The very first Universal Classic Monsters film involves Dr Henry Jekyll, whose scientific experiments lead him to seek the darkness within every man. Unfortunately, this means he unearths a murderer dwelling within himself.

This well-known Robert Louis Stevenson novella had already been filmed four times before this short film was made.

This 26-minute epic resembles a filmed version of a play adaptation of the tale. By 1913 standards, this short employs some (for the time) pretty innovative cross-dissolves to fully show the transformation. They also, amazingly, get through the whole story in this short running time.

King Baggot was a huge star at the time of this adaptation and so to see him transform into such a terrifying alter ego must have been quite the trip for audiences of the day.

As a time capsule of filmmaking in that era, this is fine.

3 out of 5 stars