Robert Louis Stevenson wrote many books. Some, like Treasure Island, became classics, that were made into films. One of his most famous, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde has several film versions. This one, with Frederic March, as Dr. Jekyll, has it’s merits. The acting of March, as the kindly Jekyll and monstrous Hyde, give an insight into mental illness. This was the purpose of Stevenson’s book. March shows a wonderful doctor, who heals a crippled girl. Later, the evil side of Hyde is shown; from enjoying dancehalls, to sadistic behavior. This role won Frederic March an academy award.
The story is told well by Rouben Mamoulian. He shows Jekyll’ls perspective, with the camera. In the beginning, the camera pans around the Dr.’s house. This is when he’s getting ready to speak to physician’s about his split personality theory. When Jekyll arrives, you see his view of the doctor’s with their different expressions. They are not impressed, by the doctor’s theory. Frustrated, Jekyll tests his formula on himself. Mamoulian does well showing the transformation, with the room spinning, and Jekyll hearing the voices of close friends, and his fiancé. The interesting thing is that Hyde, looks like Neanderthal man. This probably makes sense, given Hyde’s primitive nature. It is also an incredible makeup job. There is also the perspective of Hyde’s girlfriend; Ivy Pearson, a dance hall performer. Miriam Hopkins plays her very well. We see the fear shown in her face, when threatened by Hyde. Ivy had wanted Jekyll’s company, but the virtuous Dr. rejected her advances. The director has also shown scene changes by split screens. This is different than a fadeout, but it was commonly used in early sound films. Mamoulian has also given the dancehall the perfect atmosphere for Hyde. There is also a scene, when Hyde has his cloak, disappear into darkness. This shows that he is evil incarnate and Jekyll has disappeared.
Hyde is so hidden by Jekyll that it believed that he is a shady friend. He also runs back and forth to the laboratory, where he is confronted by Dr. John Lanyon, (Holmes Herbert). Hyde, realizing he can’t keep the secret, shows Lanyon, Jekyll. Lanyon is shocked, but not really surprised. Jekyll, tortured by what he’s done as Hyde, goes to his fiancé, Muriel Carew, (Rose Hobart). March, displays his acting in this scene. Jekyll breaks off his engagement. He is heartbroken, saying to Muriel that his broken engagement is his penance. Jekyll then leaves a very brokenhearted and puzzled Muriel. It is the beginning of a sad end for Dr. Jekyll’s experiment with the human mind. Hyde destroys Jekyll never submitting to the good. Hyde is pursued after murdering Ivy Muriel’s father.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is like Frankenstein, a moral tale. The moral is don’t fool with something that can’t be controlled. The movie doesn’t have the eerie feel of Frankenstein. It does have a naive doctor, who should have consulted Frankenstein’s journal, before conducting his ill fated experiment. This movie does do justice to Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale of man’s folly, and the terror it creates.