1941's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has long been the version most people see first, because MGM for many years suppressed the 1931 Paramount version with Fredric March, which I too consider superior to this one for its pre-code flair. That is not to say that this is weak by any stretch, as both films are approached from a different perspective in regard to Edward Hyde, March the less likely, primitive Neanderthal Hyde, Spencer Tracy the more realistic, psychological rendition, utilizing little makeup in his chilling, unexpected interpretation. This one takes its time, Hyde making his initial appearance 35 minutes in, and while the pacing never really flags, it does seem to go on a bit too long. Lana Turner compares favorably with Rose Hobart, but it's still a rather thankless role in either version. Ingrid Bergman looks and acts very well (even with her charming accent), but the script doesn't allow her the same latitude that Miriam Hopkins enjoyed. As Lanyon, who exposes his friend Jekyll as the fiend he is, Ian Hunter previously appeared opposite Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, and Vincent Price in 1939's "Tower of London" (as King Edward), while in one of his last films played another physician in 1960's "Doctor Blood's Coffin." This version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" made two appearances on Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater: Sunday June 7 1964 (paired with Saturday afternoon's "Fiend Without a Face"), and Saturday July 24 1965 (followed by second feature 1943's "Revenge of the Zombies").
Review of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
