Cheap Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (DVD) (John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield) (John S. Robertson) Price

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Customer Reviews of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

The birth of the horror genre - a must for collectors
It may be surprising to audiences with modern movie-going sensibilities, given both the absence of well-established genre conventions and the obvious limitations imposed by the absence of sound, that most of the more prominent early movies of genre interest are rather good. The 1920 version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, directed by John S. Robertson, for example, remains a solid entry among the many film versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale, arguably only eclipsed by Rouben Mamoulian's 1932 version starring Fredric March (mainly because of the latter's unintentional comedy). John Barrymore, originating the role of the ill-fated gentleman doctor and his beastly alter ego, is on top form, overcoming the limitations of silence with some superb physical character work. Proving the adage rather early though that Hollywood only knows about four good stories, at least six more versions of the story would be filmed before the advent of sound in 1928.

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A good silent movie
This film was originally done in 1920 with John Barrymore (one of the classic monster actors) in this adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic. It is a silent movie, but this production by Kino Video is well put together.

Many silent films that have been converted to video bring with them the hiss and pop of the old movies. They also bring in the various elements that keep you from having a clear picture of the action. This is not one of those. There is no hiss. The music of the organ is very clear and fits the movie. You still have the floating element, but just enough to give you the feel of an old movie. Some of the backgrounds for the words don't seem to be consistent, but the story is not hampered at all.

The transformation from Jekyll to Hyde is on screen. It may seem too easy in the day of the "Terminator" movies, but back then, this was cutting edge.

At the end of this edition is an old nickelodeon version done in 1911. It does seem choppy (and the notes before the movie explain why), but it is still an interesting story. There is also an excerpt from the 1920 silent film by a competitor company. When you watch the transformation scene here, you will appreciate the one with John Barrymore.

For horror fans who love watching the terror staples, here is another must-see.

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Significantly Dated In Style But A Landmark Nonetheless
Directed by John S. Robertson and starring matinee idol John Barrymore in the dual title role, 1920's DR. JECKYLL & MR. HYDE is sometimes described as the "first American horror film." That description is more than a little problematic, but whether it was or it wasn't, DR. JECKYLL AND MR. HYDE certainly put the horror genre on the Hollywood map.

Whether or not you happen to like this particular version of the famous Robert Louis Stevenson tale will depend a great deal upon your tolerance for the change in acting styles that has occurred between the silent and the modern era. Some silent stars--Lillian Gish, Ramon Novarro, and Louise Brooks leap to mind--were remarkably subtle and worked to create a new style of acting appropriate to the screen, but most actors played very broadly. John Barrymore, considered one of the greatest actors of his day, is among the latter, and was noted for his larger-than-life performances on stage. He brings that expansiveness to the screen, where it inevitably feels "too big" to the modern viewer.

At the time, Barrymore's transformation into the evil Mr. Hyde was considered shocking in its realism, but today these celebrated scenes are more likely to induce snickers than thrills--as will much of Hyde's make-up, which seems excessive to the modern sensibility. Even so, there are aspects of the film which survive quite well, scenes in which one is permitted a glimpse into the power this film once had. For Barrymore's Hyde is, for all his bizarre ugliness, a remarkably seductive creature--and Barrymore uses his hands and eyes in a remarkable way. One feels the sexual pull as much as one feels the revulsion.

The 1920 DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE is available in several VHS and DVD releases. Some of these are quite good, but I particularly recommend the Kino version, which offers a good picture, good soundtrack, and several interesting bonuses. Other release versions should be approached with caution, and you should avoid releases by the likes of Alpha or Madacy as you would the plague. They may seem attractive in terms of price, but frankly... in this instance you get what you pay for.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer