- Actors: John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Charles Lane, Brandon Hurst, Cecil Clovelly
- Directors: John S. Robertson
- Writers: Clara Beranger, Oscar Wilde, Robert Louis Stevenson, Thomas Russell Sullivan
- Producers: Adolph Zukor
- Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Silent, NTSC, Import
- Language: English
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Mongrel Media
- Release Date: Sep 1 2004
- Run Time: 73 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005O5CF
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Product Description
From Amazon.com
It took John Barrymore to bring class to the American horror film, at least in the eyes of the industry. Dignified and virtuous as Dr. Henry Jekyll in this 1920 silent, Barrymore transforms into id incarnate as the lascivious Mr. Hyde. With almost no makeup beyond his gnarled, knobby fingers and greasy hair, Barrymore relies almost solely on a bug-eyed grimace, a spidery body language, and pure theatrical flourish. He tends to be hammy as the leering beast of a thug but brings a tortured struggle to the repressed doctor, horrified at the demon he's unleashed, guilty that he enjoys Hyde's unrestrained life of drinking and whoring, and terrified that he can no longer control the transformations. Martha Mansfield costars as his pure and innocent sweetheart, and Nita Naldi (the vamp of Blood and Sand) has a small but memorable role as the world-weary dance hall darling who first "wakens" Jekyll's "baser nature." --Sean Axmaker
Additional features
Kino's DVD features a fine transfer from a 35mm negative, though its age can be seen in minor deterioration in some of the darker scenes. Supplements include Stan Laurel's 1925 parody Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride (with Laurel doing a dead-on lampoon of Barrymore's performance), an excerpt from the rival 1920 version starring Sheldon Lewis as the schizophrenic hero, a rare 1909 audio recording of "The Transformation Scene," and an illustrated essay on the story's origins and incarnations. --Sean Axmaker
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
DREW'S GRANDFATHER GOES MAD,
By
This review is from: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (DVD)
Robert Louis Stevenson cranked out finely plotted, freshly original stories like clockwork. He was the Stephen King of his time and, like King, excelled at horror. John Barrymore was perhaps the most famous stage performer of his time. Known more today as Drew's grandfather and at the end of his short life, a sad alcoholic reflection of his former charisma. In this terrific 1920 version of "DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE," Barrymore's early brilliance is showcased in this first great American horror film that holds its own in the 21st century. In fact, it even has an enhanced, eerie period feel that amps up the dangerous and ill-fated experiment by the curios doctor who discoverz the shadow side of civilization and self. The Mont Alto Orchestra delivers a fine score and the DVD bonus material features a rare 1909 audio recording of the transformation scene, a 1925 one-reel parody starring a goofy Stan Laurel, an excerpt from a rival 1920 version and more.
4.0 out of 5 stars
The birth of the horror genre - a must for collectors,
By
This review is from: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (DVD)
It may be surprising to audiences with modern movie-going sensibilities, given both the absence of well-established genre conventions and the obvious limitations imposed by the absence of sound, that most of the more prominent early movies of genre interest are rather good. The 1920 version of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, directed by John S. Robertson, for example, remains a solid entry among the many film versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale, arguably only eclipsed by Rouben Mamoulian's 1932 version starring Fredric March (mainly because of the latter's unintentional comedy). John Barrymore, originating the role of the ill-fated gentleman doctor and his beastly alter ego, is on top form, overcoming the limitations of silence with some superb physical character work. Proving the adage rather early though that Hollywood only knows about four good stories, at least six more versions of the story would be filmed before the advent of sound in 1928.
4.0 out of 5 stars
1920 FILM SHARP AND CLEAR ON DVD!,
This review is from: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (DVD)
Barrymore's stunning metamorphosis from kindly Dr. Jekyll to hideous Mr. Hyde is remarkably amazing in that he accomplished the effect largely through acting technique - because of that fact, he was justly proud of this performance. This antique curio is fascinating and classic video buffs should enjoy watching this well-preserved account of the 38 year-old legend acting up a storm!
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