One of the most frequent questions I am always asked being the host of the greatest movie podcast ever (opinions may vary) is “What’s your favorite movie?” That answer has been the same since I was 11 years old. But it also isn’t as easy to explain why I love some movies more than others.
As an art form, movies are by their nature interpretative. Some people will point to a film’s box office total as a barometer for a film’s quality, this might not be true again because although it might be popular to the masses it might not appeal to you. I am looking at you Avatar, which is not one of my favorite films, not by a longshot.
Also, if the film wins an Academy Award for Best Picture, that hardly means it’s one of my favorite films, looking at you The English Patient, in fact I hardly agree with the Academy. Having said that, I am sure that some people love Avatar and The English Patient. And that’s what makes movies so great.
I, also am not a professional critic. I love film. I try and find merit in all film. As a host of a podcast that attempts to give every movie a chance, I believe that is the best way to approach movies, let the lights go out and try and enjoy yourself. You might find a “diamond in the rough.”
When thinking of my favorite movies to share with you, my loyal listeners, I thought 100 wasn’t going to be enough. So, I am proud to present my 150 Favorite Films, right now. These will change, I know they will.
See you at the movies!
***Spoilers Ahead!***
129. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) Directed by Rouben Mamoulian
The Movie: Dr. Henry Jekyll (Fredric March) believes that in every man there is a duality. One part that is good and another that is evil, and he intends to conduct experiments to separate the two. Henry is engaged to Muriel Carew (Rose Hobart) and intends to marry her right away. Her father, Sir Danvers Carew (Halliwell Hobbes) informs the couple that they must wait, putting Jekyll at odds with him.
One night, Jekyll and his colleague Dr. John Lanyon (Holmes Herbert) are walking home. On their way through the seedy streets of London a woman is being attacked by a man outside her residence. Jekyll is able to fight the man off. The woman introduces herself, Ivy Pierson (Miriam Hopkins) a bar singer and lady of the night. Jekyll carries Ivy to her room where she attempts to seduced the “good” doctor. Jekyll is tempted but leaves.
Jekyll is left alone after Muriel leaves with her father to Bath. With his fiancé out of the way, Jekyll beings experimenting with drugs that he believes will unleash the “evil” doctor. His experiment works, and Jekyll disappears and the evil Hyde takes his place. Where Jekyll has a moral compass, Hyde does not. Now able to act on all of Jekyll’s impulses, Hyde goes to a music hall where Ivy is performing. He offers her money in exchange for her company. Ivy agrees and takes Hyde to her room. Once there Hyde rapes Ivy and psychologically terrorizes her. Hyde soon learns that Muriel is set to return. He tells Ivy that he is leaving, but he will return.
The next day, Jekyll is back and he is overcome with guilt. He sends Ivy money, which after she receives it, Ivy decides to see Jekyll. When Ivy recognizes Jekyll as the man who saved her, she confides in him what Hyde had done to her. Jekyll tells Ivy that she will never see Hyde again.
Intending to attend a party hosted by Sir Carew Jekyll never makes it. He turns into Hyde, runs to Ivy’s room and murders her. Hyde runs to Jekyll’s home but is denied entry by the butler. Hyde quickly writes a letter to Lanyon tells him to take chemicals from Jekyll’s laboratory and take them to his home. Hyde arrives at Lanyon’s home where the doctor demands that Hyde tell him where Jekyll is. Hyde sensing he has no other choice drinks the formula a reverts back to Jekyll. Lanyon is shocked.
Jekyll leaves and soon realizes he is losing control from turning into Hyde. He visits Muriel and breaks off their engagement and leaves. As he walks away he sees Muriel crying. Jekyll turns into Hyde once again. Hyde goes into the home and attacks Muriel. Sir Carew attempts to stop it and is beaten to death for his trouble. Hyde flees back to Jekyll’s lab and takes the formula yet again and reverts back to Jekyll.
At Carew’s home, Lanyon recognizes the walking cane that was used in Sir Carew’s murder as Jekyll’s. Lanyon accompanies the police to Jekyll’s home, where Jekyll pleads with them that Hyde has left. Lanyon tells the police that Hyde and Jekyll are one and the same. Jekyll turns into Hyde and attempts to fight the intruders. Hyde is shot by police, and transforms back into Jekyll, dead.
Why I Love Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931): This is a truly horrifying film. It is a great showcase for Fredric March, who would win an Academy Award for his dual role of Jekyll/Hyde. The duality in the roles is remarkable. As Jekyll, March is as handsome and charming as ever, as Hyde he is absolutely terrifying. Miriam Hopkins is the object of Hyde’s desire and it’s easy to see why. She is sexy, vulnerable and puts on a tour de force of a woman suffering at the hands of a controlling man.
The horror in this film is what it says about men as a whole. The way Jekyll wants to explore his dark side is nothing short of selfish. Instead of waiting to be married he wants to explore what it’s like to control a woman that has nothing with money and threats. And although Hyde is a “different” person, in reality he isn’t, he’s just the asshole version of Jekyll.
The horror of what man is capable of is told brilliantly through the direction of Rouben Mamoulain. The transformation scene is done cleverly by having the make-up by Wally Westmore using contrasting colors and the lenses of matching colors. When the lenses were slowly removed, the colors would not appear on a black and white film, but just more of the make-up was exposed.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde transformed what horror could mean for film. Not every horror is a monster of supernatural origin, sometimes it’s the evil lurking inside.