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This is one of those movies I watch every so often. I was impressed with it the first time I saw it. It wears very well. It showed that what many find laughable in silent film can be quite dramatic and well done. The acting here is subdued and very persuasive. John Barrymore carries off the transitions to Hyde very well. He uses his body and his face to made this work. An old coat, a slouch hat, and a distorted face do the job. There is also the famous scene where Jekyll must force himself to drink the potion that will release his evil side. He moves toward it and then away; finally, he drinks it. Some find his gyrations and anguished expressions to be a bit much, but we have to remember what actors were trying to project at this time. Much of what takes place is in front of the apartment of Jekyll. Eventually, the evil takes dominance and Henry can no longer control what he is becoming. This is when he begins to lose his immortal soul, his greatest fear. If you see this, you will be captivated by what a good story it is and what a good actor John Barrymore was.
score 9/10
Hitchcoc 14 March 2006
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1315253/ |
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25-2-2021 05:01:33