Gisèle Préville, a notable figure in French cinema, appears in The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne (1981) as a compelling character that adds depth to the film's exploration of duality and moral conflict. Her work in this cult classic highlights the intersection of horror and psychological drama, a hallmark of the era's exploitation genre. Though her filmography may be limited, Préville's role contributes to the film's unsettling atmosphere, making it a noteworthy entry in the realm of grindhouse cinema.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne
Dr. Henry Jekyll (Udo Kier), where the doctor is being feted before his engagement to the austere Miss Fanny Osborne (Marina Pierro). The guests, who are various dignitaries and officials, then arrive. After a meal, the doctor is summoned to his laboratory to get his will. He returns to the living room when a scream is heard where one of his guests has been discovered to have been raped and murdered. Henry Jekyll transforms to his alter ego, Mr. Hyde (Gérard Zalcberg), by taking a bath filled with a chemical cocktail. He emerges physically transformed. His alter ego has none of the restrictions of morality, and he proceeds to rape and torture various guests. Eventually Fanny witnesses one such transformation. She leaps into the bath to be transformed as well. The two transformed leave the house and in a carriage they depart, undertaking blood letting of each other and engaging in love making.
