Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
87%RT Audience Score: 80%
Awards & Nominations: NA
A classic. The definitive version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella from 1931, with innovative special effects, atmospheric cinematography and deranged overacting
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a classic tale of a man struggling with his inner demons, but let’s be real, the real star of the show is the camera work and special effects. The transformation scenes are both impressive and hilarious, especially when you realize they used the same trick four times. And don’t even get me started on the overacting – it’s so deranged it’s almost charming. But in all seriousness, the film does a great job of exploring themes of sexual frustration and shame, even if it is a bit campy at times. Overall, it’s a pleasantly unpleasant picture that’s worth a watch.
Production Company(ies)
Réalisation d’art cinématographique
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Paramount Studios – 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Passed
Year of Release
1932
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Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.20 : 1
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Runtime:1h 37m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Dec 31, 1931 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 18, 2010
Genre(s)
Horror
Keyword(s)
starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose Hobart, Holmes Herbert, Halliwell Hobbes, Edgar Norton, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, written by Samuel Hoffenstein, Percy Heath, genre Horror, box office performance, budget, reviewed by SMH Staff, Age Staff, TIME Staff, Alfred Rushford Greason, Tom Huddleston, Wendy Ide, Pat Padua, Jason Best, James T Hamada, P.S Harrison, Martin Dickstein, E de S Melcher, produced by Rouben Mamoulian, MPAA rating, Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, special effects, atmospheric cinematography, deranged overacting, psychological, scientist, nature, altruistic goal, sexual frustration, violence, addiction, darker self, earthy dance hall girl, Ivy, fights Hyde, control of his body, good and evil force, innovative special effects, atmospheric cinematography, deranged overacting, psychological component, scientist tampering with nature, horror, villain, morality, unchecked by morality, rapes, brutalizes, murders, London, POV tracking shot, Keats, Ode to a Nightingale, Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, gothic background, creepy, dated nature, mystery, true gothic background
Worldwide gross: $16,615
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $441,984
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,766
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 48,199
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Miriam Hopkins – Ivy Pearson
Rose Hobart – Muriel Carew
Holmes Herbert – Dr. Lanyon
Halliwell Hobbes – Brig. Gen. Sir Danvers Carew
Edgar Norton – Poole
Director(s)
Rouben Mamoulian
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
Rouben Mamoulian
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (42) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (38) | Rotten (4)
One seeks in vain for an adequate development in this film of the powerful psychology which must remain the essential motive of such a fantasy as Stevenson created. A mere succession of incidents does not furnish this study.
October 7, 2020
SMH Staff
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
The onlooker, instead of being filled with righteous horror and indignation, begins to find so much super invention and thoroughness irresistibly comic.
October 7, 2020
Age Staff
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Fredric March, ably assisted by Miriam Hopkins and Rose Hobart, is magnificent as Hyde, and he gives Jekyll a stilted Victorian elegance which, being a little false, makes Hyde’s existence seem more credible.
October 7, 2020
TIME Staff
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Camera trick of changing a central figure from the handsome Fredric March into the bestial, ape-like monster Hyde, carries a terrific punch, but in each successive use of the device — and it is repeated four times — it weakens in hair-raising effort.
March 26, 2009
Alfred Rushford Greason
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Dr Jekyll combines gothic horror, aristocratic romance and madcap Freudian psychodrama into a dizzying, exhilarating brew.
December 12, 2008 | Rating: 5/5
Tom Huddleston
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
It’s a lurid potboiler which is notable for some superb camera work (a long POV tracking shot at the beginning of the film for example), some innovative early special effects and some of the most deranged overacting you are ever likely to see.
December 12, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Wendy Ide
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
While the hairy beast that emerges can come off as old-fashioned camp, the lurid spectacle of shame and condemnation resonates uncomfortably with our own highly divided times.
July 7, 2022
Pat Padua
Washington City Paper
Made during that brief period when Hollywood sound films explored quite racy material… Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde quite explicitly links Jekyll’s woes to sexual frustration.
November 15, 2020
Jason Best
What’s On TV
While thrills principally abound In the story it also contains comedy Interest and a most enchanting romance.
October 7, 2020
James T. Hamada
The Nippu Jiji (Honolulu)
It is morbid, and even unhealthy in theme, but it is suspensive and holds the spectator’s interest to the very end.
October 7, 2020
P.S. Harrison
Harrison’s Reports
[Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde] is altogether a brilliant effort and should be added to your list of better screen entertainments.
October 7, 2020
Martin Dickstein
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a pleasantly unpleasant picture.
October 7, 2020
E. de S. Melcher
Washington Star…
Plot
Based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, Dr. Henry Jekyll believes that there are two distinct sides to men – a good and an evil side. He believes that by separating the two man can become liberated. He succeeds in his experiments with chemicals to accomplish this and transforms into Hyde to commit horrendous crimes. When he discontinues use of the drug it is already too late…
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Fredric March in a dual role as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, with “deranged overacting” that adds to the film’s charm.
Rouben-Mamoulian.jpg
