Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) directed by John S. Robertson
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John Barrymore plays the title roles in this early adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale. Dr. Jekyll is a kind-hearted and morally-upright medical doctor with a progressive bent. One night as he dines with his finacee's father, Sir George (Brandon Hurst), the conversation turns to man's dual nature. Sir George doesn't believe Jekyll can possibly be as nice as he seems. He tells Jekyll that he can't surpress his dark side forever and that he should enjoy the pleasures of life more. They go to a music hall where George invites the voluptuous and scantily-clad singer to meet Jekyll. Jekyll is uncomfortable and soon leaves. But the seed is planted and he begins working on a serum that would allow his baser self to enjoy the morally dubious things in life while he, Jekyll, would remain innocent. The plan doesn't work out so well as his alter-ego, Hyde, lives a hedonistic lifestyle, often at Jekyll's expense, both financial and moral.
The story is fairly faithful to the book. Barrymore gives a great performance. He projects the moral uprightness of Jekyll and the loathsomeness of Hyde. Since this is a silent film, the acting is very over-the-top at times, especially when he drinks the serum and reacts with painful spasms. The transformations are the classic "fade into the actor in different makeup" (think of all the old Wolfman movies), which I didn't mind though it does look dated. The Hyde makeup is hideous in the proper way but not so silly as the monkey-boy look in the Frederick March version.
This is a silent film. I watched the Kino version through Hoopla which has a good musical soundtrack added.
Recommended, though surely it is no substitute for reading the book.
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