review by Thaddeus
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1920
Watched Apr 08, 2012
Thaddeus’s review:
Perhaps my favorite rendition of the story I've seen thus far. It's never less than entertaining, and director John S. Robertson has a clear and unflashy sense of composition that I really admired. Barrymore (and, it should be noted, Barrymore's makeup as Hyde, which has one of the most striking silent monster designs I've seen this side of Lon Chaney) is pretty great in here, with a touch of theatricality that works wonderfully.
I must have liked this a lot when I saw it because I gave it 4 1/2 stars but I don't remember it too vividly. My favorite version is the Fredric March one, have you seen it? Still the most realistic transformation sequences I've ever seen, and lots of other cool visual touches as well.
I think I'm in the same situation with the March version as you are with this one. I remember liking it a lot but couldn't tell you much more than how cool Hyde looked.
Let's each watch the other's Hyde movie and report back here for tea and whispers.
I second Joe's take on the transformation in March's Hyde. That was a genius way to approach it.