Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932): Monster

Old Hat Cinema
Old Hat Cinema
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Published 2023-03-17
Now I've seen both versions of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale, I couldn't help but make a video for the one I liked better. Although I enjoyed the Spencer Tracy version from 1941, this classic pre-Code fantasy starring the incredibly versatile Fredric March has even more going for it. It's more than a tad risque, but the story just pulls you right in and doesn't let go until its regrettable, almost tragic finale. March won Best Actor for this, and rightly so, although not if you ask Wallace Beery, who was nominated that same year for "The Champ." (It's actually a very interesting story I suggest you look up for yourself - it was the only so-called "tie" in motion picture history!)

All that aside, I couldn't have asked for a better song for this than "Monster" by Imagine Dragons. Oh, but the horror to realize I may be turning into an Imagine Dragons fan? That's my own monster to deal with.

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All Comments (4)
  • @epgoldenage7049
    Thanks for sharing, another job well done. I haven’t seen enough movies from that year to judge whether he should have won BA but I know it was an outstanding performance. There has been some criticism that it was over the top, but if a person is going to go through the metamorphosis of becoming another being, it probably should be over the top. His future performances were such a contrast. March and Tracy were so natural, it’s pretty ironic that both played this role.
  • @aswell84
    Great job on this! John Barrymore's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was pretty good, if you haven't yet watched it. But I prefer the one with Fredric March the most. I always thought, Lionel Barrymore would have been, good in that role, but with John playing him, I can't see the studios, wanting to use another Barrymore, to play the role. And plus, Lionel would probably have hated the make-up, that he would have to put on, for the Mr. Hyde part. 🤣