Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

            This is the first part of a blog I'm starting on classic horror films. Recently I found a humble bundle of 50 classic horror films, so now I plan on watching one every week and blogging about them. It should take about one year. I'm watching them in chronological order, and that makes the first film Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920) starring John Barrymore.

 Mr. Barrymore making a face that I can only describe as "extremely rapey." He makes this face for about half the film.

            

          Anyone familiar with the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde probably knows that it's intimately related to Victorian culture and the dualities of life in 1880s England. It's the story of a good man who creates a potion to separate the good and evil parts of his psyche into two separate beings. What results is the creation of Mr. Hyde, his evil self and an ensuing battle between the two halves for control of Dr. Jekyll's body and soul.

            The film is an interesting look into the past--the 1920s imitating the 1880s. A lot of the film revolves around Hyde's descent into hedonism through alcohol and women. I can't help but wonder if the film's 1880s brothels are not stand-ins for the speak-easies of 1920.

            In some ways perhaps prohibition was our country's national Jekyll/Hyde complex. Sure, in the voting booth we proudly swore off alcohol and happily smashed barrels of Templeton Rye in the streets, but in the dark places, the basements and back rooms we kept our secret reserves of Canadian Whiskey for enjoyment away from prying eyes. And, what is the violence of prohibition era criminals and our lasting fascination with their stories if not the specter of Mr. Hyde. The dark fantasy which we, the honest, hardworking Dr. Jekylls of the world, wistfully dream about.

            P.S.

            I promise not all my posts will be as serious as this one. I just couldn’t come up with anything funny to write J 

    Also, here is a link to the whole movie if you decide you have nothing better to do with your time than watch silent films on Youtube (God knows I don't).

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde 1920