Genre: Classics, Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy Directed By: Victor Fleming Written By: John Lee Mahin In Theaters: 12 Aug. 1941 On Disc/ Streaming: 29 April 2004 Runtime: 127 minutes Studio: MGM Budget: $1,140,000 Box office: 1,279,000 (Domestic) $1,072,000 (Foreign) | Cast: Spencer Tracy as Dr. Jekyll Ingrid Bergman as Ivy Pearson Lana Turner as Bea Emery Donald Crisp as Sir Charles Emery Ian Hunter as John Lanyon Barton MacLane as Sam Higgins C. Aubrey Smith as Bishop Manners Peter Godfrey as Poole, Jekyll’s butler Sara Allgood as Mrs. Higgins Frederic Worlock as Dr. Heath William Tannen as Intern Fenwick Frances Robinson as Marcia Denis Green as Freddie Billy Bevan as Mr. Weller Forrester Harvey as Old Prouty Lumsden Hare as Colonel Weymouth Lawrence Grant as Dr. Courtland John Barclay as Constable at Church Colin Kenny as Constable Lydia Bilbrook Lady Copewell Alec Craig as Waiter |
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is a 1941 horror film starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, and Lana Turner.
The film also features Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, C. Aubrey Smith, and Sara Allgood.
Dr. Jekyll (Spencer Tracy) believes good and evil exist in everyone. Experiments reveal his evil side, named Mr. Hyde.
Experience teaches him how evil Hyde can be: he rapes Ivy Pearson (Ingrid Bergman), who earlier expressed interest in Jekyll. Meanwhile, Jekyll is preparing to marry Beatrix Emery (Lana Turner).
Over the course of the film, Hyde abuses Ivy. Feeling remorse over the treatment inflicted on Ivy, Jekyll vows to never take the serum again, destroys the key to his lab, and sends money to Ivy anonymously.
Ivy believes the money was sent by Hyde in order to trick her into believing she is now free.
On the advice of a friend over her rattled nerves, she goes to Jekyll for comfort. Jekyll promises that Hyde will never hurt her again.
On the way to Emery’s house for the announcement of his marriage to Beatrix, Jekyll transforms into Hyde without taking the serum.
He goes over to Ivy’s house, accuses her of meeting with Jekyll, and starts to strangle her.
He escapes back to his lab, but discovers that he no longer has the key to the lab.
He fails to break into the front door of his place and goes to Dr. Lanyon (Ian Hunter), a personal friend, for help.
Lanyon is shocked to find out that both Jekyll and Hyde are the same person as Hyde drinks the antidote in his friend’s presence.
Jekyll decides to break off the engagement to Bea in order to keep his secret.
She refuses to accept, her reaction triggering Jekyll to become Hyde and frighten Bea.
Her father (Donald Crisp) responds to her scream, only to be beaten to death by Hyde.
Lanyon finds a piece of Jekyll’s cane, and realizes he’s responsible.
He leads police to search Hyde’s laboratory, only to find Jekyll (having strong-armed past his butler Poole (Peter Godfrey) to get to an antidote). During questioning he starts to transform into Hyde. In the ensuing struggle Lanyon mortally shoots Hyde, who reverts to Jekyll as he dies.
Lana Turner plays Bea Emery.
Lana’s casting here was primarily for dress-up-the-picture purposes and another move on the studio’s part to spot her in only their most ambitous productions. But whatever the shortcomings of the role, her beauty (exceptional in this case, in Adrian’s billowy nineteenth-century gowns) and her star presence were a decided asset to Jekyll and Hyde box office.
Trailer:
You can watch the film here:
Lana Turner did a lot of movies. She really loved being a moviestar.
Here are the most important films in which she starred. Just click the links for more info, photos and videos.
20 April 1937: A Star Is Born
9 Oct. 1937: They Won’t Forget
24 Oct. 1937: The Great Garrick
1 Jan. 1938: The Adventures of Marco Polo
22 July 1938: Love Finds Andy Hardy
12 Aug. 1938: Rich Man, Poor Girl
9 Dec. 1938: Dramatic School
28 April 1939: Calling Dr. Kildare
18 Aug. 1939: These Glamour Girls
29 Sept. 1939: Dancing Co-Ed
19 April 1940: Two Girls on Broadway
19 July 1940: We Who Are Young
25 April 1941: Ziegfeld Girl
12 Aug. 1941: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
2 Oct. 1941: Honky Tonk
18 Febr. 1942: Johnny Eager
27 Aug. 1942: Somewhere I’ll Find You
1 April 1943: Slightly Dangerous
19 Aug. 1943: Du Barry Was A Lady
13 Nov. 1943: The Youngest Profession
23 Aug. 1944: Marriage Is a Private Affair
8 March 1945: Keep Your Powder Dry
1 Oct. 1945: Week-End At The Waldorf
2 May 1946: The Postman Always Rings Twice
5 Nov. 1947 : Green Dolphin Street
1 Nov. 1947: Cass Timberlane
29 April 1948: Homecoming
20 Oct. 1948: The Three Musketeers
1 Sept. 1950: A Life Of Her Own
2 March 1951: Mr. Imperium
5 Sept. 1952: The Merry Widow
25 Dec. 1952: The Bad And The Beautiful
25 Aug. 1953: Latin Lovers
1 May 1954: Flame And The Flesh
7 Sept. 1954: Betrayed
13 May 1955: The Prodigal
4 June 1955: Sea Chase
14 Dec. 1955: The Rains Of Ranchipur
12 Jan. 1956: Diane
13 Dec. 1957: Peyton Place
30 Jan. 1958: The Lady Takes A Flyer
2 May 1958: Another Time, Another Place
30 April 1959: Imitation Of Life
23 June 1960: Portrait In Black
19 July 1961: By Love Possessed
2 Nov. 1961: Bachelor In Paradise
25 Dec. 1962: Who’s Got The Action?
24 Febr. 1965: Love Has Many Faces
27 April 1966: Madame X
30 April 1969: The Big Cube
7 Nov. 1974: Persecution
27 Oct. 1976: Bittersweet Love
31 Oct. 1980: Witches Brew
21 May 1982: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Lana’s biography “Lana, the Lady, The Legend, The Truth“, “The Films Of Lana Turner” by Lou Valentino and “Lana Turner, The Memories, The Myths and The Movies” by Cheryl Crane.