Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde (1931)

 

The story of the misguided doctor Jeckyll has been adapted again and again for the big screen, yet not always in glorious fashion. Heck, MGM even suppressed this version for years, as they wanted their 1940s take starring Spencer Tracy to be the definitive one. This is a shame, as this outing is brilliantly excellent, both by staying close to the book in terms of character and setting and thanks to excellent performances of the entire cast. 

It also has some scenes that are rather daring for the time, as the Code of Conduct wasn't yet a thing. So we get to see some pretty violent scenes and even some nudity. Sure, it might be extremely tame according to today's standards, but for the 1930s this was ballsy. 

Fredric March is doctor Jeckyll, a young man who is driven by knowledge and science and who also genuinely cares for the poor and downtrodden, as he often spends his time helping and healing the sick in the free wards, where only the destitute ended up. Naturally, other rich people look down their noses at him. He is also enthusiastic and sometimes a bit overzealous, as opposed to the image of control most upper class twits have to exude. His engagement to Muriel Carew is difficult, as they both clearly adore one another, but her father insists on decorum and keeps on postponing their wedding. 

Jeckyll has a theory that human beings have two sides to their personality (one good, one bad) and he is trying to figure out how to separate the two so as to become a fully good person and expelling evil. He experiments with chemicals and one night, he manages just that split. Alas for him, he turns into mr Hyde, an animalistic man who is pure, unrestrained evil, giving in only to the darkest and most violent desires of man. Yet, Jeckyll doesn't turn back because the repression and oppression of society stifles him and as mr Hyde is unapologetically enjoying life (even if what he does is detrimental to almost all), this frees him in a way. That doesn't excuse the downright abuse he inflicts on a prostitute called Ivy Pearson. The only reason Hyde focuses on this poor woman is because Jeckyll once helped her out of the goodness of his heart.

Yet when his fiancée returns, Jeckyll realizes he has been terribly, terribly wrong and wants to atone and make amends for all the harm he's caused as Hyde. He assumes if he no longer takes the potion, he won't transform, but Hyde is now so strong he takes over as soon as Jeckyll experiences stress and discomfort, thus tragically becoming the poor doctor's only state of being almost... 

This film still holds up nearly a hundred years later. True, there is little in the form of supporting music (most of the film is devoid of musical accompaniment or stings), but you will immediately feel sorry for Jeckyll. Everywhere he turns, society blocks him as he was clearly born in an age where his free spirit could not fully develop. A lot of this is thanks to the portrayal by Fredric March, who is enormously likable as the titular character. 

What also makes this film stand apart, are a few innovations and daring techniques. The first few minutes are shot as an almost continuous POV shot, which is pretty nifty. They do that again later on, but the opening is incredibly well done. Not only that, but the transformation scenes are also iconic, using different filters to bring out the make-up of Hyde. Hyde is clearly based on a primitive ape, referring to the animal inside each of us and it's a marvel how March was able to still speak clearly with those massive dentures. His entire posture changes and March was clearly an actor with a broad range and quite athletic as well. The supporting cast is also top notch and even though films of this era were prone to some overacting, it's never hammy. 

It's good that this one is freely available, usually together with the later iteration of the same story, but give it a go. You might find it slow, as it is old, but that never takes away from the craftsmanship on display here. It really is one of the best versions of this tale out there.