Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)

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General		Extras
Category	Horror	Main Menu Audio Audio Commentary-Greg Mank Featurette-Cartoon - Bugs Bunny in 'Hyde And Hare' Trailer-1941 Version
Rating
Year Of Production	1932
Running Time	92:02
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Sided	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4,5	Directed By	Rouben Mamoulian
Studio Distributor	Warner Home Video	Starring	Fredric March Miriam Hopkins Rose Hobart Holmes Herbert Halliwell Hobbes Edgar Norton Tempe Pigott
Case	?
RPI	$19.95	Music	None Given

    Dr Henry Jekyll (Fredric March) seeks a way to free man of his basest instincts. He sees man as being dual in nature, with a good side and a bad side. His aim is to find a method of splitting man's nature so that the evil side can be removed. By mixing a few potions together, he succeeds. Unfortunately, while this potion is in effect it actually frees the base side to take over completely and he turns into Hyde, a Neanderthal who seeks only to satisfy his considerable lusts.

    Which he proceeds to do with Ivy (Miriam Hopkins), ostensibly a singer in a public bar but obviously a prostitute. Meanwhile Jekyll is engaged to Muriel Carew (Rose Hobart) but her father (Halliwell Hobbes) won't let them marry immediately, insisting that they observe the proprieties and wait until the anniversary of his own marriage. Tragedy ensues.

    Robert Louis Stevenson's short novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was first published in 1886. There are notable differences between the novel and film, for example the absence of Muriel and Ivy from the book. Rather than seek the complete subjugation of the lower half of man's nature, the original Jekyll sought to remove the conflict between the two, by separating them so that each can operate alone at different times. This would eliminate the strictures of conscience from the lustful part, while freeing the higher aspect to operate untroubled by base desire.

    The film somewhat changes this view. Jekyll seeks to better mankind by conquering his evil nature, but at the same time he seeks a resolution to his sexual frustration at being unable to marry Muriel for another eight months. In the Victorian era sex before marriage simply was not done. Jekyll finds his lusts aroused by the sensual and available Ivy, but does nothing about it until he changes his persona to that of the monstrous Hyde. But without a higher nature to seek out the pleasures that Ivy could provide apart from those of the flesh, boredom and familiarity are transformed into wanton cruelty and viciousness. Hyde revels in Ivy's fear, which is well conveyed by Miriam Hopkins.

    March won his first Oscar for this performance. Initially I found myself thinking that he won for his superb portrayal of the lustful and uncontrolled Hyde and not for his theatrical Jekyll. On reflection, it is the differences between these two portrayals that is most impressive, with the theatricality of his Jekyll emphasising the extent to which it is really a mask created for the sake of society. The make-up used for Hyde is based on Neanderthal Man, and progressively changes during the film until at the end he is simply a monster. The transitions between Jekyll and Hyde are done with the best tricks that 1932 cinema could provide. A couple of times it is done with a series of lap dissolves, but the most impressive sequences were done by cinematographer Karl Struss with a combination of make-up and the use of coloured filters on the camera. The application of the filters reveals the various layers of makeup, making Jekyll's face look as if it was changing before one's eyes. The Hyde make-up caused March considerable discomfort, and he spent three weeks in hospital after the shoot recovering from the potentially disfiguring chemicals used.

    The supporting cast includes some veteran British character actors, such as the alliterative Halliwell Hobbes and Holmes Herbert, the latter ably playing Jekyll's colleague and friend Lanyon. Also of note is Edgar Norton as Poole, like Hobbes a perennial butler in scores of films. Rose Hobart is a little less impressive as Muriel, though it would have been a difficult role to do anything substantial with, and she acquits herself well. Miriam Hopkins gives a standout performance as Ivy, a perfect counterbalance to March.

    The film was the third directed by Rouben Mamoulian, who like many stage directors crossed over to films at the start of the sound era, when dialogue directors were in demand. The film has lots of impressive little touches such the use of statuary to punctuate scenes, and the fluid camerawork is superb. The film moves with life and vigour and is immensely enjoyable. Possibly the best version of this story ever filmed, it is still impressive more than seventy years later. It alone is worth the price of the disc, but it also comes coupled with the 1941 remake. That film will be reviewed separately.

