So, look, this adaptation of Jekyll & Hyde is definitely not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It has a lot of major players here! Tracy, Turner, and Bergman. That is some star power!
That said, this is an outright remake of the 1931 film, with minor differences here and there. Acted well? Of course! Intriguing? Sure! The problem is, Frederic March’s (1931) performance as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde is so batshit that it won him an Academy Award. If I had not watched the 1931 adaptation at all and had just viewed this particular film, it would absolutely stand out. The acting is top-notch. It’s filmed beautifully. I’m still upset that my guy Utterson is nowhere to be seen, which means there is also no plot point involving the Last Will and Testament.
Dudes! This means there is a chance that this version of Dr. Henry Jekyll left me something cool in his will. I’m hoping for the hat.
What else can I say?
I prefer Miriam Hopkins’ Ivy over Ingrid Bergman.
I prefer Lana Turner’s Beatrix over Rose Hobart’s Muriel.
This is also the first time we get a clear picture of the ‘why?’ Dr. Jekyll pursues his experimentation, having a mental health aspect. Unfortunately, this is coupled with talk about separating good from evil, a tactic I’m not sure would work quite as well today without a hell of a lot of nuance, a lot of treading very carefully to avoid further mental health stigma. Whether this carries on into other films, we shall see.
The makeup to create Hyde is subtle compared to the previous versions:
Depression does funny things. Which is kind of ironic when you stop and think about it. During my deepest lows, music can either be a salve for my soul or break me down. Both of which are, honestly, cathartic in their own way. When I am having a harder day, surprisingly, it’s not books that I turn to. If I am reading, it’s a good indication that I’m feeling pretty good. I’m opening myself up to different stories, cultures, etc. Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty good most of the time. Great for me! Love that for me! I’m not saying that my depressed state evaporates when I am “all things books”. In fact, my constant need to purchase more books is more than likely one of the signs of what depression looks like in me.
When I am feeling bad? When I stop watching movies for ten years? When I set aside books for months? When I lose interest in that monthly trip over to Barnes and Noble? The one thing I turn to is music. I think we all do for any number of reasons. I tend to turn to music because I’m one of those people who cry too easily when listening to music. Seriously, the first time I went to see The Phantom of the Opera, and the overture started, I started bawling. Beautiful music. Lyrics. A certain tone in an artist’s voice. I completely lose my shit. So when I feel myself falling – and fast – I will often turn to music to aid me on that journey. Crying makes me feel better. There’s some science behind the actual shedding of tears, I read about a long time ago. Something about the release of stress hormones. I won’t bore you more than I already am! Go look it up!
Music. I have theme music. Okay, I have music that, when I am feeling particularly unwell, really should be my theme music. These are the songs that resonate with me. Songs that touch me, speak to me, and make me sit back and think, “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I would say this was written just for me.” I could list the songs and go into depth about what they make me feel and why they make me feel anything at all. Instead, I want to give you those songs, share a few lyrics that stand out to me, and let you decide whether to add them to your playlist. Not surprisingly, a few of these songs do come from musicals. You’re welcome!
Lifeboat from Heathers
I float in a boat In a raging black ocean Low in the water With nowhere to go The tiniest lifeboat With people I know
Ghost by Justin Bieber
Youngblood thinks there’s always tomorrow I need more time, but time can’t be borrowed I’d leave it all behind if I could follow
Fighter by Christina Aguilera
I heard you’re goin’ ’round Playin’ the victim now But don’t even begin feeling I’m the one to blame ‘Cause you dug your own grave
A New Life from Jekyll & Hyde
A new dream – I have one I know That very few dream! I would like to see That overdue dream – Even though It never may come true!
No More from Into the Woods
Running away- we’ll do it. Why sit around, resigned? Trouble is, son, The farther you run, The more you feel undefined For what you have left undone And, more, what you’ve left behind.
