John Barrymore stars in the renowned silent adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic about a Victorian scientist who turns himself into a murderous abomination.
Director: John S.Robertson Producer: Adolph Zukor Production Company: Famous Players-Lasky/Paramount Audio/Visual: Silent with music score, black and white
Robert Louis Stevenson (story)
Clara Beranger (scenario)
Release Date: April 1920 (USA) Genre: Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi Tagline: The world's greatest actor in a tremendous story of man at his best and worst! Plot: Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments with scientific means of revealing the hidden, dark side of man and releases a murderer from within himself.
Runtime: 67 min (1971 alternate version) | 80 min (Kino Print) Trivia: Many adaptations of the Robert Louis Stevenson's novelette were written as plays and performed; the earliest in the United States by Thomas Russell Sullivan opened in Boston on 9 May 1887 and moved to New York City on 12 May 1887.
GOOFS:
# Continuity: The glass from which Dr Jekyll drinks the potion during the first transformation changes in size from tall to short between shots.
# Revealing mistakes: After the first transformation scene when Hyde attempts to change back into Jekyll, as he throws himself onto the floor, you can see one of his prosthetic fingers fly off.
# Revealing mistakes: When Jekyll is pondering to drink the potion for the first time, we see the glass he's to drink from is half filled with potion. In the next shot when Jekyll brings the glass up to his lips the glass is empty.
Storyline: Dr. Jekyll believes good and evil exist in everyone. Experiments reveal his evil side, named Hyde. Experience teaches him how evil Hyde can be: he kills Ivy who earlier expressed interest in Jekyll and Sir Charles, Jekyll's faincee's father.
Genres: Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi
Taglines:
A Good Woman! A Bad Woman - who needed the love of both!
It CHILLS you! Half-MAN! Half-MONSTER!
Details Country:USA Release Date: September 1941 (USA)
Technical Specs Runtime: 113 min | Germany: 90 min | Germany: 108 min (VHS version)
TRIVIA:
* Spencer Tracy's performance as Hyde was judged by the critics in 1941 to be inadequate, principally because he was not frightening enough. In addition, Tracy was considered "too American" and too "rough" to be believable as an upper-class doctor in Victorian London. He later received an amusing telegram from Fredric March, the star of the 1931 version, who said that his earlier performance as Hyde was always compared favorably with Tracy's. After watching the film, Tracy confided to a friend that he believed his acting career was over.
* The film was a notorious critical and commercial failure when released. Spencer Tracy later said it was by far the least favorite of the films he had starred in, and that his performance was "awful". The New York Times famously described it as "not so much evil incarnate as ham rampant ... more ludicrous than dreadful."
* Spencer Tracy's appearance as Mr Hyde was disguised in cinema trailers for fear that audiences would laugh at it.
* In the original theatrical version, once Dr. Jekyll is first transformed into Mr. Hyde, he walks up to a mirror in his laboratory. As he stares into it he questions his face saying such things as, "It's my face, yet it isn't" This is followed by him exclaiming, "Can this be evil?" In later TV prints, the earlier lines are missing. They're inexplicably missing to this day. Either the negative was damaged or the cuts were made on purpose.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
* Dr. Henry Jekyll: [as Hyde] When you went to see the good doctor, before you left you said... I almost thought, well what did you think? Maybe that you saw a little bit of ME, Hyde in him?
GOOFS:
* Revealing mistakes: When Jekyll and Lanyon drop off Ivy at her home, a wire is visibly attached to Ivy. It evidently helps her as she falls out of the carriage, and again supports her weight as Jekyll "carries" her inside.
* Revealing mistakes: Spencer Tracy's stunt double is very obvious at various times in the movie.
* Continuity: In the fight with Sir Charles Emery, Hyde loses his hat. In the next instant it's back on.
* Continuity: In the scene where Hyde visits Ivy, he is sitting in a chair eating some grapes. In closeup he can be seen putting the last grape into his mouth with his right hand; but in the next medium shot, showing Hyde in the foreground and Ivy in the background, he is feeding himself with his left hand.
