Search - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [1932]/Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde [1941] on DVD

[1932] My favorite of the film adaptations. The basics of the story are known to all, so I will not go into that. Fredric March is amazing in his portrayals of both characters and his transformations between the two are almost unbelievable. Made prior to the Hays Production Code, this was more risqué (the prostitute shows some nice side-boob and is obviously completely naked whilst trying to get the good doctor to bed her) than anything Hollywood had to offer for the next 35+ years. Like the 1920 version, the story follows the early play adaptation.
[1941] Because of the Hays Code many movies made prior to its enforcement were no longer able to be shown. This bred a plethora of re-makes. Like re-makes to this day, they rarely capture what made the original great. This one is 'glossy,' typical of most MGM productions from this era. This takes away from the film in some respects as the grittiness of the earlier films aided the viewer in getting into Jekyll/Hyde's mind. Though much tamer in many senses than either of the preceding Jekyll adaptations (no super-slut prostitute like the 1931 version), it did feature an inexplicably 'rough' scene with a Hyde fantasy sequence. It shows him whipping both his fiancée and a prostitute while in the throes of passion. If you are going to see one Jekyll movie, stick with the 1931 version.