What a difference nearly a century makes. Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, remakes were almost as common as they are these days, but typically there were even smaller gaps between adaptations in the past. The main difference worth noting is that, due to the lack of home entertainment, once a movie had finished its lengthy run it was much more likely that you would never see it again. In turn, that made it much easier for studios to bury their original adaptations and pretend like they did not exist when they wanted to give an old story a new spin. Such was the case of the 1941 adaptation of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from director Victor Fleming (Gone With The Wind) based on the 1886 novella from author Robert Louis Stevenson. While this tale of the duality of man is timeless, it had just been adapted a decade earlier in 1931 by director Rouben Mamoulian (Becky Sharp) which won star Fredric March (The Best Years Of Our Lives) an Oscar for Best Actor. Much like the audiences of the time, I have not had a chance to see the original version of this tale, but I am primed to judge the 1941 version on its own merits.
While the core of this story remains close to what you remember, it is apparent from the first shot that this Fleming version is one that exudes a sense of stately importance that is a bit distant from your typical pre-Code Gothic horror film. An opening outburst at a wedding ceremony gives us our first glimpse of “madness”, although in this case it is not yet displayed by Dr. Henry Jekyll (Spencer Tracy, Fury). In fact, this outburst is what leads Dr. Jekyll to mull over the tenets of good and evil, and how he can use science to master man’s nature. The good doctor is also looking to marry Beatrix Emery (Lana Turner, Green Dolphin Street), but unfortunately the nuptials are held up by the objection of her father, Sir Charles Emery (Donald Crisp, The Private Lives Of Elizabeth & Essex). When Dr. Jekyll attempts to remove his malevolent side, the personality known as Mr. Hyde comes through with greater prominence than ever.
While the titular dual roles give Tracy a chance to show off his considerable talents, the ensemble is invaluable in getting you invested into the deeper emotional territory that this version seems keen on exploring. Turner brings a real elegance and depth to her role that is not necessarily on the page. The real star of the show is Ingrid Bergman (Casablanca) as Ivy Pearson, a young woman who Dr. Jekyll meets early in the movie who is a bit uncultured and forward in her desires but exudes a pure spirit. This is a role that easily could be threadbare, but you are completely ensnared by Ivy when you see the longing and subtle heartbreak the first time she meets Jekyll and realizes that he is not as open to a potential romance as she might be. You care for this woman, which only makes the abuse she suffers at the hand of Mr. Hyde that much more effective.
As for the lead man himself, this is the source of the really good and slightly lacking aspects of the film. Tracy fully commits with his physicality and brutality when he is transformed into Mr. Hyde. Sure, this new high definition transfer reveals the stunt performer more clearly than ever in the climactic pursuit, but in other moments Tracy unleashes his inner beast in the way only he can. His scenes with Ivy will make your skin crawl, and they provide the unsettling horror you are promised. What is slightly ludicrous is the “Superman phenomenon” where nobody close to Dr. Jekyll realizes he is also Mr. Hyde despite looking very similar even after the transformation. Then there is the fact that Dr. Jekyll himself does not always seem completely convincing in his pursuit of science. The drive to conquer the nature of man is more explained than felt.
This version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a bit overlong to be sure, but you rarely find yourself bored during the course of the narrative. The increasing paranoia that Dr. Jekyll feels as he loses grip on who he is translates to anxiety for the audience effectively. This is aided by the technically impressive transformation scenes that do not go overboard on the differences between Jekyll and Hyde but allow Tracy to put his stamp on it. The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one that will always be ripe for interpretation. In the case of the 1941 version, there are some elements that do not come together, but for the most the performances and technical achievements dazzle in equal measure. This is very different from modern horror, but it will make you feel uneasy all the same.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) for the first time on Blu-Ray with 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the best surviving preservation elements. Warner Archive never fails to deliver quality work, and this image is nothing short of stunning for a film that is over eighty years old. This black and white feature has nice, natural film grain throughout that provides a great amount of detail to the image. There are never moments where it gets too clumpy or unnatural. The presentation has a pleasing amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there is no evidence of any black crush. Print damage is virtually nonexistent to these eyes throughout the duration of the movie. It is always amazing to see how film preservation can bring new life to a film, and Warner Archive has knocked it out of the park with this release.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that sounds simply terrific. Spencer Tracy has a very considered accent that always comes through crystal clear. Better yet, you have Ingrid Bergman luxuriating in some of her lines, but you never feel as if even a word from her is lost in the mix. None of the sound effects or the evocative score from Franz Waxman ever overpowers the dialogue on this release. The more kinetic sequences including the climactic free-for-all are appropriately lively in the speakers. There does not appear to be any damage or age related wear to the track. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc for those who need it. Overall, this is an excellent audio presentation that gives the material a real kick in the rear.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: The nearly four-minute trailer is provided for the film.
Final Thoughts
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) is a formidable telling of a timeless story that may lack the bite of a pre-Code movie but excels in other emotionally effective ways. Spencer Tracy is as impressive as ever, but Ingrid Bergman steals the show away from him with her aching vulnerability. Director Victor Fleming knows how to craft spectacle, and this feature achieves that quite handily despite being more horrific in nature. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a virtually flawless A/V presentation but next to nothing in the way of special features. If you are a fan of the story or the performers involved, it is well worth putting it into your shopping cart. Recommended
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.