Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

Dr. Jekyll allows his dark side to run wild when he drinks a potion that turns him into the evil Mr. Hyde.

Director:

Victor Fleming

Writers:

John Lee Mahin (screen play), Robert Louis Stevenson (based on the novella by)

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Spencer Tracy	...	Dr. Harry Jekyll / Mr. Hyde
Ingrid Bergman	...	Ivy Peterson
Lana Turner	...	Beatrix Emery
Donald Crisp	...	Sir Charles Emery
Ian Hunter	...	Dr. John Lanyon
Barton MacLane	...	Sam Higgins
C. Aubrey Smith	...	The Bishop
Peter Godfrey	...	Poole
Sara Allgood	...	Mrs. Higgins
Frederick Worlock	...	Dr. Heath (as Frederic Worlock)
William Tannen	...	Intern Fenwick
Frances Robinson	...	Marcia
Denis Green	...	Freddie
Billy Bevan	...	Mr. Weller
Forrester Harvey	...	Old Prouty

Storyline

Dr. Jekyll believes good and evil exist in everyone. Experiments reveal his evil side, named Hyde. Experience teaches him how evil Hyde can be: he kills Ivy who earlier expressed interest in Jekyll and Sir Charles, Jekyll's fiancée's father.

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Plot Keywords:

experiment | doctor | potion | dr. jekyll and mr. hyde characters | five word title | 

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Taglines:

Are You a Jeykll or a Hyde?

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Genres:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1941 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 108 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Spencer Tracy wanted to play the Hyde role without make-up, but his test performance in the transformation scene was unconvincing, so make-up was used after all.

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Goofs

Spencer Tracy's double is very obvious at various times in the movie.

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Quotes

Ivy Peterson: What are you going to do?
Dr. Henry Jekyll: Something so simple. I'm going to put an end to all that confusion.

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Connections

Version of Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971)

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Soundtracks

See Me Dance the Polka
(uncredited)
Music and Lyrics by George Grossmith
Additional Lyrics by John Lee Mahin
Sung by Alice Mock in the "Palace of Frivolties" show
Reprised by Ingrid Bergman
Whistled by Spencer Tracy (whistling dubbed by Robert Bradford)

User Reviews

You should see me dance the polka

This version of the Stevenson classic story doesn't hold a candle to the 1931 version but it has a lot to recommend on its own. The main complaint about it is that it doesn't feel like a horror film but more a psychological drama or thriller. Spencer Tracy's Hyde is less monsterish than Fredric March's. But this is more in keeping with the story they wanted to tell with this version, which is a focus on the psychological rather than the physical. Still, Tracy does a good job.

Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner were originally cast in the other's part but switched to offer Bergman a chance to play against type. This works to great effect, in my opinion. Turner is a sweet, lovely angel here. A far cry from the glamorous femme fatale we think of her as today. As for Bergman, her sexy performance as Ivy is the standout of the film. One of my favorite roles of hers. The movie's a bit slow and probably won't please monster fans but it's a good movie with fine performances and nice direction. It really only suffers by comparison. Judged on its own merits it's very entertaining.