MAMOULIAN ON CINEMATOGRAPHY

"I believe it is most important for the director to learn cinematography, for most cinematographers are men of many years' experience, and have worked with so many directors that they can hardly help knowing the basic principals of direction"

-Rouben Mamoulian

Premiering on 31 December 1931 with a nationwide release 2 January 1932, Paramount's DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE garnered favorable reviews, largely on the skills of director Rouben Mamoulian, cinematographer Karl Struss, and lead actor Fredric March's Hyde makeup by Wally Westmore. It didn't hurt that the pre-code subject matter had a significant sexual subtext as well, bolstered by the presence of Miriam Hopkins as local tavern floozy, Ivy Pierson.

While not quite as shocking as Universal's FRANKENSTEIN (released just the previous month), the film still packs a visceral punch, especially with March's transformation into Mr. Hyde and his subsequent violent behavior (on a side note, Wally Westmore's makeup lost out to Jack Pierce's work on THE MUMMY for the 1932 Hollywood Filmograph Makeup Trophy -- Westmore would go on to an illustrious career and this would be Pierce's only formal recognition for his makeup work during his lifetime).

Rouben Mamoulian (October 8, 1897 – December 4, 1987) was the man in the director's chair for DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, but in this interview in AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER (February 1932), he sat down with A.S.C. member William Stull and explained that he owed just as much to his camera man, Karl Struss for the film's success. Free of any overt egotism, Mamoulian politely discussed how the two worked together to produce what would become one of the classic horror films of the 1930's.

An added bonus are the production stills from DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE that accompany the article. Also note the ad for Max Factor. His makeup was used exclusively by Westmore during the making of the film.

MIRIAM HOPKINS GETS A LEG UP ON DR. JEKYLL

Released on the last day of December, 1931, Rouben Mamoulian's DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE thrilled audiences with its startling, pre-code scenes of violence, lust and sexual seduction.

Miriam Hopkins played the role of Ivy Pearson, a music hall barmaid/prostitute who becomes the object of Mr. Hyde's brutal affections. In one of the more salacious scenes, Dr. Jekyll, knowing that his alter ego is tormenting her, visits Ivy to console her. Ivy respnds by attempting to seduce the Good Doctor before they are interrupted by Jekyll's colleague. The scene ends with a shot of Ivy sitting on the edge of her bed, wrapped in a bed sheet with enough showing to indicate she is clearly nude under it, and bouncing her gartered leg in what is generally considered symbolic of sexual desire. Later releases of the film would have eight minutes of footage removed.

With a subtitle of "Weird", Hopkins is shown here pictured as Ivy in a spread for PICTURE PLAY magazine's January, 1932 issue. The photos are presumed to be by Gordon Head, stills photographer on the film. The page includes an inset of the movie's second leading lady, Rose Hobart. Between the two, however, it is Ivy's sexy/tragic character and images that are always remembered.