Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: 1920

   In 1984 a man named Robert  Louis Stevenson wrote a novel that would later become a legend in literary work.  The story was about a doctor that attempts to concoct a formula to unleash the dark side of a human being.  The doctor tries it on himself, thus transforming him into the doctor's killer within, Mr. Hyde.  I have not yet read the novel, or seen any remake of this film.  But, with that said, I will have a fresh look on the first adapted film of this so-called, "literary genius ."  Welcome to my review of, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" from 1920!

   

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"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," is an intricate tale of a man torn between oppressive order and chaotic freedom.  Dr. Henry Jekyll was a man who wanted more after being tempted by his fiance's father.  So, basically Henry has chosen the path of the Disney princess, where their care-free life is interrupted by wanting only one thing:  more!  And so, the doctor concocts a drug which fully exposes the evil side of a human being.  And, he actually likes it!  There's no denying anything readers.  There has to be one point in your existence where you have wanted to be pure evil for one day....no?  But, what if you could get away with it?  ...That's what I thought...

    There is allot of dialog for this film, especially since this was made in 1920!  I think that they might have been taking some of the dialog from the novel.  I suppose this was a good  idea, but this film might have emulated the novel a bit too well.  The main reason that a book is turned into a film is usually because they want to tell the story in their own way.  I think that they did this, but the fact that the dialog might have been taken directly from the novel is simply a minor flaw.

    Now, in every Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde film there is always a transformation scene.  In the more popular film from 1931 starring Frederic March as both Jekyll and Hyde, they had extra makeup on March's face that would only show up in shadows.  So, there were almost no cuts when the changes to his face were taking place.  It was a really great idea, but this film had a different one.  They used a number of dissolves and and clever movements to conceal each makeup change.  This was also a good idea and, in the finished project, it worked really well.  However, Hyde looks a bit strange, but it's really refreshing to see a different visualization of how Hyde might have looked then.

   Something that was really surprising to look at was Hyde's sensual nature.  I know that this was just one of the qualities that Hyde has, but to see something like this in a film made in the 20's is a little abnormal.  Don't get me wrong, it's nothing to give an R-rating for, and the film does get a whole lot better when Hyde becomes more aggressive, it's just a bit strange that you would see something like this in a film this old.  But, to be honest, I kind of like it.  I gives this film allot of differences when compared to  other films that came around during that time.  It truly makes this movie a special one.

 If you watch this film, you might get a little bored with not seeing Hyde to much in the beginning.  But if you wait a little longer, the chaos simply grows from the very moment Jekyll becomes Hyde.  That's what I enjoyed most about this movie:  the momentum.  From no action whatsoever during the start, there is so much chaos in the end.  You need something like that with a Jekyll and Hyde film.  Jekyll, who was quite content with discussing various topics with Miriam's father in the beginning, ends with Hyde killing him.  And, to be honest, I didn't see it coming.  It isn't every day that you witness a deranged psycho biting a mans neck, tackling him and beating him to death, all while classical music plays.

   

  You know, I think I might have figured out something about this film that's actually worth writing about.  Chilling organ music is played around Dr. Jekyll, but when Mr. Hyde is on the screen, calm classical music is played.  IT ALL FITS TOGETHER NOW!  After being classified as a good natured human by one of the characters, Jekyll falls into a Disney princes faze, "of wanting so much more" and creates,  "Dr. Jekyll's Super Secret Sinful Serum."  He enjoys being evil.  He likes to set off chaos!  The madness is the one thing that, "calms the shakes."  But you know all too well that whatever it is that does that, is a drug! (BUM BUM BUMMMM!)  Jekyll becomes addicted to his serum, and in a wonderfully ironic twist he transforms into a giant robot as a side effect of withdrawal from the drug, and begins to fire lasers from his eyes, thus destroying the home he grew to cherish.  I'm sorry,that information should not have been given.  You may need to watch the film to find out the ending.  But, seriously, this film was fantastic!  With chilling organ music, frightening facial features and crazy, perverted antics, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was truly sublime!  Check it out at the bottom of this review, and thanks for reading!

8/10

Next Review:  Vampyr  1931