Saturday, October 1, 2016

Horror Countdown 2016: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) dir. J. Charles Haydon, Pioneer Film Corporation




By this point the strange case of Jekyll and Hyde was well known. There would be one last version of the story made in 1920, but the Head of Janus is sadly lost. With John Barrymore having made his take on the character already, Louis Meyer (no relation to Louis B. Mayer) no doubt figured the public wouldn't mind another version of the characters.


In the then present day of New York City, Dr. Jekyll (Sheldon Lewis) is experimenting with a special formula. Taking it, he is declared to be an Apostle from Hell and the newly born Mr. Hyde (Lewis again) quickly breaks free and sees the sights.

That's about it. Hyde steals a purse, for which the entire New York Police Department is called out in force and manages to subdue the man before sentencing him to death in the electric chair. Or did they?...


They didn't. It was all a dream. I know the Barrymore version was better received, but did Meyer seriously watch that that and think "Hey, I can do that, only at half as long and half as good"? Honestly this isn't even worth watching as a historical curiosity. Even with the 40 minute running time it feel like hours.  















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