DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE (1931)
In this horror melodrama, the respected Dr. Jekyll, one of the more lovable and relatable characters I’ve come across, is experimenting on potions that can separate the two parts of man’s dual nature so that he can destroy the evil parts of man. Of course, the subtext is that he’s engaged to a square woman who he can’t have sex with because they’re not married yet and her father is making them wait to get married. Dr. Jekyll, tortured by lust, hopes he can remove his lustful impulses with science. He creates a potion that transforms him temporarily into an embodiment of his lust and depravity who he names Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde begins an a nightmarishly abuse relationship with a low woman that Dr. Jekyll lusts after. He becomes much more Hyde than Jekyll.
This movie is so terrifying. It has some of the best special effects too. The transformation between Jekyll and Hyde is portrayed so beautifully. And Fredric March is so attractive as Jekyll and so monstrous as Hyde. One of the best performances. Miriam Hopkins also kills me in this movie. She’s incredible with the melodrama, portraying terror and misery and desperation to escape Hyde, but she does it all while being the sexiest and most playful. She’s one of the hottest and most wonderful actresses. And this is another great example of the pre-code era when movies got so thrilling and sexy and violent that the government had to start censoring them. This movie feels too intense for current audiences. I can’t imagine audiences seeing this in 1931.
Apparently, some find it racist that Mr. Hyde is dark-skinned almost to the point of being in black-face. There’s certainly a ton of very obvious and upsetting racism in movies of this period. Mr. Hyde being darker skinned didn’t strike me that way until someone else pointed it out. But I figured I should mention it as a warning.
