Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
About Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
In London, Dr. Henry Jekyll runs a free clinic and keeps Millicent Carew waiting. Her father, Sir George Carew, takes him to a nightclub and pushes him toward the dancer Gina. Jekyll refuses her, then mixes a drug that splits him into Hyde. As Hyde he throws Gina out, knocks down a child, and pays the father with a cheque in Jekyll's name. When Sir George threatens to block the marriage, Hyde beats him to death with a stick. The last of the antidote is gone. Millicent comes to the laboratory as the change starts, and Hyde dies of poison in the chair. The body turns back into Jekyll.
Cast & crew
More about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
John S. Robertson directed for Famous Players-Lasky. Clara Beranger wrote the screenplay from Thomas Russell Sullivan's 1887 play, itself from Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella. Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky produced. Paramount released it through Artcraft. The New York premiere was 28 March 1920. Wikidata lists 18 March 1920.
Themes
Look
Roy Overbaugh photographed it, including the laboratory change and the courtyard killing.
Preservation
The film is in the public domain.
Notes
- John Barrymore plays Jekyll, Hyde, and a giant spider in a dream.
- Martha Mansfield plays Millicent. Nita Naldi plays Gina. Brandon Hurst plays Sir George Carew.
- The first change into Hyde uses no makeup. Barrymore twists his face and body.
- When Hyde first changes back, one prosthetic finger flies off during the convulsions.
- Hyde's skull grows more pointed and the overbite heavier as the film goes on.
- Wikidata times the film at 81 minutes. The English Wikipedia infobox says 79.
Scenes
- Barrymore's first change into Hyde is done with the face alone.
- Hyde beats Sir George to death with a walking stick.
- The dead Hyde in the chair turns back into Jekyll.
Influenced by
- Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886)
- Thomas Russell Sullivan's 1887 stage play
Also available
- Internet Archive (DrJekyllandMrHyde)
- Wikimedia Commons (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) by John S. Robertson.webm)
