Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or A Mis-Spent Life - a play by Luella Forepaugh and George F. Fish
- from the 1911 film starring James Cruze: Article and synopsis from The Moving Picture News, January 6, 1912, Review from The Morning Telegraph, January 21 1912, Review from The Moving Picture World, January 27 1912, Review from The New York Dramatic Mirror, January 24 1912
- from the 1920 film starring John Barrymore: N.Y. Times review, Photoplay review, intertitlesThat's quite a laundry list that I've managed to accumulate, if I do say so. The two items that "put me over the top" in deciding to finally write something on this famous title were the Forepaugh/Fish play and the Barrymore intertitles. I try to limit these lil' reports for the most part to written sources that somehow "fit into the flow" of the creative process of the original film. Source plays, novels, short stories, even a few opera librettos would automatically inspire a write-up for any of the movies I'm looking into. Novel-izations from the film likewise qualify. I hold the line on reviews and synopses (unless written by the studio and only for short films). More than anything, I try to exclude writing up books-into-film that are readily available at Borders or Barnes & Noble (what would be the sense of saying "Hey. I just read First Men in the Moon by H.G. Wells. It was made into a 1919 film. The End."?) Scripts, shooting continuities and the like are always a big treat. But these are mainly in archives. And if I had ready access to archives, well, I'd be watching the films!!
Recently someone posted online a series of intertitle cards from a number of silent films. A handful were movie titles that interested me in my science fiction silent film quest. An o.k. find but coincidently all of them also point out frustration in finding further material. But one item luckily did not escape me; I managed to discover "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde or A Mis-Spent Life" via an online used book dealer. This surprised me since it was published way back in 1897.
Doing justice to the cinematic adaptations of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" would almost be a project in and of itself. I'll just try to hit the high spots of what's caught my eye. So, here's what can only be considered a partial list of silent Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films:
1908 - "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" directed by William Selig
1909 - a United Kingdom film called "The Duality of Man"
1909 or 1910 - a film from Denmark called "Den Skaefuesv Angre Opfindelse"
1911 - the Thanhouser film starring James Cruze
1913 -"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" starring King Baggot and possibly another 1913rendition produced by Charles Urban (in color)
1920 - John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
1920 - Sheldon Lewis in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"
1920 - "Der Januskopf" from Germany starring Conrad Veidt and featuring Bela Lugosi
1920 - an obscure production starring one Hank MannThere are most likely any number of foreign adaptations missing from this list. Nor does it even begin to contemplate all of the parodies and comedies associated with the tale such as "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Done to a Frazzle" and "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde". These continued in the tradition of such 19th century plays as "The Strange Case of Hyde and Seekyl" and "Dr Freckle and Mr Snide"
Speaking of play adaptations of Stevenson's novel, it's these works almost as much as Stevenson himself that have influenced all or most of the Jekyll/Hyde films made. The very first one (Selig) is merely a filming of a stage performance. Most sources state it was an adaptation written by Luella Forepaugh & George F. Fish. An added plot change to this theatrical feature: a love interest for Dr. Jekyll.
A big kick from reading this play was text describing how the transformation scene was pulled off: "At commencement of change the footlights are half lowered, making stage partially dark. Dr. Jekyll writhes as though in physical pain: assumes crouching position; during this with one hand he pulls portion of the wig which is brought forward and falls in a tangled mass over his forehead and eyes, at the same time with other hand he releases button or hook which releases pleat and causes coat to hang like loose gown, thus concealing the fact that the character is standing in crouching position". Presumably, this was the method used when the Selig filming of the theatrical production took place.
The added touch of a female companion for Jekyll likewise continued to be incorporated into the 1911 Thanhouser film (and many others). This silent short is the oldest Jekyll/Hyde movie still in existence. For years, it was assumed that James Cruze (who would later become a director of some repute) played both title characters. It was learned much later that a fellow named Harry Benham provided some of the Hyde portrayals. Both performers contributed to what really is a fairly decent production. The Morning Telegraph commented "It is a dramatic and unforgettable production which the Thanhouser Company has made…".
(A little footnote: Techniclly the oldest Jekyll and Hyde recording that survives is by a guy named Len Spencer. But that's a sound recording done on cylinder. I was very pleased to find out that the last portion of the Forepaugh / Fish play virtually matches the dialogue of this recording. This short rendition is described by the "1906 Columbia Phonograph Company catalog" as "This tragic scene from the last act of the play depicts the final transformation of Dr. Jekyll into the demon Hyde, and his subsequent death by his own hand. The ringing of the chimes and pealing of the organ lend realism to the intensely thrilling climax.")
The only other adaptation to survive from the early silent era had King Baggot in the title role. This rendition comes across somewhat more "stagey" than its predecessor of two years prior. We can only wish that we had today a possible Jekyll and Hyde in color from the same year.
While 1913 has 2 films on our list, the year 1920 boasted a total of no less that 4. Two of these survive today. John Barrymore gave us a fine version of both characters A quote from a Photoplay review - "It will easily become the most talked of picture of the time". Luckily this is still extant and is readily available to the home viewer of our time.
We're not so fortunate with the film Der Januskopf. We can only imagine but it's safe to assume that this film would rival Barrymore's. After all, it starred Conrad Veidt, featured Bela Lugosi and was directed by F.W. Murnau.
Similarly, a very, very obscure Arrow film is also lost. It couldn't have been much since it was shown only 3 times in the theaters before being removed from distribution.
1920 did leave us with an existing copy of Sheldon Lewis in the title role. While not as well received as Barrymore's work, Lewis did receive enough notoriety in the dual role to launch as vaudeville act. (This was caught on film almost a decade later in sound and is still extant.)
Only 4 serious cinematic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's" exist from the silent era. All have been made public. What else besides some long-lost roll of film being discovered is there to hope for? That's were some frustration comes in.
First of all, I just * know * there is a slew of synopses out there somewhere taunting me. (Although it turns out that the January 1912 Moving Picture News synopsis was culled from studio released material making it "almost official".)
A complete transcript of Thomas Sullivan's first stage Jekyll and Hyde may or may not exist. It would be interesting to see how this influenced subsequent productions in both the theater and the cinema. Although sources place pieces of it at the Smithsonian, they claim they don't have anything.
I've got evidence that a script written by Clara S. Beranger for John Barrymore is to be had. I'd love to locate it and get my grubby littles on it since there are 2 alternate drafted endings included. Certainly, it would provide more background than mere intertitles. But so far...nada.
The script to the lost Der Januskopf might be found in Swedish Film Archives. (O.K., so I don't read German.)
And, of course, there could be titles that I'm overlooking. For instance, there's a derivative play by the German Paul Lindau that was adapted into a 1913 film called "Der Anderer" aka "The Other". (O.K., so I still don't read German.)
And so on.
Ah well. To say the proverbial "further research" is needed might be an understatement….more like"continual research". But I'll keep tryin' on this classic tale.
written: 1/20/2003, 2/3/2003
revised: 3/3/2003, 7/18/2003