The Best of all Jekyll and Hyde movies Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 classic "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has inspired countless story, movie and theater adaptations. I have personally seen more than dozen different movie adaptations of this story (if that is a proof of undying love or utter sadness I'll leave for you to decide) and I can honestly say, no later adaptation can overshadow this 1932 Paramount Pictures production, simply titled "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".
The basic story is pretty much a common knowledge already but let's put up the basics: Dr. Henry Jekyll is a young and successful scientist living in late Victorian England. He is greatly admired by the students of science because of his new and revolutionizing theories but, for the very same reasons, looked down by elder scholars and his colleagues, amongst them his good friend Dr. Lanyon. Jekyll is engaged to be married to a lovely Muriel Carew, daughter of Brigadier General Sir Danvers Carew. While Jekyll and Muriel want to get married, Carew disapproves their eagerness and makes them go through a long engagement time. Jekyll deals with his frustration by working day and night with his private research. One night he invents a chemical formula which in theory should separate the good and evil in man. Jekyll tries the drug and transforms to a brutal, cruel and absolutely evil "Mr. Hyde". Hyde soon sinks his claws on Ivy Pierson, a prostitute who becomes victim of his dark pleasures having simply been in a wrong place at a wrong time.
This is not the first time story of Jekyll & Hyde has been turned to a film. A notable silent adaptation had already been made in 1920 starring John Barrymore and that had already established the setting of women in the story: one "good girl" of upper class for Jekyll, one "bad girl" of lower class for Hyde. However, this film version far succeeds the previous ones and, I dare say, all or most of the later ones as well.
The collaboration of director Reuben Mamoulian and cinematographer Karl Struss is technically flawless. The moving camera, ambitious point-of-view shots and definitely the still impressive transformation scene (where Fredric March was already wearing make-up but it would come visible only when changing the filters in front of the camera lens) were all ahead of their times, making this one of more liveliest and impressive 1930's horror films (probably most impressive along with RKO's "King Kong" and Universal's "The Bride of Frankenstein"). The foggy streets and Gothic architecture set the mood perfectly, making London appear as labyrinth like maze.
The film also has a great deal of hidden meanings in it, that weren't clear for me when I first saw it (granted, I was only 12 or 13 then). The scene with Jekyll and Muriel in garden, telling how they can't wait any longer to get married, may at first seem like an innocent scene between two young people in love, but it also means they're two young people tired of waiting to get it on like rabbits. Especially watching Muriel in this light (a young innocent looking daddy's little angel) is quite startling and bold for its time. Also, Mr. Hyde's apelike make-up may seem a bit over the top, but it's actually really fitting when thinking of the time the story takes place. In Victorian England Darwin's evolution theories had caused quite an uproar when thinking man has evolved from an ape. Giving Mr. Hyde the apelike look establishes how Jekyll is a man of science and reason who doesn't believe everything bible says like the older established people did. Releasing the evil in him Jekyll proves Darwin's theories by taking a step backwards in evolution.
When it comes to actors in Jekyll and Hyde movies, it's obvious the whole movie depends of getting a good actor to play the dual roles. Fredric March deservedly won an Oscar and Favorite Actor Award in Venice Film Festival (where this movie was also awarded as Most Original Story) for his part. As Henry Jekyll, March is ambitious, excited and full of passion for his work, but also reserved, dignified and frustrated. He makes a great character development when Jekyll is forced to realize he has no control over Hyde and becomes beaten, desperate and tormented. The scene where he breaks down in front of Muriel is truly touching moment. As Hyde, well, he is everything Hyde is expected to be; impulsive, sadistic, cruel animal with very obvious sexual desires. The finest part of March's work is that he truly makes you believe he is two different persons. Aside of Jean-Louis Barrault no other actor has managed to make me think "is he really playing BOTH parts?" ever.
Other actors are totally left in March's shadow, but they're not exactly bad either. Rose Hobart has just too little time to make Muriel really interesting (aside of the already mentioned garden scene) but Miriam Hopkins is fantastic as the unfortunate Ivy. She starts out as a really funny and lovable girl who just wants to have fun and it's heartbreaking to watch how Hyde breaks her spirit and drives her to the edge of insanity. The scene where she cries for Jekyll to save her, making him listen the horrors he has inflicted on her, shows both March and Hopkins at their best, and the great chemistry they have.
Long story short: Reuben Mamoulian's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is the best version of Robert Louis Stevenson's story. While there have been very good adaptations later also (most notably Jean Renoir's French version "Testament of Dr. Cordelier" and Terence Fisher's "Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll") this is the one to tower above them all. Atmospherically and technically great, with fantastic transformation scene, screenplay that for once improves the original story and a fantastic performance by Fredric March, make this movie one of the best 1930's horror films to enjoy.