Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Double Feature (1932/1941) [DVD]

DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDEIt's the classic example of good vs evil with a healthy dose of Freudian psychology in this theatrical retelling of a story about a man who invents an elixir which taps into the most base and primal parts of a man's soul. This is perhaps one of the more shocking films in the early days of Hollywood with its frightening depiction of the maniacal Mr. Hyde, a figure so twisted he makes Dracula look like a saint and the wolfman a pleasant acquaintance. It's a story with emotional buildup, fascinating violence, fearful dread, and some of the most genius special effects ever invented.Most everyone knows the story. The celebrated doctor Jekyll invents a concoction that drives to the root of man's most primal instincts. Imagine combining vodka, steroids, cocaine, and a little red Bull, and you have your elixir. The intent is purely scientific, as Dr. Jekyll hopes it will open the doors to man's beginnings and apply some insight to our origins. Unfortunately he's in a somewhat sexually repressed relationship, and after an encounter with a very seductive prostitute, Jekyll decides to unleash his inner demons by drinking the elixir. Once ingested, he becomes Mr. Hyde, the alter ego of Jekyll, the man Jekyll associates with freedom and pleasure.All the best scenes of the movie are those with Mr. Hyde. He's absolutely fascinating for so many reasons. First and foremost is his appearance. No other Mr. Hyde comes close to this one. His makeup is closer to ape than man, with a hairline nearly to his brows, elongated canines, and a gait like that of a neurotic extra from Planet of the Apes. In fact, Hyde resembles the old 19th century depictions of the classic criminal features, a man more beast than human. And he acts the part too. Hyde is everything Jekyll wishes he could be. He exudes confidence, sexual allure, and if anybody even looks at him the wrong way, they will quickly regret the mistake. The movie makes a great point of getting the viewer to sort of like he guy he's such a badass.The sentiment evaporates rather quickly. Hyde has his eye on the unlucky prostitute, Champagne Ivy, and he doesn't take no for an answer to his advances. Hyde makes her his prisoner through frequent beatings and emotional abuse. His sexual advances are forceful rather than consensual, and the slightest infraction of Hyde's rules is responded with torturous action. Hyde is so repulsive you can't help but to hate him and the viewer feels for Ivy. She is trapped by this brute, chained to him by threats of punishment and death.This introduces real conflict for Dr. Jekyll when he comes to. He's been having a grand old time as Mr. Hyde, but his rational self is shocked by his terrible behavior. He vows to help Ivy and never drink the elixir again, but to his horror, he finds the change can now occur all on its own. The beast is now unleashed at random, with horrific results.While the movie is dominated by the Mr. Hyde scenes, the film is well constructed all around. The transformation scenes are amazing and deserve enormous credit. So too does the acting deserve recognition. Fredric March does a fantastic job in the lead role, but equally amazing is Miriam Hopkins as Ivy. She plays the frightened and tragic figure so convincingly you really feel pity for her situation. The sets are great. Particularly good is Ivy's neighborhood in the run down section of London with its crooked streets and tall, foreboding tenements.There is some pretty heavy philosophy behind all the makeup, too. The idea of this primal evil lurking just below the surface of the kind, educated, caring Dr. Jekyll, yearning for release, may be a little too true for the comfort of most people. Few individuals care to play with the idea that they are just one step away from becoming a Mr. Hyde, and I'm sure Freud enjoyed the movie and its implications of the ever-active subconscious. And unlike many movies, you wont find any happy endings here, just tragedy and sadness, all brought on by the puritanical values of a prudish father-in-law and the primal desires of a young scientist.

This is a review for the MGM DVD release of DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, both versions.The first version, from 1931 is on Side A and the second version, released in 1941, is on Side B of this double sided disc.Both versions of this film are nicely done, the picture quality is fine and the sound is very good. Special features include a commentary on the first version of Jekyll & Hyde as well as a Bugs Bunny cartoon satire on the film. Side B contains a trailer for the 1941 version and both sides have optional subtitles in your choice of English, French or Spanish.The 1931 version of DOCTOR JEKYL AND MR. HYDE was released by Paramount Pictures and directed by Rouben Mamoulian and stars Frederic March and Miriam Hopkins along with a fine cast of Paramount players.Rouben Mamoulian kept his camera active and used shadows and light to unique advantage.But central to this version of the Robert Louis Stevenson story is the performance of Frederic March, whose tour de force as both Jekyll and Hyde was supposedly quite shockingfor its time. March used a fair amount of make up to transform himself from the smooth leading man to the rugged ape-like Mr. Hyde and it worked spectacularly. It worked so well in fact that Frederic March tied Wallace Beery (THE CHAMP) for the Oscar for Best Actor of 1031.This version of DOCTOR JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE is the superior one, in my opinion.The second, probably more familiar version, occupies side two of this disc.It was directed by Victor Fleming, one of MGM's highly skilled craftsmen whoseemed to be able to direct most anything including some of GONE WITH THE WIND and mostof THE WIZARD OF OZ. This 1941 version of Dr.JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE stars Spencer Tracy, Lana Turner, Ingrid Bergman and Donald Crisp along with a virtual boatload of fine character actors. The artistry involved in this version is almost palpable, the MGM gloss almost shimmers from the screen and the viewer is served notice that this is a quality production.The performances by Spencer Tracy in the title roles are remarkable and he used not much make-up at all in his transformation from Jekyll to Hyde. It looks like they rearranged his hair and eyebrows and Tracy used a scowl that was quite unfriendly looking. In fact, the first time Jekyll morphs into Hyde, Tracy's visage scowling from a mirror resembles James Whitmore blowing himself a Bronx cheer. Also, Tracy (or possibly a stuntman) exhibits an unexpected agility while being pursued by the constables. It's quite entertaining to watch him elude the law.Lana Turner does a good, low key job as well but Ingrid Bergman is really very fine in this movie, the one she made before CASABLANCA.The main problem with this version of Jekyll and Hyde is that it is too long and a little too slow paced. As much as I enjoyed this version, the first version had a verve andenergy to it that this one lacks, unfortunately.So I rate this double sided, two movie DVD 4 1/2 stars, 5 stars for the 1931 version and 4 stars for the 1941 version. Both versions are good films and worth watching more than once.

The 1931/32 version is and was and always will be one of the greatest and most terrifying films ever made. Up until he made this and he made a couple of talking pictures, he was known as a song and dance and light comedy actor . That along shows how great an actor he was becoming and would remain for several decades. Showing Jekyll as a frustrated man of contradicting age of the story (Late 1800s) and his sexual release and more, much more in a debasing and pure evil as shown on the screen in horrifying detail. My goodness, he was for all intents and purposes transformed into a talking werewolf or ape. You can't take your eyes off the screen during the transformations. Great special effects for that time. And what great acting by March as he jumps around and leers and sets out on the town to enjoy his new release on life. No holds barred. And you must remember this was made during the era forever known after as the age of forbidden film making (1929- 1934). Almost anything was allowed until mid 1934.Mention also must be made the alluring and sexy and venerable performance by Miriam Hopkins as Hyde's forced sexual slave. Was she ever sorry for telling the good doctor, " You will come back, won't you as she shakes her leg and throws her garter his way as she lays on her bed ) Does she ever regret dong that as Hyde comes back to destroy her. In comparison The 1941 version is oh so tame . It is not anywhere near as terrifying as the 1932 version. Both had wonderful acting but the 1932 version is the best version by a wide margin.

deuc des meilleures version sur le sujet si on excepte la version avec Lon Chaney

Love this so much, I was super pleased with the condition and the movie is what it should be! Very pleased