What You Own from RENT
So I own not a notion I escape and ape content I don’t own emotion — I rent
Believer by Imagine Dragons
I was choking in the crowd Building my rain up in the cloud Falling like ashes to the ground Hoping my feelings, they would drown But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing Inhibited, limited Till it broke open and rained down
Unsteady by X Ambassadors
Hold, hold on, hold onto me ‘Cause I’m a little unsteady A little unsteady
I Am What I Am from La Cage Aux Folles
It’s my world that I want to take a little pride in, My world, and it’s not a place I have to hide in.
Waving Through a Window from Dear Evan Hansen
We start with stars in our eyes We start believing that we belong But every sun doesn’t rise And no one tells you where you went wrong
So, I haven’t exactly been watching too many movies within the last 2-3 weeks. You know how readers fall into reading slumps? I think I fell into a movie/watching slump. I have been trying to motivate myself over the last week, intending to sit down and watch a few movies after work. Each day, I told myself I was going to watch **insert whatever movie here** before going to bed (i.e., at a reasonable hour when I had enough time to watch, and not at a time when I would want to pass out from mental exhaustion). Each day, I put it off until I looked at the clock, noticed it was like 10 pm or 11 pm, and told myself, “Well, I’m just going to get sleepy, so I should watch this another night.” The next night, I would do the same thing.
I’m going to make a plan for this three-day weekend to get at least 3-4 movies in and get back on track for my “I spent 10 years not watching shit, and now I’m behind, so I need to watch all the movies ever” journey. That includes the next Jekyll & Hyde film, an old favorite I haven’t rewatched in forever, and a film I guess could be categorized as nature horror.
I’ve also been considering my novel-to-film adaptation project of Jekyll & Hyde. First, after the next film I watch, I will have officially watched the J&H adaptations I am, at least, somewhat familiar with. I’m eager to branch out into the films I haven’t heard of. The weird adaptations. The more horror-based adaptations. The silly ones, even! Second, I would like to do something similar in 2027 with a different novel and its movie adaptations. I’ve gone back and forth, but I think I’ve narrowed it down to two choices: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux or The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells. Both have a respectable number of movie adaptations, but one of those novels worries me more than the other. I’m not going to tell you which one. That would be too easy!
I also find myself interested in exploring other novels inspired by The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Retellings from various genres. Something to research! Likely a journey I will go on on my own.
Friends, it’s 10:30 pm EST on a Thursday. I have work in the morning, yet I feel compelled to stay up and watch a movie. I am really good at talking myself into doing dumb things! Or maybe it’s guilt for allowing myself to slide into a movie slump for the last few weeks? Okay, it’s probably the latter.
Picture this – it’s 1995, and Siemelle’s father finally caved and purchased a family computer (because in 1995, we didn’t have individual computers, we had one computer that everyone had to use). This huge-ass monitor, tower, speakers, mouse, and keyboard took up an entire desk. It also took about two hours to set up, and we convinced ourselves that it was super fast, super advanced, and we had no idea what future technology would look like. Cut to the computer being fully set up, and the fun can begin. The younger generation will never know the trials and tribulations of dial-up internet, but I have that particular sound ingrained into my memory. Every ear-piercing scream of technology trying to connect to the great and powerful America Online (AOL).
Today, I find myself nostalgic not just for old technology (i.e., dial-up) but also for the era of AOL, instant messaging, chatrooms, and the experience of having no idea what you’re getting into yet becoming immediately addicted anyway. I spent hours answering the following question: A/S/L? Hours, I tell ya, and never knowing who the person on the other end of the connection was. Sweet old lady just wanting to talk? Sure. Some fourteen-year-old pretending to be twenty-five, living in NYC, and on Wall Street? Probably. A serial flasher eager to track me down, ring my doorbell, and show me his/her bits? I mean, they were there, too. The sense that you were doing something dangerous (yet somehow fun) was very addictive.
I miss having an @aol.com email address. Sure, I’m fully aware that I can probably still obtain one and sink back into the nostalgia that way, but I wouldn’t have access to the ever-powerful “You’ve Got Mail.” Whatever happened to that guy? I miss him!