* Continuity: Ivy knocks Mr Hyde's bottle of champagne off the table, but later he lifts it from the table to smash over a man's head.
* Continuity: After attacking Ivy in her room Jekyll runs away from her house. As he approaches a carriage his hat flies off and he keeps running around a corner. In the next shot, from the other end of the corner, his hat is securely on his head.
* Boom mic visible: Right after Marcia and Ivy have been talking about a new theatre production and Hyde enters the room, the shadow of a boom mic is visible throughout much of the remaining scene with Hyde eating the grapes and playing the piano. The mic shadow, visible on the back wall, moves over to the doorway as Hyde enters, interrupting Ivy and Marcia, and follows him around the room. It's quite visible.
Dr. Jekyll faces horrible consequences when he lets his dark side run wild with a potion that changes him into the animalistic Mr. Hyde.
The first horror movie ever to win an Academy Award.
Release Date: 31 December 1931 (USA) Taglines: Put yourself in her place! The dreaded night when her lover became a madman! Genres: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Storyline: Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men - a good and an evil side. He believes that by separating the two man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments with chemicals to accomplish this and transforms into Hyde to commit horrendous crimes. When he discontinues use of the drug it is already too late...
Technical Specs Runtime: 98 min | 96 min (TCM print)
TRIVIA:
- The nephew of Robert Louis Stevenson appears in a small uncredited role.
- John Barrymore, who had made a big comeback in the 1920 silent version, was offered the leading role in this film but turned it down.
- The only version where Jekyll's name is pronounced correctly as "Jee-kall".
- Mr Hyde's appearance was based on the Neanderthal man.
- When Dr. Jekyll comes to Muriel Carew's house for the final time, she is playing "Aufschwung" ("Soaring") from Fantasiestuecke, Op. 12, by Robert Schumann. This is a particularly apposite choice of music for the film, because Schumann had created two alter egos reflecting two different aspects of his personality, the impetuous and passionate "Florestan" and the introverted "Eusebius." Much of his music criticism was written using one or the other as a pseudonym, and the two frequently appear in his music in one guise or another.
GOOFS:
* Crew or equipment visible: At the beginning of the movie, when Jekyll is putting on his cape in the "mirror", the reflection of a crewmember can be seen flitting across his stomach in the glass.
* Continuity: During Hyde's first visit to the Variety Music Hall, he reaches over the railing to trip a waiter with his cane. As he lurches around to grab his cane, he knocks his top hat off the railing and it lands on the floor next to the waiter. In the next shot, Hyde is holding onto the hat as he lashes out with his cane.
* Continuity: When Mr. Hyde and Ivy sit down in front each other in the Variety Music Hall, the objects on the wall behind them change repeatedly between shots.
* Continuity: When Dr. Jekyll is making his first portion of the mixture to transform from Jekyll to Hyde the glass is very dirty and you can't see through the glass, but when he lifts the glass in front of the mirror it's perfectly clean.
* Revealing mistakes: When Dr. Jekyll is first seen in the mirror, looking directly into the camera, the effect was achieved by filming Fredric March through a hole in the wall framed to look like a mirror. But moments earlier, the trick is revealed when the butler walks past the "mirror" but has no reflection.
* Revealing mistakes: In the opening scene, as Jekyll looks into the mirror through the subjective camera, his "reflection" turns away from the mirror before the camera, (supposedly Jekyll's viewpoint) does.
* Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Miriam Hopkin's character is listed as Ivy Pierson in the end credits. However in the movie, it is listed as Ivy Pearson in a newspaper article.
* Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Muriel's father consents for Jekyll & Muriel to be married the next day, Jekyll goes home and plays part of Bach's "Toccata & Fugue in D minor" on the organ. There is a mid-shot with March playing the keyboard, then there is a close-up of the hands on the keyboard. The close-up hands are an obvious double, as they are playing the piece correctly. March's mid-shot has his left hand ascending on the keyboard while the notes of the music playing are descending.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
Poole: You should go out, sir. London offers many amusements for a gentlemen like you, sir.
