckling. In English, not subtitled. (22 min).

• Robert Shail: From Virtue to Vice - in this new program, critic Robert Shail discusses director Lance Comfort's background and career, as well as his work on The Ugly Duckling. In English, not subtitled. (15 min).

• Kevin Lyons: A Tricky Beast - in this new program, critic Kevin Lyons the fate of the comedy horror film and Hammer's relationship with it, as well as the conception and production of The Ugly Duckling. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Stephen Laws: Infamously Fun - in this new program, critic Stephen Laws comments on a few interesting details from the production history of The Ugly Duckling and the personality and style of Bernard Bresslaw's character. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

• The BEHP Interview with Len Harris - presented here is an archival audio interview with camera operator Len Harris.

• Up in the Air (1969) - feature-length Children's Film Foundation production set in a Victorian boarding school and guest starring The Ugly Duckling's Jon Pertwee. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (56 min).

• Image Gallery - a collection of original promotional materials for The Ugly Duckling.

• Booklet - an illustrated booklet with writings on the film and technical credits.

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

Hammer is not remembered for its comedies. However, the ones I have seen are all good films. They are just small films, and I think this is why some have obvious flaws. The Ugly Duckling is an enjoyable comedy, but it is also a small film that does not produce any memorable moments. Someone like Terry-Thomas would almost certainly have transformed it into a vastly superior comedy without any significant adjustments to its narrative. The Ugly Duckling is included in Indicator/Powerhouse Films' Hammer Volume Seven: Ships & Giggles, a four-disc box set. RECOMMENDED.