Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde vs. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

nclysander

on 6/22/2016

The Spencer Tracy version isn't all bad. The erotic hallucinations Jekyll experiences when transforming are a nice touch, and it's thrilling to see Hyde cane a man to death, as in the book. Ian Hunter's Lanyon and the score by Franz Waxman (his second for a horror film, after Bride of Frankenstein) are also strengths. But Tracy, a decent Jekyll, is laughable as Hyde. When I read the book, I didn't necessarily imagine the character looking like something out of the prehistoric era, but at least with Frederic March you're not wondering why the other characters don't recognize their old friend in this devil, and his later, tragic scenes as Jekyll are heart-rending. Miriam Hopkins's down-to-earth performance is the cherry on top that seals the win for the 1931 film.