Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

James Cruze, standing, and Harry Benham are featured in a dramatic scene from DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, released January 16, 1912 (From The Moving Picture World, January 13, 1912)

(One reel of approximately 1,000 feet, January 16, 1912)
Based on the Thomas Russell Sullivan stage adaptation (with romantic story added) for Richard Mansfield, of the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Directed by Lucius Henderson.
Print source: Blackhawk Films, 11 minutes, 31 seconds
Cast: James Cruze (Jekyll/Hyde), Harry Benham (Hyde in several scenes), Florence LaBadie (his sweetheart), Marie Eline (little girl knocked down by Hyde).

This famous tale, made even more sensational by Richard Mansfield's stage performance, was filmed in at least nine silent versions. Thanhouser's was the second U. S. film version, after Selig in 1908, but was the first based on the stage adaptation.

The Thanhouser version downplays the horror element in favor of the thematic conflict between the good and evil sides of one personality. Perhaps unique among all Jekyll/Hyde adaptations is using two actors to portray the two aspects of the same character. The credits list James Cruze in both parts, but Harry Benham played the crazed Hyde in several scenes, simplifying production. Transformation trickery was done with careful cuts and quick in-camera dissolves with no changes in lighting.