Video

    The film is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, close to the original 1.37:1, and is not 16x9 enhanced.

    This edition is described as "restored", but in fact that simply means that deleted footage has been restored, not that the material itself has been fully restored, judging by the appearance of the transfer.

    For the most part the transfer is very sharp and clear. There are some short sequences that appear to be slightly fuzzier than the rest, probably due to the inclusion of bits and pieces from various sources in this edition. I would have to say that the transfer is very good for a film of this age, with a nice level of detail.

    Contrast is excellent in most sequences, with some of the print looking quite luminous. Shadow detail is also very good. The black and white material used exhibits a nice range of solid blacks and whites.

    There are no film to video artefacts that I could detect. There is however a considerable shake to the film, both vertical and horizontal. This is especially obvious during the early parts of the film. I suspect that this is due to the nature of the source material, and is not simply telecine wobble as such.

    Film artefacts abound. There are lots of flecks, small scratches and debris, with what appears to be minor water damage at times. There are frames missing at various points, contributing to a jerky appearance. There is a splice mark at 55:51, and several instances where the frame jumps considerably, such as at 11:58.

    Subtitles are provided in numerous languages, with English subtitles in both standard and Hard of Hearing formats. From the sample I made of the former, they tend to match the dialogue and are eminently readable in a good-sized white font. However, there was one instance where I was certain that Jekyll said "I'll see you anon" but which was subtitled as "I'll see you at 9:00". The audio commentary confirms my understanding of the dialogue, so this was a little sloppy on the part of the subtitlers.

    The film is presented on a single-layered disc, so there is no layer change to contend with.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The default audio track is English Dolby Digital 1.0.

    Obviously this is a mono track reflecting the original recording. Making allowances for the age of the material, it is a very good transfer. There is some audible hiss and the occasional minor crackle, but even in 1932 this would not have been unusual, given the relatively primitive state of audio recording (though it had improved dramatically in only five years). Dialogue comes across well, but Fredric March's voice sounds a little high-pitched. Possibly this is due to PAL speed-up, though I must admit I have never noticed this effect before. It may simply be that the original recording was lacking in bass frequencies.

    There is no credit for the score, not unusual since none of the music is original. The opening titles feature an orchestral version of Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue, which is also played on the organ. The music comes across well given the nature of the audio.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    Some nice extras, though a trailer for the 1932 version (if one exists) would have been good.

Audio Commentary - Greg Mank

    This must be one of the best commentaries I have heard in a while. Mank obviously knows his subject very well and talks with enthusiasm and in considerable detail about the film, including its production and the critical and commercial reaction. He also discusses the careers of each of the actors and the director, while also going into specifics about the John Barrymore 1920 version and the 1941 remake. Particularly valuable is his pointing out of sections that have been censored and restored, and parts that are still incomplete. There are only a couple of dead spots, where Mank wants us to hear what is happening on screen.

    As Mank points out, the pronunciation of Jekyll in the film so as to rhyme with treacle (rather than the usual heckle) is in fact the way Stevenson intended it.

Short - Hyde and Hair (6:48)

    A 1955 Looney Tunes cartoon featuring Bugs Bunny and his encounter with a certain Dr Jekyll. This cartoon is in beautiful condition, as good as the day it was first screened (not that I was there).

Theatrical Trailer - 1941 version (3:34)

    This is a trailer for the Spencer Tracy remake included on the reverse side of the disc. It is in good condition, though not as good as the film itself.

    There is censorship information available for this title. Click here to read it (a new window will open). WARNING: Often these entries contain MAJOR plot spoilers.

    This release appears to be identical to the Region 1 and Region 2 releases, so there is no reason not to buy this at your local DVD retailer.

    An excellent traversal of this oft-filmed story, this must be just about the best version there is.

    The video quality is very good, though not fully restored.

    The audio quality is acceptable.

    The extras include an excellent commentary plus an amusing cartoon on the same subject.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall