Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)

Timing: 1:53 (113 min)

6.495/10
182

7.008/10
1158

6.8/10
11000

All about film

Video 1

Photo 20

Actors and characters

Release date

1941-08-12

Country

United States

Production

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Genre

Drama, Horror, Science Fiction

Budget

$0

Revenue

$0

Website

Director

Victor Fleming

Actors

Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, C. Aubrey Smith, Peter Godfrey, Sara Allgood, Frederick Worlock
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Victor Saville

Operator

Joseph Ruttenberg

Composer

Franz Waxman

Artist

Audition

Editing

Harold F. Kress
All team (17)

• The film is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1886).
• The studio's initial choice for the dual leading role was Robert Donat.
• Spencer Tracy was so eager to begin filming that he turned down the lead role in the romantic comedy "The Philadelphia Story" (1940) (where he was ultimately replaced by Cary Grant).
• Spencer Tracy initially wanted to approach his character's story realistically, stripping it of its mystical elements. The actor was disappointed that the producers, having purchased the rights to a 1931 screenplay, insisted on the traditional version of the plot.
• Ivy Peterson is absent from the original novella—this character was taken from the 1931 film.
• The concept of two lovers of Jekyll/Hyde, aristocratic Beatrice Emery and commoner Ivy Peterson, first appeared in the play "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," adapted by playwright T.R. Sullivan for the 19th-century theatrical actor Richard Mansfield. The original novella does not mention any romantic interest of Jekyll or Hyde.
• Due to the infamous Hays Code in 1941, much of the film had to be significantly softened compared to the original 1931 film. For example, Ivy Peterson was changed from a prostitute to a barmaid.
• Spencer Tracy wanted one actress to play both characters—both Beatrice Emery and Ivy Peterson—and suggested Katharine Hepburn for the role. The actor believed that such a move would successfully reinforce the idea that good and evil live in every person.
• Initially, Ingrid Bergman was invited to play Beatrice Emery, and Lana Turner—to play Ivy Peterson. However, Ingrid Bergman found the role of Ivy more interesting for herself and convinced the producers to switch roles with Lana Turner.
• Patricia Morrison and Susan Hayward were also considered for the leading female roles.
• The film is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1886).
• Spencer Tracy was so eager to start filming that he turned down the lead role in the romantic comedy "The Philadelphia Story" (1940) (and was subsequently replaced by Cary Grant).
• The concept of two lovers of Jekyll/Hyde – the aristocratic Beatrix Emery and the commoner Ivy Peterson – first appeared in the play "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," adapted by playwright T.R. Sullivan for 19th-century stage actor Richard Mansfield. The original novella does not mention any romantic interests of Jekyll or Hyde.