The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)

That was an excellent one.

Powerful

Just what I expected

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Brilliant doctor and sculptor Dr. Georges Bonnet (Anton Diffring) is 104 years old but looks less than half his age; the secret to his youthful appearance is to periodically undergo surgery to replace one of his glands with that of another human being. When his longtime associate Dr. Ludwig Weiss (Arnold Marlé) fails to perform the operation vital to his survival, Bonnet resorts to temporary solution—a liquid that can keep him fresh for a few hours at a time. But with the fluid running out, and with Georges hoping to spend eternity with his beautiful betrothed, Janine (busty Hazel Court, providing the Hammer glamour), the desperate doctor uses any means necessary to convince renowned surgeon Pierre Gerrard (Christopher Lee) to perform the transplant.The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959) boasts the great production values and fine performances one would expect from a Hammer movie of the era, but the film is let down by a hackneyed plot that borrows ingredients from Jack The Ripper, Dorian Gray and Jeckyll and Hyde, but which does very little of interest with them. Diffring, Lee and Court do the best they can with the material, but it's all so familiar and frustratingly pedestrian that the excellent cast can do little to save matters. The film does pick up for the final act, with a nice twist courtesy of Lee's character and a spectacular finale in which age finally catches up with Bonnet before he is burnt to a crisp in a raging inferno, but there is no denying that this is far from Hammer's best.5/10—however, if I ever find the elusive European cut featuring Hazel Court's topless scene, I might be tempted to give it slightly more.

It was Anton Diffring's turn to shine in this decent Hammer chiller, set in Paris, where he stars as a talented sculptor, and scientist, who kills Parisians for their glands so that he can remain youthful and alive despite being the age of 104 years old! Dr. Georges Bonner (Diffring) needs a difficult surgery in order to continue living, but his old friend, Dr. Ludwig Weiss (Arnold Marlé) has a crippled hand and arrives too late, forcing the sculptor to kill someone because he was unable to keep cadaver glands in the appropriate condition needed. Christopher Lee is a well-respected surgeon, Dr. Pierre Gerrard, who agrees, albeit reluctantly, to perform the surgery, only willing to do so at the request of Weiss, a famous Vienna doctor with a renowned reputation, who promised to be in attendance. Hazel Court is Janine Du Bois, once a model—and lover—for Bonner, still in love with him, acknowledging her feelings passionately, not knowing of the sculptor's dark side. Francis De Wolff (Hound of the Baskervilles; Corridors of Blood) is Inspector Legris, trying to locate a missing model who discovered to her horror Bonner's secret, disrupting him as he was in the middle of drinking a prepared serum which will stave off the old age which lies dormant in the sculptor's system. This green fluid in a flask, kept in a locked safe, is only a brief substitute as Bonner truly needs a surgery in order to survive the lurking age underneath a veneer of youth and handsomeness. Bonner is so desperate to stay alive and not accept the death that is longing to release that he'll do whatever it takes in order to do so. Weiss, who realizes the monster that Bonner has become, tries to stop him from living any longer—attempting to interfere with Bonner's drinking of more fluid from the flask in the safe—only incurring his long-time friend's wrath. Seeing no other alternative when Gerrard backs out of surgery due to Weiss' absence, Bonner will, at first, seek help elsewhere, ultimately blackmailing him by imprisoning Janine. While this Hammer mad scientist movie is set in Paris, "The Man Who Could Cheat Death" feels like we are in London with a mostly British cast. Lee is, as usual, more stern, serious, principled, and pious, while Diffring shows the unstable nature his character is going through, hiding the madness while amongst others, becoming unglued when confronting what lies underneath, old age looking to break free. Arnold Marlé and Diffring have the most intense scenes in the film because we witness the disintegration of a friendship, evaporating over the unethical and immoral practices of Bonner—Bonner, clinging to his immortal status, not allowing, if he can help it, the failure of others, preferably Gerrard, to provide the services he demands. Good small cast, with lovely, ravishing redhead Hazel Court and her heaving bosom most welcome. Fiery climax, in the style of many Terence Fisher Hammer outings, featuring old age make-up (to me similar to the mummy make-up of future Hammer movies), allowing Lee to come to Court's rescue as Diffring's madman wants her to attain the same "miracle of youth" that he (thinks he) has. Diffring goes all out, bug-eyed and unhinged, when his character's body starts to deteriorate if he doesn't drink the serum, some trick of light and a bit of make-up assisting the actor during these slight transformations. During this changing stage, his touch is acidic as he burns those he grabs during his mad fits. Okay Hammer flick, but nothing too memorable.

Although not one of Hammer's best films, it is a good movie. The Victorian setting (although it is supposed to take place in Paris) is very charming. Some people have criticized the use of heavy fog in Paris but I feel it adds to the eerie and mysterious atmosphere. Christopher Lee is very effective and is a hero - which is rare in early Hammer films. Hazel Court is absolutely beautiful as the heroine. The plot is interesting and moves quite well. Compared to some other old movies that have been released on DVD, this one is a winner. It is truly a film that belongs in a Hammer fan's collection. Too bad Peter Cushing was not in the film because it would have been even better. I hope some Hammer fans read this and make a plea to have the movie released on DVD. At least it could be one movie of a double feature.

Although it is by no means a remake,it looks like one.The screenplay finds inspiration in Oscar Wilde's "picture of Dorian Grey" which was filmed by Albert Lewin with good results.The ending was impressive in this latter movie.In "the man who could cheat death",we have the "horrible" routine conclusion.Acting is not convincing,being grimacing,boring and talky(about the fear of dying).Nothing to get hung about.