Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1932

views updated

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ★★★ 1932

The hallucinatory, feverish classic version of the Robert Louis Stevenson story, in which the good doctor becomes addicted to the formula that turns him into a sadistic beast. Upright Dr. Jekyll (March) has a genteel fiance, Muriel (Hobart), while twisted alter-ego Hyde delights in torturing barmaid Ivy (Hopkins)—the bond between violence and sexuality in these scenes is highly charged. Possibly Mam-oulian's and March's best work, and a masterpiece of subversive, pseudo-Freudian creepiness. Eighteen minutes from the original version, lost until recently, have been restored, including the infamous whipping scene. 96m/B VHS, DVD . Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Halliwell Hobbes, Rose Hobart, Holmes Herbert, Edgar Norton; D: Rouben Mamoulian; W: Samuel Hoffenstein, Percy Heath; C: Karl Struss. Oscars '32: Actor (March); Venice Film Fest. '31: Actor (March).

More From encyclopedia.com