Dr. Jekyll: Yes, but gentlemen like me daren't take advantage of them, Poole. Gentlemen like me have to be very careful of what we do or say.
Dr. Lanyon: Perhaps you're forgetting, you're engaged to Muriel.
Dr. Jekyll: Forgotten it? Can a man dying of thirst forget water? And do you know what would happen to that thirst if it were to be denied water? Dr. Lanyon: If I understand you correctly, you sound almost indecent.
Dr. Jekyll: What names you give things!
Mr. Hyde: Perhaps you prefer a gentleman. One of those fine-mannered and honorable gentlemen. Those panting hypocrites who like your legs but talk about your garters.
Dr. Lanyon: You're a rebel, and see what it has done for you. You're in the power of this monster that you have created.
Dr. Jekyll: I'll never take that drug again! Dr. Lanyon: Yes, but you told me you became that monster tonight not of your own accord. It will happen again.
Dr. Jekyll: It never will. I'm sure of it. I'll conquer it! Dr. Lanyon: Too late. You cannot conquer it. It has conquered you!
Dr. Jekyll: Oh, God. This I did not intend. I saw a light but did not know where it was headed. I have tresspassed on your domain. I've gone further than man should go. Forgive me. Help me!
Dr. Jekyll: I have no soul. I'm beyond the pale. I'm one of the living dead!
Blond-haired student: [joking to another student about Jekyll's lecture on splitting the personality] Why don't you stay at home and send your other self to the lecture?
Mr. Hyde: If you do one thing I don't approve of while I'm gone, the LEAST little thing, mind you... I'll show you what horror means!
Mr. Hyde: [after strangling Ivy] Isn't Hyde a lover after your own heart?
Mr. Hyde: Think before you decide, I tell you! Do you want to be left as you are, or do you want your eyes and your soul to be blasted by a sight that would stagger the devil himself?
"According to Buddy Love, these are the ingredients for an Alaskan Polar Bear Heater: 2 shots vodka, 1 shot rum, 1 shot vermouth, 1 shot brandy, 1 shot gin, 1 shot scotch, a dash of bitters, a smidgen of vinegar, a lemon peel, an orange peel and a cherry. Mix it well and pour it into a tall glass."
PLOT: To improve his social life, a nerdish professor drinks a potion that temporarily turns him into the handsome, but obnoxious, Buddy Love.
At National Film Preservation Board, USA, in 2004 this film won the award "National Film Registry"
Taglines:
- What does he become? What kind of monster?
- Well, any scientist who makes a girl like this can't be all mad.
- Please do not reveal the middle of this picture! Jerry's a mousey chemistry prof who invents the greatest drink since Dracula discovered bloody marys.
Runtime: 107 min.
TRIVIA
- It was widely believed at the time that the Nutty Professor's sleazy alter ego Julius Kelp was a satirical swipe at Jerry Lewis's longtime partner, Dean Martin.
- Jerry Lewis wrote seven scripts for the film by himself and two with Bill Richmond.
GOOFS:
* Continuity: When Julius drinks his "potion" and transforms into the Hyde-like creature prior to the appearance of Buddy, Julius' bird alternates between being covered and uncovered several times between shots. This is particularly noticeable when the bird says, "I told you, Julius," and we cut to a long shot where the birdcage is covered.
* Continuity: When Professor Kelp is at his desk writing in his journal, the clock on the wall is not running. When he drinks the formula later that evening, during his transformation into Buddy Love, the clock is running.
* Continuity: When Julius is making the potion in his lab he closes the blinds and it is glaringly bright outside. Then when he drinks the potion the clock reads 9:30 at night.
* Continuity: When Kelp has been jammed into a storage cabinet by a student, we see Stella as seen from his horizontal viewpoint with her head to the left of shot. But he's lying on his left side, so her head should be on the right.
