Marie Antoinette (1938 & 2006)

Marie Antoinette (1938)

B&W – 149m (General Release Cut) / 157m (Road Show Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 – Fullscreen
Writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald (Uncredited), Talbot Jennings (dialogue – uncredited) and Robert E. Sherwood (Uncredited)
Dir.: W.S. Van Dyke and Julien Duvivier
Pro.: Irving Thalberg (Uncredited)
Starring:  Norma Shearer, Tyrone Power, John Barrymore, Robert Morley, Anita Louise, Gladys George, Reginald Gardiner, Henry Daniell, Albert Dekker, Joseph Calleia, George Meeker, Scotty Beckett, Harry Cording, Cecil Cunningham, Howard Da Silva, Harry Davenport, Harold Entwistle, Ann Evers, Barry Fitzgerald, Neil Fitzgerald, Holmes Herbert, Mary Howard, Ruth Hussey, Edward Keane, Ian Wolfe and George Zucco.

The story of the ill–fated Queen of France, Marie–Antoinette. A pleasant if somewhat long but masterful telling of the tale. Far superior to the Sophia Coppola 2006 film.

Trivia: Peter Lorre was originally announced for the part that Robert Morley plays in his film debut.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy though: The Warner Archive Collection

Marie Antoinette (2006)

C – 123m
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 – Widescreen
Writer – Pro. – Dir.: Sophia Coppola
Exec. Pro.: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Kristen Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Molly Shannon, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston, Tom Hardy and Steve Coogan.

Retelling of France’s iconic but ill–fated queen, Marie Antoinette. Slow, boring and dismal telling of the bio of the ill–fated French queen. Saving grace is the cast and Sophia Coppola’s eye for visuals. Very little else is worth noting in this dud.

Trivia: The French government granted special permission for the crew to film in The Palace Of Versailles. The film crews were allowed to store their equipment in the real Marie–Antoinette’s bedroom. Although the title is not hyphenated, the real woman’s name was.

Rated: [PG–13] – Sexual Content, Partial Nudity & Innuendo
Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Films

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1920)

B&W – 79m (Running times vary, beware of shorter prints)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Fullscreen
Novel By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring: John Barrymore, Martha Mansfield and Brandon Hurst.

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself and becomes the monstrous Mr. Hyde. Hyde is horrifying to look at and is very well played by Barrymore. A good early, and surviving, rendering of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson tale. On a trivia note it has been reported that Tallulah Bankhead was originally offered the role of Millicent before it finally went to Martha Mansfield.

Available on Blu–ray, DVD & Digital Copy

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1931)

B&W – 98m
Aspect Ratio: 1.20:1 – Fullscreen
Novel By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring: Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose Hobart and Holmes Herbert.

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself and becomes the monstrous Mr. Hyde. March won an Oscar® for Best Actor for his performance (the first time a horror film won an Oscar® by the way). The film was additionally nominated for Best Writing, Adaption and Best Cinematography. Aside from the aforementioned areas the film offers nothing new but is masterfully done for its time The makeup may be a tad overdone for some.

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1941)

B&W – 113m
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 – Fullscreen
Novel By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Dir.: Victor Fleming
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, C. Aubrey Smith, Peter Godfrey, Francis Robinson, Denis Green, Billy Bevan, Forrester Harvey, Ted Billings, Hillary Brooke, Douglas Gordon, Stuart Hall, Brandon Hurst, Colin Kenny, Doris Lloyd, Aubrey Mather, Milton Parsons, Gil Perkins, John Power, Clara Reid, Patsy Shaw and Martha Wentworth.

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself, and becomes into the monstrous Mr. Hyde. Very little makeup was used on Tracy in this wonderful film version of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novel. Beautiful cinematography, lighting and acting all around, masterfully handled by director Victor Fleming. A horror film MUST!

Available on DVD & Digital Copy

The Two Faces Of Dr. Jekyll (1960)

C – 88m
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 – Widescreen
A.K.A.: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, Schlag 12 In London, House Of Fright, Jekyll’s Inferno
Screenplay By: Wolf Mankowitz
Starring: Paul Massie, Dawn Addams, Sir Christopher Lee, Oliver Reed and Joe Robinson.

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself and becomes the monstrous Mr. Hyde. Well–mounted Hammer House production of the classic Stevenson novel boasts of fine performances and some good chills. The usual Hammer twist of sex and violence is added here of course, but that is part of the fun!

Available on Blu–ray & DVD

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1973)

C – 78m.
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 – Fullscreen
Novel By: Robert Louis Stevenson
Starring: Kirk Douglas, Susan George, Susan Hampshire, Stanley Holloway, Donald Pleasence and Michael Redgrave.

Dr. Henry Jekyll experiments on himself, and becomes into the monstrous Mr. Hyde. A handsomely mounted musical production of the Stevenson tale takes full advantage of the talents of the cast and it pays off. While the pacing is a bit stilted the musical numbers are fun and the cast is more than game. Period detail helps too.

Out Of Print on VHS but Available on YouTube with commentary.