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IntoThePaintedGrey
Reviews
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912)
Good for the day.
This is the oldest version of "Jekyll and Hyde" in existence. The film stars James Cruze, who is most famous for his film "The Covered Wagon". It was made by Thanhouser Film C. and was released on January 16 1912. and clocks in at about 11 min. I may have took a star away due to the fact that it could have been longer(the 1913 version was 26 min. only a year later). Actually, in a 1963 interview, a stock crew member named Harry Benham who worked at Thanhouser, said that he portrayed Mr.Hyde in some scenes. When you watch the film you can tell them apart because James is taller and their Hyde makeup is slightly different.
The film starts off with Jekyll briefly talking with an elderly man apparently about drugs. Then Jekyll locks himself in his lab and tests his "potion" on himself. Immiediatly a dark haired taloned beast appears in the chair, looks in his mirror (he is slightly shorter than before mmmmmmmmm)takes the drug again and transforms back into Jekyll, and then begins to write something down.
Jekyll (with his wife a ministers daughter) meet each other in front of her house and talks with her father. The next scene shows Jekyll reading a book cries out in agony rushes into his lab and now Jekyll is Hyde, Hyde grabs his hat runs out into the street knocks down a little girl rushes back to his lab and transforms into Jekyll.
Jekyll is talking to his wife in the the park and then he suddenly runs away kneels down and in the next shot is Hyde. He runs back, tries to strangle her, her father comes (from nowhere) and Hyde kills him instead. Jekyll says to his wife he is "going away" and then he runs back to his lab, a card says his potion is gone now he must remain Hyde to the end. Hyde is in his lab now. He go's on a rampage destroying his lab looking for something. Police have tracked down Hyde and are breaking down the door. just as they are about to break the door down, Hyde takes a fatal dose of poison........... when the police come in Hyde is dead. THE END
Even though this version is short, it is still pretty good and recommended.
Atlantis (1913)
Atlantis. The King of Danish Silent Films!
I love this movie. I first heard about this movie when I bought the '53' titanic film and was intrigued when I heard about a 1913 Danish silent film. "Atlantis, made in 1913 in Denmark was also one of the first full Leno film ever made." The clips were in excellent shape and was disappointed when I could not find it for sale. But one evening, (I was on the Internet) when my friend was over, I just randomly typed in "Atantis 1913" and I nearly had a heart attack. I had found a copy on Ebay. As you have probably guessed, I quickly snatched up a copy, and when it arrived I quickly ran inside and put the tape in. Just as I had hoped, it was a feast for my eyes and ears. It was taken from an excellent 35mm print. I watched the story unfold. It is about a docter who's wife is institutionalized and he ventures from Europe to America searching for a cure. But during his journey, he meets a beautiful dancer named "Ingigerd" whom he falls in love with and follows her to America. Overall this is a really excellent movie and I highly recommend it.
Titanic (1943)
A Historical Benchmark.
This last film by the Tobis Director Herbert Selpin had a long wait to be shown after the war... An extraordinary film which takes one of the biggest catastrophes of the 20th century in order to show human greatness and human weakness, chivalry, and cowardly failure.
In part, the director uses historic persons, men and woman who take part in the first voyage of the boat that at the time, was the largest in the world. Every one(in the cast)even in the smallest roles, contributes their acting talent to at least give hint of character without exaggeration.
Dialogue and camera work are polished. Convincing in its acting structure, this film not in the least gives proof of the achievement the German film once was capable.
Frankenstein (1910)
A very good film.
Made by Edison studios, this the first screen adaption of Mary Shelley's novel. Starring Augustus Philips as Dr.Frankenstein and Charles Ogle as the "monster".
I recently watched this on youtube and found it great. It has some good features in it. Such as the "monster" being created out of chemicals and black magic instead of dead body parts.
In 1963 a plot description and stills were found published in an old Edison catalog called the Edison Kinetogram.It was presumed a lost film until the mid-1970's, when a person named Alois F.Dettlaff realized he had it.
Despite being only 13.min.long it still gets in the full story. Filmed in the Bronx, New York and released in 1910, after 97 years it is still a enjoyable film.