There’s something ceaselessly awesome about silent films. They’re a living time capsule of social mores, markers of technological leaps, proof of humankind’s deep affinity for storytelling, employer of piano-players everywhere.

The great ones are fantastically evocative and moving. The bad ones are hysterical.

Conveniently, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is both!

Also apparently a little judgey!

The story is straightforward: Dr. Jekyll is virtuous and awesome. Then he goes overboard with the science and ends up as villainous stringy-haired Hyde, until the love of a beautiful maiden redeems him and he kills himself. Though the film has some fancy techniques, including a flashback to Ye Olde Italy, the strength here is the cast, which is 100% Grade-A veteran muggers.

As with most movies she was in, the best thing about this movie is Nita Naldi:

Her intro card. I kind of wish we could still get away with these. You got ten words of exposition right up front!

Unfortunately, with Nita they were a waste, since she did a pretty good job conveying “world-weary dance hall girl who faces her world alone” all by herself:

However, when she sees Handsome Barrymore, she perks right up and slithers on over to introduce herself.

The movie’s conceit is that this one moment is enough to make the engaged Jekyll want to separate himself into two personalities, purely so that one of them can make out with this chick. I buy this.

Sadly, it’s hard to mack on a lady when you are about 70% less handsome than the last time she saw you. (A+ Pained Expression, though, Nita!)

Even though Nita Naldi is the screen siren of my heart, Barrymore is no slouch in this, either. There’s a makeup change between Jekyll and Hyde, but Barrymore being Barrymore, the transformation is mostly attitudinal:

This is pretty much how all the Jekyll scenes go: thumping around, mugging into the camera, waving at hookers. Shine on, you hammy diamond.

Though my favorite scene is still the pervy old aristocrat at the opening dinner party, and John Barrymore’s priceless facial expressions as the morals are discussed.

Subtext: approved!