The Golden Age Of Hollywood
The Top 200 Movies

151
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Release date 31st December 1931
Country : USA
Running time : 98 mins
Genre : Horror
Starring Fredric March
Screenplay based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
Directed by Rouben Mamoulian



Dr. Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men - a good side and a bad side. He believes that by separating the two man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments changing into the embodiment of his evil side Mr Hyde who commits horrendous crimes. He tries to stop taking the drug but can no longer control its effect.

March perhaps overacts a bit as Hyde but this is still the best version of the Stevenson story to reach the screen, certainly the most cinematic and daring. It starts with a brilliant use of subjective camera,seeing the action from Dr Jekyll's point of view.
 
Trivia - The Golden Age of Hollywood

The transformation between Jekyll and Hyde was achieved by having various layers of make-up which were sensitive to different colour filters.

As a work of cinematic imagination this film is difficult to fault. John Baxter 1968

DVDInformation - The Golden Era Of Hollywood

DVD available from Warner Home Video as part of a double feature with 1941 version :
http://www.amazon.com/

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Written content copyright Derek McLellan,2005.
Copyright © The Fedora Chronicles

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde image from
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