This is one of my very favourite books (or long short story). I have read it many many times (the only other book I have read more than twice is St Exupery's The Little Prince). For me Stevenson's great story deals with the essential duality in human nature and the conflict between life-affirming and life-negating tendencies, which is it's main appeal for me.
Robert Louis Stevenson's book (or 'novella') was published in 1886.
I have liked some of the movies too! My favourite featuring the wonderful actor Frederick March (although I am not too keen on 'Dr Jekyll and Ms Hyde'!)
Any other views on Dr Jekyll?
It's a great piece of work in a genre I especially like: the novella, or short novel, or "long short story". The advantage of this genre is that it allows more development than a short story, but greater concentration (and, plainly speaking, fewer "boring bits") than a long novel.
One strength of the story is its lack of specific detail regarding the sins of Jekyll and the activities of Hyde, which allows you to fill the story with whatever allegorical interpretation you want.
Quote from: Spitvalve on July 31, 2009, 02:57:04 AM
It's a great piece of work in a genre I especially like: the novella, or short novel, or "long short story". The advantage of this genre is that it allows more development than a short story, but greater concentration (and, plainly speaking, fewer "boring bits") than a long novel.
One strength of the story is its lack of specific detail regarding the sins of Jekyll and the activities of Hyde, which allows you to fill the story with whatever allegorical interpretation you want.
Yes, that's such an important point (your last one) and I have enjoyed reading various lit. crits. about the book, such as 'In Search of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' which discuss the numerous interpretations - thanks for your response.
Quote from: vandermolen on July 31, 2009, 02:48:22 AM
. . . (the only other book I have read more than twice is St Exupery's The Little Press).
Ah, the story of Gutenberg! (Sorry, couldn't helop myself,
Jeffrey!!) ;)
Thread duty:
That is still on my "to read" list (aye, all these long decades). Fact is, my first awareness of the story was (Curse you, Carl Stalling!) an adaptation with Bugs Bunny . . . and I've never yet made my way to the Ur-text.
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2006/Jan06/Gould_Fall_River_8559242.gif)
Time to go dust off this CD. I can't quite remember what the piece sounds like.
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Black
Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 07:13:58 AM
Time to go dust off this CD. I can't quite remember what the piece sounds like.
How'd it go,
Tony? :)
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 10:03:38 AM
How'd it go, Tony? :)
Still dusting ... hopefully, tonight. :)
Quote(http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=13742.0;attach=19776;image)
Wait, which one is supposed to be Mr Hyde?
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on July 31, 2009, 04:08:07 AM
Ah, the story of Gutenberg! (Sorry, couldn't helop myself, Jeffrey!!) ;)
Hehe - don't know what happened there
Karl - I've corrected it now.
Quote from: Josquin des Prez on July 31, 2009, 10:50:38 AM
Wait, which one is supposed to be Mr Hyde?
On the right 0:) >:D
Quote from: Szykniej on July 31, 2009, 07:13:58 AM
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classRev/2006/Jan06/Gould_Fall_River_8559242.gif)
Time to go dust off this CD. I can't quite remember what the piece sounds like.
This fun CD has Franz Waxman's 'Jekyll and Hyde Suite' from his score to the Mamoulian film starring Spencer Tracy (I prefer the earlier version with Frederick March):
I'd also praise the 1941 film version with Spencer Tracy (Yank accent and all); great lead acting, excellent lighting and sets compliment solid direction to make a creepily good adaptation.
Quote from: Bu on July 31, 2009, 06:43:17 PM
I'd also praise the 1941 film version with Spencer Tracy (Yank accent and all); great lead acting, excellent lighting and sets compliment solid direction to make a creepily good adaptation.
Yes, although I don't think that the deliberate miscasting of Ingrid Bergman ansd Lana Turner works that well - the transformation scene is good though:
0:) :o ??? :P :-[ :-X :o :o :o :P ;D >:D
I'm sure Spencer had fun during the making of the film:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0fV15P7uQo/ST5mOdtqRXI/AAAAAAAAEXk/r_ZmHF97eV8/s400/jekyll+tracy.jpg)
;D
I have fond Sunday afternoon memories of Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll. Oh, the Hammer madness!
Quote from: snyprrr on August 01, 2009, 02:26:54 PM
I have fond Sunday afternoon memories of Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll. Oh, the Hammer madness!
I love those old lurid Hammer films - The Masque of the Red Death being a favourite. I am a great fan of Vincent Price.
Quote from: vandermolen on August 02, 2009, 12:34:10 AM
I love those old lurid Hammer films - The Masque of the Red Death being a favourite. I am a great fan of Vincent Price.
