Dear Silent Hall of Fame Users:
You have come to this website, because you like silent films and silent movie stars. There are many places like this. But unlike other sites, here at Silent Hall of Fame you can make a real difference. You can help us show for the first time many films featuring your favorite silent stars that have not been seen in generations. This will bring their names back into the public discourse. But you can do much more than that: you can help your favorite silent stars receive belated recognition and glory.
Until now there has never been an organization with the purpose to place a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for movie personalities from a century ago. Silent Hall of Fame is this historic organization. Silent Hall of Fame is the only organization of its kind. We will make history and we invite you to become a part of history by sponsoring a silent movie star for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. All contributions are tax deductible.
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) - with film
Martha Mansfield
Directed by John S. Robertson
Produced by Adolph Zukor, Jesse Lasky
Written by Thomas Russell Sullivan, Clara Beranger
Based on The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield, Brandon Hurst, Nita Naldi
Cinematography Roy F. Overbaugh
Distributed by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Paramount Pictures
Release date March 18, 1920
Running time 77 minutes
Country United States
Language Silent film, English intertitles
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920) is considered the first great American horror film. It is included in our program to illustrate the contributions to the Motion Pictures industry of two of our stars - director John S. Robertson and actress Martha Mansfield.
The film is based on the famous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. A benevolent doctor and an aspiring scientist, Dr. Jekyll (John Barrymore) is tempted to explore the two sides of his personality - the good one and the evil one. He invents a concoction that turns him into a monster, and an antidote that turns him back to his normal good self.
Dr. Jekyll is the official suitor of his friend's daughter Millicent (Martha Mansfield). She is eager to be with him, but his split personality obsession prevents him from dedicating enough time to her. Then the evil side, named Mr. Hyde, starts his own life, chasing other women and becoming more and more violent. Millicent's father gets in harm's way by confronting Jekyll, and she herself gets in trouble, too.
In the end, Dr. Jekyll pays the ultimate price for not being able to control his evil alter ego.
Martha Mansfield played her most famous role in this film. She was a true rising star, only to die at 24 in a freak fire accident three years later.
The film is ranked number 87 in the list of The Top 100 Silent Era Films of the influential website Silent Era.
It enjoys a nice rating in IMDB.
Click to enlarge:
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1920
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-1.jpg
Martha Mansfield waits for her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-3.jpg
Martha Mansfield reads the note from her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-9.jpg
Martha Mansfield is given some courtship by John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-11.jpg
Martha Mansfield and John Barrymore like each other in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-12mm.jpg
Martha Mansfield is given some attention by John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-14.jpg
Martha Mansfield waits for her beau in female company in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Nita-Naldi-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-14.jpg
Nita Naldi tempts John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-15.jpg
John Barrymore becomes a monster in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Louis-Wolheim-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-16.jpg
John Barrymore talks to Louis Wolheim in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-18.jpg
Martha Mansfield rejects a marriage proposal from a man she doesn't love in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-21.jpg
Martha Mansfield wants to talk to her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-23.jpg
Martha Mansfield gets no love from John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-27.jpg
Martha Mansfield gets some attention from John Barrymore in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-29.jpg
Martha Mansfield worries about the absence of her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-Brandon-Hurst-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-30.jpg
Martha Mansfield gets advice from Brandon Hurst in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-31.jpg
Martha Mansfield is worried in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-Charles-Willis-Lane-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-34.jpg
Martha Mansfield is about to learn about her father's fate from Charles Willis Lane in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-35.jpg
Martha Mansfield is taken to see her father in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-36.jpg
Martha Mansfield cries for her father in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-38.jpg
John Barrymore sees nightmares in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-39.jpg
Martha Mansfield wants to know about her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-44.jpg
Martha Mansfield inquires about her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-Charles-Willis-Lane-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-45.jpg
Martha Mansfield tells Charles Willis Lane that she wants to see her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-49.jpg
Martha Mansfield knocks on the door of her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-51.jpg
Martha Mansfield is scared by the evil half of her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-John-Barrymore-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-52.jpg
Martha Mansfield is attacked by the evil half of her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-and-Charles-Willis-Lane-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-54.jpg
Martha Mansfield asks Charles Willis Lane about her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha-Mansfield-in-Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-director-John-S-Robertson-1920-55.jpg
Martha Mansfield learns about the death of her beau in "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1920), director John S. Robertson.
Martha Mansfield and John Barrymore
Our Newsletter
Recent Movie Reviews
- "Annie Laurie" (1927) - hidden gem
- "Battling Butler" (1926) - with film
- "Whistles And Windows" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Scarlet Letter" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Seven Chances" (1925) - with film
- "So This is Paris" (1926) - hidden gem
- "Two Daughters of Eve" (1912) - hidden gem
- "Go West" (1925) - with film
- "Spies and Spills" (1918) - hidden gem
- "The Lesson" (1910) - hidden gem
Donate
Click on a button below to sponsor a silent movie star with your tax-deductible contribution.
Please use this button for a one-time donation:
Please use the button below for a recurring donation
INSTRUCTIONS:
Please enter the dollar amount AND AFTER THAT click on the donate button.
Otherwise you may get a PayPal error message.