This early talkie takes Stevenson's novella and turns it into a study of the destruction which comes from animal tendencies taking over human ones - Jekyll is disturbed by the constant delay of his marriage to Muriel (Rose Hobart) so he draws out his 'bad' side, Mr Hyde, and goes in destructive pursuit of good time girl Ivy (Miriam Hopkins).
As Jekyll and Hyde, Fredric March is superb, whether as the malevolent and intense doctor, or the repulsive and debauched reptile he makes himself become through his dangerous experiments. It is sexual tension which causes many of the problems in this pre-Code fantasy; filmed largely in the shadows of a make-believe London where our hero/anti-hero wanders at will. The cinematography is largely beautifully done, especially when shots swoop down into dark places and focus on the most difficult scenes (for example, those involving Hopkins).
This is an excellent version of the oft-told tale, and Rouben Mamoulian's direction is spot-on (as it was in his slightly later Queen Christina). March deserved his best actor gong for this classic performance/
As Jekyll and Hyde, Fredric March is superb, whether as the malevolent and intense doctor, or the repulsive and debauched reptile he makes himself become through his dangerous experiments. It is sexual tension which causes many of the problems in this pre-Code fantasy; filmed largely in the shadows of a make-believe London where our hero/anti-hero wanders at will. The cinematography is largely beautifully done, especially when shots swoop down into dark places and focus on the most difficult scenes (for example, those involving Hopkins).
This is an excellent version of the oft-told tale, and Rouben Mamoulian's direction is spot-on (as it was in his slightly later Queen Christina). March deserved his best actor gong for this classic performance/