I miss having access (albeit slow) to video and audio clips. I was partial to finding interviews Rosie O’Donnell has conducted on her show and searching for 30-second files of Broadway shows.
And midi files! Friends, it was all about the midi files and finding the one that sounded the most like the song you wanted to download. The only one that ever actually sounded right was the theme song from John Carpenter’s Halloween.
Tonight, I want to go back to 1995. Dial up, connect to AOL, have my friend tell me I have mail, go into a chat room, lie about my age, and then, when someone picks up the landline, complain about how unfair life is.
Ain’t no one got time to write a long-winded review. I watched the 1931 version of Jekyll and Hyde. Everyone, by now, knows the general story. Aside from the fact that we have moved into talkie territory, not a whole lot changed between 1920 and 1931. So, we’re going to force them to fight. Whoever has the most points at the end is the victor!
BEWARE – THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD!
Silent vs Talkie
Silent Film – Creepy. Over the top expressions and body movements. Takes talent to convey the story. A lot can be lost without dialogue.
Talkie – Dialogue provides better context. Easier to pay attention. Can be a little too over-the-top when it doesn’t need to be.
Winner – Silent
Barrymore vs March as Jekyll
Barrymore, 1920 – Nice to look at in an old-timey way. Can feel Jekyll’s guilt and remorse. Taken out by self-inflicted violence.
March, 1931 – Nice to look at, as well, in a dapper way. Slightly unbelievable interactions with fiancé. Taken out by a police officer, trying to acrobat his way out of consequence. Do not get the sense he’s at all remorseful.
Winner: Barrymore (silent)
Millicent vs Muriel
Millicent, 1920 (Martha Mansfield) – Forgettable. Not given a lot to work with, really. Good acting choices, even though we don’t see her too much.
Muriel, 1931 (Rose Hobart) – Actually kind of annoying. Given too much to work with for this story. Actress, despite my aversion to the character, is still very good.
Winner – Millicent (by a hair)
Gina vs Ivy
Gina, 1920 (Nita Naldi) – Doesn’t play a major role. Remember her more than the actual love interest. Solid acting. Survives the film.
Ivy, 1931 (Miriam Hopkins) – The acting choice when we first meet her is way too strong. The acting choices get so much better when she starts reacting to Hyde. Does not survive the film.
Winner – Ivy (Justice for both!)
Barrymore vs March as Hyde
Hyde, 1920 – Very creepy. Scary make-up. Don’t want to meet him in a dark alley. Could totally beat the crap out of him. Solid acting, but not as good as Barrymore as Jekyll.
Hyde, 1931 – Completely unhinged. Borderline offensive (or, maybe, just outright offensive) make-up. Not safe for any woman to be in the same room with him alone. In a fight, he’s probably going to win.
Winner – Hyde, 1931
Side Characters
1920 – Could not keep track of who was who, but there was an Utterson. Don’t ask me to identify which one he was, though.
1931 – Could absolutely keep track of who was who, and they supported the main cast well. No Utterson.
Winner – 1931
Rewatchability
1920 – Well-made for the time period. The no-talking thing can get old.
1931 – Some interesting shots in the beginning utilize Jekyll’s POV. There is some definite over-acting sprinkled through the film, which works for Hyde, but not so much for Jekyll. Talking makes the story more accessible.
Both films are very solid entries. If I had to choose which one is more iconic, I would say the silent version because it sets the tone. However, there is something to be said about the 1931 version. It’s easier to understand. It’s immediately more accessible just by being a talkie. I will say I am not a fan of Hyde’s makeup effects, but March’s completely unhinged, over-the-top portrayal makes me so uncomfortable that it’s hard not to lean toward this version. March as Hyde sells the story.
Also, how did they get away with this overtly sexual content (for the time) in 1931?
At some point in my years on this earth, I established rules I didn’t realize I was establishing, and I follow them to a fault. I was alerted to this fact one night in the recent past, when I attempted to stray from the rules only to hit a wall.
All I can say is, I trained myself really well to be a stickler for some random (read: sometimes unreasonable) rules.
