Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
John S. Robertson
1920
SYNOPSIS
In this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, Dr. Henry Jekyll (John Barrymore) is a respected scientist who conducts experiments to separate the good and evil aspects of his personality. He succeeds in transforming into the monstrous Mr. Hyde, who indulges in violent and immoral behavior. Jekyll’s struggle to control Hyde ultimately leads to tragic consequences, as the transformation becomes irreversible, and Hyde's actions grow increasingly destructive.
CRITIQUE
John S. Robertson’s adaptation is immortalized by John Barrymore’s tour-de-force performance. Relying purely on facial contortions before makeup takes over, Barrymore physically manifests the duality of good and evil, setting a high bar for screen acting. The film’s mix of Victorian respectability and nightmarish depravity captured the source material's psychological horror. It defined the cinematic 'split personality' trope and proved that horror could be a vehicle for prestigious, star-driven drama rather than just cheap shocks.