* Continuity: When Kelp is jammed into a storage cabinet by a student, his left knee lies on a big brown bottle. In the following scenes, this bottle has simply vanished.
* Continuity: Before Buddy Love starts playing the piano in his first scene at the Purple Pit, he sets down his cigarette. During his song the cigarette is nearly finished burning, but after the song, he picks it back up and it's nearly whole.
* Continuity: In the last scenes, the Professor has new braces while in the classroom with Stella. But when the two leave the room after his parents enter, he is clearly without any in his mouth.
* Continuity: When Warfield meets with Kelp after the explosion, the fish tank on Warfield's desk keeps changing location.
* Continuity: At the prom, Stella's hand changes position on/off Buddy's shoulder.
* Revealing mistakes: As Julius is creeping behind the grassy knoll, he nudges the grass and the whole knoll rocks back and forth.
QUOTES:
Buddy Love: Hiya, chicky baby. How's it going? Stella Purdy: Fine. Buddy Love: Crazy. I thought I'd visit your little land of learning. Cute. Cute pad. Stella Purdy: What happened to you last night? What'd you run away like that for? I thought you saw a ghost or something. Buddy Love: Oh yeah. How 'bout that? Well, that's why I stopped by. I thought I'd lay it on ya, but this ain't the place to talk. What do you say we meet later at the Purple Pit? We can talk better there. Stella Purdy: Well, I dunno. You're pretty weird, you know, and I don't want... Buddy Love: Chi-chi. Ten o' clock? Stella Purdy: Perfect. Buddy Love: Figures.
----
Buddy Love: I know what you're thinking: Where's he been all my life? Right? Stella Purdy: No, not exactly. Buddy Love: And that you're happy with the way I handled those three goons, right? Well, normally I would've belted them, but I didn't want to muss myself all up and have you dance with a sloppy guy. Dig? Stella Purdy: Well then, you restrained yourself just for little old me. Buddy Love: I knew you'd appreciate it. I do a lot of nice things. Stella Purdy: Well, is that really the case or is this line 27-a for young college girls? Buddy Love: Aww, now you see? You went and done it. For one of the rare times in my life when I dig down into the soul, and you doubt my veracity. Well, that hurts. Stella Purdy: Well, it's not your veracity that I doubt.
[pause] Stella Purdy: The music stopped. Buddy Love: Yeah, I heard.
---
Buddy Love: They're nice kids. All nice. All nice kids. They have very, very good taste, I might add. Stella Purdy: I'm glad. It would be a shame to waste the genius of yours on the riff-raff. Buddy Love: Well, honey, I always say, if you're good and you know it, why waste time beating around the bush, true? Stella Purdy: And I always say that to love yourself is the beginning of a life-long romance. And after watching you, I know that you and you will be very happy together. Buddy Love: Just a minute, sweetheart. I don't recall dismissing you. Stella Purdy: You rude, discourteous egomaniac! Buddy Love: You're crazy about me, right? And I can understand it. Only this morning, looking in the mirror before shaving, I enjoyed seeing what I saw so much I couldn't tear myself away.
[kisses his hand] Buddy Love: Have some, baby?
---
Purple Pit Bartender: What'll it be? Buddy Love: Aww... That's no way to talk. Tsk, tsk, tsk. "What'll it be?" That's no way to treat a customer. C'mere. Try it like this. Pay attention. You'll feel better and the customers'll be happier. Try this: "What'll it be? Hmmm?" Try that. Come on. We haven't got all night. Try it. Purple Pit Bartender: What'll it be? Hmmm? Buddy Love: Good! That was wonderful. Did anyone ever tell you you couldn't sing?
---
Gym Attendant: Are you hurt? Professor Julius Kelp: Well, if a man with an ulcer and a splinter in his finger and a nail in his foot was then struck by lightning, if you could say that man was not hurt then yes you could say I'm not hurt.
