GENTLEMAN JEKYLL AND DRIVER HYDE (1950)
Article 5271 by Dave Sindelar
Date: 10-14-2016
Directed by David Bairstow
Cast unknown
Country: Canada
What it is: Public service short

Two working stiffs discuss the problems they have with bad drivers and tell the story of a truly noble gentleman… who turns into a demon when he gets behind the wheel of a car.

This is a rather entertaining public service short by the National Film Board of Canada. It’s narrated by a couple of likable character actors, and the fantastic content consists of taking the title literally; the driver magically transforms into an ugly monster when he gets behind the wheel of his car. There’s also one other transformation, but that makes for the climax of the short, and I’ll leave that as a surprise. The short is obviously intended to address the problem of reckless and inconsiderate driving, but it does it in a quite entertaining fashion. It’s not a bad little short for what it is.