In 1920, filmgoers were treated to no fewer than two different film versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this one, John Barrymore plays the humanitarian Dr. Henry Jekyll, who becomes obsessed with the notion of separating the good and evil impulses within every man. To this end, he develops a potion .. Read more
| Starring | John Barrymore, Brandon Hurst, Charles Lane, Martha Mansfield |
|---|---|
| Director | John S. Robertson |
| Genres | Horror |
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In 1920, filmgoers were treated to no fewer than two different film versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In this one, John Barrymore plays the humanitarian Dr. Henry Jekyll, who becomes obsessed with the notion of separating the good and evil impulses within every man. To this end, he develops a potion which unleashes his own darker side: the demonic Mr. Hyde. This was the adaptation which established the cliché of having both a good and bad leading lady, to parallel the doppelganger aspects of the Jekyll/Hyde personality. Martha Mansfield is the good girl, while Nita Naldi, wearing costumes that were daring indeed in 1920, is the bad one. The adaptors also borrowed the character of Lord Henry from Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray in order to provide Jekyll with an evil mentor/blackmailer. Sadly, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde proved to be one of the last starring films for leading lady Martha Mansfield: she died horribly during filming of The Warrens of Virginia (1924) when her costume touched a discarded match and burst into flame.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Starring | John Barrymore, Brandon Hurst, Charles Lane, Martha Mansfield, Nita Naldi |
|---|---|
| Director | John S. Robertson |
| Studio | DARK VISION |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Horror |
| Language | DVD: Silent |
| Released | Production year: 1920 To Rent: DVD: 23 Jul 2001 |
Dominated by Barrymore's stagy bravura, and especially by the celebrated transformation scenes, this early adaptation... read more on Time Out
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Villainy in Soho
Lionel Barrymore as the eopnymous Jekyll and Hyde throws some wonderful spasms transforming between roles. It is well worth watching a more innocent ... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
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Classic Horror
A very compelling potrayal of the novel capturing the darkness and light of the title character(s) in black and white film. Melodramatic of course but John ... read more »
- 3
- 0
Villainy in Soho
Lionel Barrymore as the eopnymous Jekyll and Hyde throws some wonderful spasms transforming between roles. It is well worth watching a more innocent ... read more »
- 3
- 8
Very ancient and prehistoric
Normally I wouldn't even think of renting such an old movie, because at face value, it really looks like nothing interesting. But because we read the book ... read more »
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