Franz Waxman’s score earned an Academy Award nomination for its ability to heighten the tension between Jekyll’s refinement and Hyde’s savagery. Legacy and Influence
In a bold career move, Bergman requested to play the "bad girl" Ivy instead of the "good girl" Beatrix. Her portrayal of a woman living in absolute terror of Hyde is often cited as the emotional heart of the film. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
Set in Victorian London, the brilliant Dr. Henry Jekyll (Spencer Tracy) becomes obsessed with the idea of separating man’s good and evil impulses. Frustrated by the social constraints of his engagement to the virtuous Beatrix Emery (Lana Turner), Jekyll creates a serum that transforms him into the sadistic Mr. Hyde. Franz Waxman’s score earned an Academy Award nomination
While it initially lived in the shadow of the 1931 version, the 1941 film is now celebrated as a high-water mark for MGM’s "prestige horror." It moved the genre away from simple "creature features" and toward the psychological thrillers that would dominate the 1950s and 60s. Set in Victorian London, the brilliant Dr