Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)

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

Director:

John S. Robertson

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (by), Clara Beranger (scenario) (as Clara S. Beranger)

Stars:

John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Barrymore	...	Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde
Brandon Hurst	...	Sir George Carewe
Martha Mansfield	...	Millicent Carewe
Charles Lane	...	Dr. Lanyon
Cecil Clovelly	...	Edward Enfield
Nita Naldi	...	Miss Gina
Louis Wolheim	...	Music Hall Proprietor

Storyline

Based on the Robert Louis Stevenson story: Doctor Henry Jekyll's enthusiasm for science and his selfless acts of service have made him a much-admired man. But as he visits Sir George Carew one evening, his host criticizes him for his reluctance to experience the more sensual side of life. Sir George goads Jekyll into visiting a music hall, where he watches the alluring dancer Gina. Jekyll becomes fascinated with the two contrasting sides of human nature, and he becomes obsessed with the idea of separating them. After extensive work in his laboratory, he devises a formula that does indeed allow him to alternate between two completely different personalities, his own and that of a brutish, lascivious person whom he names Hyde. It is not long before the personality of Hyde begins to dominate Jekyll's affairs.

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Plot Keywords:

gothic horror | silent film | cult film | self experimentation | character names in title | 

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Taglines:

"THE finest fellow I ever knew." That's what his friends called Dr. Jekyll. "The vilest brute that was ever called man." That's what the world called Mr. Hyde. And both were the same. (Print Ad- Vancouver Sunday Sun, ((Vancouver BC)) 20 June 1920)

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many adaptations of the Robert Louis Stevenson's novelette were written as plays and performed; the earliest in the United States by Thomas Russell Sullivan opened in Boston on 9 May 1887 and moved to New York City on 12 May 1887.

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Goofs

The glass from which Dr Jekyll drinks the potion during the first transformation changes in size from tall to short between shots.

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Quotes

Sir George Carew: In devoting yourself to others, Jekyll, aren't you neglecting the development of your own life?
Dr. Henry Jekyll: Isn't it by serving others that one develops oneself, Sir George?
Sir George Carew: Which self? A man has two two - as he has two hands. Because I use my right hand, Should I never use my left?
[Carew pointedly moves both hands indepemdently, making his point known to the whole table]
Sir George Carew: Your really strong man fears nothing. It is the weak one that is afraid of - - experience.

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Crazy Credits

Except for John Barrymore whose name appears above the title, actors were not originally credited in this movie at the start or at the end. Instead, four additional actors and their character names are credited in the inter-titles right before they appear on-screen.

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Alternate Versions

In 1993 Jeff Forrester / USA Networks produced NEW copyrighted versions of mainstream silent films w/ EXCLUSIVE scores & NEW inter-titles. All but one were in black & white. There were 7 in total. They were aired on the SYFY (SCI-FI) Channel during the Christmas holiday in 1993 as part of SCI-FI Channel's Silent Cinema marathon. It was hosted by renowned film critic Jeffrey Lyons & was taped @ the AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE in Astoria, NY. These particular versions have NEVER been available in ANY home video format. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. They were distributed by JORDEXX TELEVISION, INC. The DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE (1920) score was composed & performed by Michael Murphy.

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Connections

Edited into Jekyll & Canada (2009)

User Reviews

Demon drink

I'm afraid this is my favourite film version of the tale. I say afraid because I think all the versions following this were technically better, but I still come back to this one. It's faults are legion, mainly from the technological standpoint, and you can also sometimes shake your head at the acting talents displayed, but the atmosphere of the film as a Victorian melodrama is unbeatable. The age of the film itself actually helps in this case (in these digital times), with plenty of blurred smoky foggy images to contemplate. As in the case of Hitchcock's 39 Steps, I preferred the film to the book.

Barrymore/Hyde's convulsions can be mirth inducing, but you can't argue with the fact that if you saw him in real life you'd cross the road to avoid him. Watch his expression after he kills Carew!

This DVD version ran a sedate b&w 82 minutes - after a lifetime of watching a tinted 59 minuter it took some getting used to, and the music was totally unsympathetic to the action too. Therefore the next time I trot this out it really will be silent! But well worth watching seminal stuff especially if you're interested in seeing the best film (that survives anyhow) from 1920.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 September 1920 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Dobbeltmennesket (Dr. Jekyll og Mr. Hyde)

Filming Locations:

Tilford Studio - 344 West 44th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min 67 min (1971 alternate) 73 min (Kino Print) 82 min (DVD) 79 min (Kino)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1