FILM Dr. JEKYLL and Mr. HYDE Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is the screen version of Robert Louis Stevenson s 1886 novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The movie starring Spencer Tracy (as Dr. Jekyll), Ingrid Bergman (as Ivy) and Lana Turner (as Beatrix) was directed by Oscar-winning Victor Fleming, screenplay by John Lee Mahin. A SYNOPSYS The film was a notorious critical failure when released, although it eventually made a profit of $2 million around the world. Spencer Tracy wanted the characters of Ivy and Beatrix to be played by the same actress to reinforce the theme of the good and bad qualities in every individual. Director Victor Fleming slapped both Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner in different scenes in order to get the desired response of tears from them. Spencer Tracy wanted to play the Hyde role without makeup, but his test performance in the transformation scene was unconvincing, so make-up was used after all. Dr. Henry Jekyll is a renowned physician who believes good and evil exist in everyone. While searching for a way to separate the good and evil aspects of man s nature, he creates a potion which is able to do this. First, he experiments with rabbits and guinea pigs, then decides to test the serum on himself and is transformed into an evil alter ego, whom he calls Mr. Hyde. Mr. Hyde has no conscience and commits several violent acts. As Hyde s inhumanities escalate, Jekyll finds himself losing control over his alter ego and he soon needs potions simply to retain his humanity. When he runs out of ingredients for these potions, Dr. Jekyll realizes that he will change into Mr. Hyde permanently. BEFORE VIEWING 1. Do you share Dr. Jekyll s belief that good and evil exist in everyone? 2. Have you ever heard/used the expression Jekyll and Hyde to refer to someone who is sometimes kind and pleasant and sometimes very rude or unpleasant? 60 Module 1 COMPOUNDS