Friday, April 11, 2014

A-Z: Classic Monsters: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

It's Friday and today's letter is "J" for the A-Z Challenge.  Of course I've decided to to feature Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde even though Mr. Hyde was the monster.  Still, in my opinion, Dr. Jekyll was a total monster for creating such a concoction that would turn him into Mr. Hyde, right?

About The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde


Written by Robert Louis Stevenson, this piece of classic literature was incredibly expressive for one written during a time when society was mostly oppressed.  If you think about it, other than the fantasy aspect to it, that might have been why it was so popular.  Robert Stevenson is a master and happens to be one of my favorite classic lit authors.  If you have had a chance to read this short story, check out my creepy classic review here.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1931 American Pre-Code horror film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Fredric March. The film is an adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886), the Robert Louis Stevenson tale of a man who takes a potion which turns him from a mild-mannered man of science into a homicidal maniac. March's performance has been much lauded, and earned him his first Academy Award.

If you could create a potion that would allow your evil alter ego emerge and live vicariously (without consequences) through that version of yourself...would you do it?  Some say drugs and alcohol have that effect, but I'm not talking about that.  Thoughts?


My favorite spin-off - Hyde and Hare







Can you think of any classic monsters that start with J?  Are you a Robert Louis Stevenson fan?  What about Bugs Bunny?


15 comments:

Anything and Everything Paranormal Blog said...

What a true classic.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

And he wrote it while mostly bedridden.
I'd have to say Hyde and Hare is my favorite as well.

Anonymous said...

I love that bugs bunny cartoon! Great post.

Rhi
scruffy-duck.net // Welsh Bloggers

Sophie Duncan said...

Bugs Bunny - can't beat him - and that one's a classic :)
Sophie
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S. L. Hennessy said...

I've always thought his transformation in the novel was spectacular. And gotta LOVE Hyde and Hare haha.

Laura Clipson said...

Exactly, Mr Hyde wouldn't exist if it weren't for Dr Jekyll. I read this for my degree, and enjoyed it.

djinnia said...

It's very like Frankenstein in a way.

I like Valerie martin's book Mary Reilly. And the movie of the same name with Julia Roberts and John malchovich.

Great post. And bugs bunny is awesome!

mshatch said...

I went and read your review - which made want to read the story. Not that I didn't know the premise but your highlights really made me want to read.

And I love bugs. Je's one of my favorite cartoon characters along with the Pink Panther (hey he's cool and he's pink - 'nuff said).

klahanie said...

Hi Mina,

Like you, I have great admiration for the works of Robert Louis Stevenson. When you consider he was very ill during much of writing, that makes it even more remarkable.

A classic monster starting with "J". Um, Jessica Rabbit?

Gary :)

Ava Quinn said...

My husband read the story, and even though he knew the outcome going in, he was riveted. I've been meaning to read it as well. Thanks for this reminder! :)

Oh, and I love Bugs Bunny cartoons. This on is a classic, but my favorite is Water, Water, Every Hare with Gossamer. ;)

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

I don't think I'd want my evil alter ego to come out, frankly. I like being nice :). The idea of being wild and out of control has really never appealed to me.
Tasha
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Unknown said...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is (are?) a monster I've always been fascinated by, especially thematically. I haven't read the book, but now it's definitely on my to read list. Thanks!

N J Magas said...

I think we already have such a potion. They call it alcohol, mostly.

At least, I always took Dr. Jeckell and Mr. Hyde to be a cautionary tale against substance abuse.

Mark Murata said...

If I call recall correctly, Fredric March did the transformation mostly by facial expression. No heavy makeup.

Timothy S. Brannan said...

I always loved this tale. I guess it is the Jungian in me to see duality in all people.

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Timothy S. Brannan
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