Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde (1912), dir. Lucius Henderson, Thanhouser Company.
While not the first film adaptation of Robert Louis
Stevenson’s famed story, this is the oldest surviving copy. Like other films
from the time period, its short running time doesn’t leave much to be
discussed. We open with Dr. Jekyll (James Cruze) experimenting in his lab.
The experiment works in a stunning use of special effects,
turning the white haired Jekyll into the younger yet monstrous Mr. Hyde (also
Cruze, but played in a few scenes by Henry Benham). Jekyll later reverts back to his
normal self and continues to woo the local minister’s daughter. From there
Jekyll finds himself turning into his hideous alter ego at random, culminating
in the murder of his future father-in-law.
Not an awful version, but the Hyde make-up comes across as
more goofy than gruesome. Also, and while I can’t talk about the earlier
version, this film continues the adaptation habit of giving Dr. Jekyll a love
interest, who ends up doing very little in the overall story, but this was a
trend that started with the stage productions so it is understandable here.
Worth a viewing from a historical perspective, but that’s about all.
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