Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Herbert Brenon

Writers:

Herbert Brenon (scenario)
Robert Louis Stevenson (novel)

Release Date:

6 March 1913 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Short

Plot:

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself. |

Plot Keywords:

Jekyll And Hyde | Based On Novel | Character Name In Title

Cast

King Baggot	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Jane Gail	...	Alice
Matt Snyder	...	Alice's father
Howard Crampton	...	Dr. Lanyon
William Sorelle	...	Utterson, the Attorney
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Herbert Brenon

Runtime:

26 min | 26 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Company:

Independent Moving Pictures Co. of America (IMP)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999) (V)

Has any other novel been filmed as often as this one?

Carl Laemmle's Universal Studios was less than a year old when he made this 3 reel version of Stevenson's novel, at least the sixth film version done since 1908! King Baggot, the star, was the moving pictures first real (reel?) superstar, sometimes appearing in a new movie each week (wow!). Baggot later gave up acting and went to the other side of the camera to become a director, doing such things as THE PONY EXPRESS (1924). This version is well done though the first transformation has a bad gaffe. The double exposure is badly timed and for a moment it looks like there are 2 people in the room. Apart from that it is well done and convincing. I like the way Hyde scares the life out of everyone in a seedy pub just by standing in the doorway and glaring at them. It is my life's mission to see as many versions of this film as I can and this one was certainly worth tracking down. Give it a try.