Let me highlight 5 of them for you!
And in no particular order, thank you very much!
If I planned something with another person (or group) where there is a schedule we agreed upon, there can’t be any deviation from what was scheduled
Listen, this isn’t going to happen too often. First, I prefer solitary activities. Second, most people I know don’t prefer to plan; they prefer to do things all willy-nilly. On the off chance that you have gotten me out of my house to an event, and we have agreed on what we are going to do and when we are going to do it, specifically, so we have time to get as much in as we can? You can’t be deviating from the schedule! The fact that I would not be at home (and probably in an unfamiliar place/situation) fills me with anxiety to begin with. Having a schedule is a safety net. Now, this rule does not extend to hanging out with friends and family in a low-stress environment. This is very specific to an extended period of ‘not at home’.
An extension of the first rule, if I write it down in my planner, it has to be completed for the day I wrote it down, or I’m going to get stressed out.
Because my depression yo-yos something fierce, I have taken to keeping a daily planner. There are a number of reasons for this. One, it helps to maintain some semblance of work-life balance. Two, depression and the feeling of failure tend to go hand-in-hand. So, I like having activities (even if it’s just to check off that I fucking brushed my teeth for the day) to cross off. It makes me feel that I’ve accomplished something. Even if that ‘something’ is small. However, that has turned into some unspoken rule that I need to get absolutely everything I wrote down completed before I fall asleep. It’s a different form of anxiety. I’ve been trying to do better about not stressing out when there are one or two items I wasn’t able to complete. I am a work in progress!
In order to be able to read, I need to hold/play with a pen
One thing a lot of people would be surprised to learn about me is my obsession with pens. I am constantly in search of one that fits my grip perfectly! I feel like the more sparkle in the ink, the better. I have had people purposely guide me away from that aisle in any store because I will stop and throw a few packages of pens into the cart. What I didn’t realize was that I had trained myself to read only while holding and playing with a pen. Like, how? I usually don’t take notes when I’m reading. I don’t annotate too often either! I became aware of this inability to read without a pen when I tried to read without one in my hand the other day. I guess having my hand occupied helps me concentrate.
I need to have YouTube playing in order to fall asleep
I’ve always been the type of person who needs the television on in order to sleep. Specifically, the television. I’ve tried falling asleep to the radio or my playlist and have been jumpscared from sleep by one stray, too-loud note too many. Through the years, I’ve stopped watching cable in favor of YouTube’s content. So now I need to have a familiar voice while I’m sleeping. Markiplier. Cartoonz. JordalineReads. The Boys Gaming. GabbyReads. Basically, any gamer, booktuber, reaction youtuber. If I try to switch over to reruns on cable/streaming, a movie, talk show, etc., it’s a no-go. I will sit and stare at the ceiling, regretting every life choice I’ve ever made. Because I’m me, and of course that’s what I would do!
If we are going to watch a movie together, you absolutely cannot fall asleep
I know this is unreasonable. Here’s the thing, though. I tend to watch movies alone because my type of movie is decidedly not other people’s type. I’ve gotten used to being told I’m weird for liking horror movies, cult classics, movie musicals, etc. I very rarely approach someone and ask them if they want to watch a movie with me. I’m much more likely to ask for a recommendation if I want to branch out from my norm. If I am going to watch a movie with someone else, it’s probably because they asked me to. So if you asked me to sit down and spend 1.5 (give or take) hours with you watching a movie, enjoying some snacks, and handing over some of my energy (if you’re an introvert, you already know), imma be pissed if you fall asleep during that movie. And if you snore? Ooooooo… we will not be spending 1.5 (give or take) hours on that specific activity again anytime soon. How very dare you!
Does anyone else have strange, unreasonable, or surprising rules that they created (knowingly or unknowingly) for themselves?
Since it would only be for one day (i.e., no commitments and I have my regular job to go back to), I would love to work retail and be the one to declare, “The customer is not always right, and you’re also kinda dumb and horrible.”
Tell me that there aren’t shoppers who need to hear this.
All Fauxn Up 