Runtime: I saw a version that was 67 minutes long… more on that later
Directed by: John S. Robertson
Starring: John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst, Charles Lane, Cecil Clovelly
From: Paramount
It was another last minute decision to check this out on Turner Classic Movies late Sunday night; the version they had was created in the early 70’s, was a print tinted in a few different colors and ran only 67 minutes in length. From appearances they simply ran the film at a faster framerate than the ones you find on YouTube that are 79 minutes, which is the framerate it played on the big screen back in 1920.
I haven’t read the Robert Louis Stevenson story but have checked out the 1931 Frederic March movie; thus, I can say it follows the general plot: Dr. Jekyll decides to research how to separate the good and evil in man; unfortunately for him, he succeeds and causes havoc as the hideous Mr. Hyde. His fiancĂ© (Millicent in this version) is caught in the crossfire.
While I do prefer the ’31 film, that is no slight on the ’20 film. There was still a spooky atmosphere and it was chilling to see John Barrymore-the real highlight of the picture-become more and more decrepit the more he transforms into Hyde. The intertitles were nicely done although the highlights for me was either discovering that Hyde had really long fingers for some reason (hot dog fingers, to borrow a phrase… although I shouldn’t as it reminds me of a movie that everyone else loves but I loathe) or how out of nowhere a ghostly creature was seen that would send a shiver down the spine of any viewer-my reaction was some variation of “holy crap!”
Henceforth, a wise selection to tune in TCM last night.
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