Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920/I)

Director:

John S. Robertson

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (story)
Clara Beranger (scenario)

Release Date:

April 1920 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The world's greatest actor in a tremendous story of man at his best and worst!

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:

Personality | Laboratory | Doctor | Experiment | Dancer

Cast

John Barrymore	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde
Charles Lane	...	Dr. Richard Lanyon
Brandon Hurst	...	Sir George Carew
Cecil Clovelly	...	Edward Enfield
Nita Naldi	...	Miss Gina - Italian Singer

Runtime:

67 min (1971 alternate version) | 80 min (Kino Print)

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | UK:A | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Canada:G (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 (unrated: 2009) | Portugal:17 (director's cut) | USA:Unrated | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Famous Players-Lasky Corporation

Trivia:

This was one of the first major productions filmed in Paramount's then new Astoria Long Island studios. Opened in 1919 the studios underwent a major soundproofing renovation when talkies arrived in 1929.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: After the first transformation scene when Hyde attempts to change back into Jekyll, as he throws himself onto the floor, you can see one of his prosthetic fingers fly off.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Return to Edge City (2005) (V)

Holds Up Incredibly Well

Early silent version of the classic horror tale holds up incredibly well more than eight decades later. John Barrymore is the well-to-do doctor who concocts a serum that allows his dark side to find a home in his alter ego. But how long can this double identity survive before one of the personalities absorbs the other?

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE works as well as it does thanks in no small part to Barrymore, the early screen legend. His amazing performance transcends the lack of sound, scratchy picture and obvious limitations. He is the definitive Dr. Jekyll and a suitably creepy Mr. Hyde. Barrymore's co-stars more than hold their own, proving that acting is an inherited talent, not something that is necessarily developed through years of schooling. Brandon Hurst in particular stands out as the upperclassman Sir George Carew.

The film also benefits from its strong script and dialog, though much of the credit there must go to Robert Louis Stevenson, who authored the book on which it is based. What could have easily been a mediocre man-turned-monster outing is instead smart, thought-provoking and imaginative. Director John S. Robertson is to be highly praised.

I went into DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE prepared to cut it heaps of slack given its 1920 production date. But not once did I have to award it brownie points for trying. This is a screen gem from which the Hollywood of today could learn some valuable lessons.