Vincent Price was terrific! It's interesting that during his career, many Americans here assumed he was British when he was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Quote from: vandermolen on August 02, 2009, 12:34:10 AM
I love those old lurid Hammer films - The Masque of the Red Death being a favourite. I am a great fan of Vincent Price.
Masque was by American-International, as were all the Price/Poe/Corman films! Van, I'm shocked! :o
Quote from: Bu on August 01, 2009, 10:57:33 AM
I'm sure Spencer had fun during the making of the film:
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_v0fV15P7uQo/ST5mOdtqRXI/AAAAAAAAEXk/r_ZmHF97eV8/s400/jekyll+tracy.jpg)
;D
No doubt at all. ;)
As far as editions of the book goes I always liked this art work created by James Bama for a cover:
(http://home.comcast.net/~flickhead/JB1128b.jpg)
I also recently won this poster in a monster trivia contest on another forum. It is of course a repro, but very cool IMO:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/JekyllHyde1931.jpg)
And who could forget the outstanding Aurora kits:
(http://www.moebiusmodels.com/images/Dr_Jekyll_Mr_Hyde_Model_Kit.jpg)
And let us not forget John Barrymore either:
Quote from: Bogey on August 02, 2009, 09:17:51 AM
And who could forget the outstanding Aurora kits:
(http://www.moebiusmodels.com/images/Dr_Jekyll_Mr_Hyde_Model_Kit.jpg)
Ah yes! Thanks for the nostalgia trip - I had many of these kits - Frankenstein/Dracula/ Man from U.N.C.L.E. etc - but why is Dr Jekyll pouring the solution down his ear?
Quote from: Bogey on August 02, 2009, 09:16:06 AM
As far as editions of the book goes I always liked this art work created by James Bama for a cover:
(http://home.comcast.net/~flickhead/JB1128b.jpg)
I also recently won this poster in a monster trivia contest on another forum. It is of course a repro, but very cool IMO:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/JekyllHyde1931.jpg)
What a great poster to win! I am most jealous.
Quote from: Szykniej on August 02, 2009, 03:40:43 AM
Vincent Price was terrific! It's interesting that during his career, many Americans here assumed he was British when he was actually born in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Americans often cast the British as villains (ie Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons in the Die Hard films - Rickman admittedly playing a german) - maybe that's why. I remember an (unintentionally) hilarious cooking programme with Vincent Price on TV here in the late 60s or early 70s 'Cooking Pricewise'.
Quote from: snyprrr on August 02, 2009, 07:58:18 AM
Masque was by American-International, as were all the Price/Poe/Corman films! Van, I'm shocked! :o
Oops - my apologies - I thought the production values were superior to the 'other' Hammer films! Now I know why. Well, I did like 'The Curse of Frankenstein' (Christopher Lee) 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' (Peter Cushing version) and 'The Devil Rides Out' (Christoper Lee) and they were Hammer I think.
Quote from: vandermolen on August 03, 2009, 12:04:56 AM
The Americans often cast the British as villains (ie Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons in the Die Hard films - Rickman admittedly playing a german) - maybe that's why. I remember an (unintentionally) hilarious cooking programme with Vincent Price on TV here in the late 60s or early 70s 'Cooking Pricewise'.
Like Clive Owen, Daniel Craig, Hugh Laurie and Patrick Stewart? Well I could also mention that Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons are not typecast as villains, they just sometimes play them. I can list more actors but I think the point has been made. 8)
Quote from: vandermolen on August 02, 2009, 11:57:27 PM
Ah yes! Thanks for the nostalgia trip - I had many of these kits - Frankenstein/Dracula/ Man from U.N.C.L.E. etc - but why is Dr Jekyll pouring the solution down his ear?
Must be a re-touch of one of the Scenes from
Hamlet ;D
Judging from both Springrite's and Holden's affectionate posts on the thread below, Mel/Iago was a Jekyll/Hyde in real life.
Quote from: DavidW on August 03, 2009, 03:55:23 AM
Like Clive Owen, Daniel Craig, Hugh Laurie and Patrick Stewart? Well I could also mention that Alan Rickman and Jeremy Irons are not typecast as villains, they just sometimes play them. I can list more actors but I think the point has been made. 8)
I said 'often' not 'always' - but I take your point :)
8-year old topic found by randomly searching about Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde!
I love this short story, I have read it three times (although not yet in english).
My favorite work from Stevenson is still Treasure Island. Markheim is very good as well.
I've read three of his novels: Treasure Island, The Black Arrow and Kidnapped. Liked them all but I concur to TI being a masterpiece.