Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - M1
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. The screenplay was written by John Lee Mahin.
A Synopsis
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 he 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 WATCHING
1 Answer the following questions.
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?
FILM CLIP
2. Watch the film clip and fill in the script with the following phrases.
answer me, Sir • Are you all right • a strange voice • I hope I did right, Sir • I let him out the back door • I’ll be there immediately • Is that you • There was someone here • Wait a minute • What do you want
After the first transformation into his alter ego, Dr. Jekyll takes an antidote to turn himself back to normal. He then walks up to a mirror in his laboratory to check his face. Poole knocks on the door.
Dr. Jekyll: Can this be evil?
Poole: Dr. Jekyll? What’s happening, Sir?
(1) ____________________________?
Dr. Jekyll: What is it? (2) ____________________________?
Poole: (3) ____________________________, Dr. Jekyll?
Dr. Jekyll: Now, wait a minute. (4) ____________________________, Poole.
Poole: Dr. Jekyll, who is that in there? Dr. Jekyll, (5) ____________________________.
Dr. Jekyll: Yes, Poole?
Poole: I’m sorry, Sir, but I… I heard an odd noise and (6) ____________________________. I thought something was happening, Sir.
Dr. Jekyll: No, no, no. It’s quite all right, Poole.
(7) ____________________________. A friend of mine. A Mr. Hyde.
(8) ____________________________.
Poole: Oh, I see, Sir. Very good, Sir. Miss Beatrix is here, Sir. I showed her into the consulting room, Sir. (9) ____________________________.
Dr. Jekyll: Yes, yes, that was quite right, Poole. Tell Miss Beatrix (10) ____________________________.
Poole: Very good, Sir.
