Summary
Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde (also Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride) is a 1925 American silent, black-and-white comedy film, directed by Scott Pembroke and Joe Rock (also the producer).[1]
| Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde | |
|---|---|
Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde | |
| Directed by | Scott Pembroke Joe Rock |
| Written by | Tay Garnett |
| Produced by | Joe Rock |
| Starring | Stan Laurel |
| Cinematography | Edgar Lyons |
Production company | Standard Photoplay Company |
| Distributed by | Selznick Distributing Corp. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 21 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The film itself is both a spoof of the previous Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films (e.g. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)) and the well-famed 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The film stars Stan Laurel as the title characters.
Plot and Characters edit
Dr. Stanislaus Pyckle, (a play of the actor's name, Stan Laurel), successfully separates the good and evil of man's nature with the use of a powerful drug -- "Dr. Pyckle's 58th Variety", a spoof of "Heinz's 57". Transforming into the personality of Mr. Pryde (again Laurel), he terrorizes the town with unspeakable acts including stealing a boy's ice cream, cheating at marbles, and popping a bag behind a lady pedestrian. The townspeople track him down where Mr. Pride locks himself in the laboratory and transforms back as Dr. Pyckle. The doctor assures the townspeople that he hasn't seen the "fiend" they were after. While he talks, the drug used for the transformation spills in the plate of food of the doctor's dog. Dr. Pyckle confronts the fiendish dog when he locks the door and the townspeople leave. But once again, Mr. Pride emerges and brings havoc to the town, and again is chased down by the townspeople. He enters the lab and transforms back into Pyckle, and again assures the townspeople he has not seen the fiend. His assistant (Julie Leonard) begs the doctor to open and comfort him, but he transforms back into Mr. Pride. He opens the door to the assistant and locks it again. She screams seeing Pride and unsuccessfully tries to knock him out. The townspeople hurry back. Existing versions of the film end abruptly at this point without a resolution.
The appearance of the fiendish Mr. Pride is an obvious spoof on the make-up designed for John Barrymore as Mr. Hyde. Also spoofed are the sudden and strange movements Barrymore's Jekyll makes during the transformation, as well as Hyde's confrontation with Millicent, Jekyll's fiancée, when Hyde lets her inside the lab. Other scenes show obvious parodies of other Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde films (e.g. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912) and the Haydon film from 1920).
Cast edit
- Stan Laurel as Dr. Pyckle / Mr. Pryde (sometimes as Mr. Pride)
- Julie Leonard as Dr. Pyckle's assistant
- Pete the Dog (as Pete the Pup)
- Syd Crossley (uncredited bit role)
- Dot Farley (uncredited bit role)
Information edit
The following year (1926), Stan Laurel began his years-long collaboration with Oliver Hardy, and together they would make over 100 films. Pete the dog later starred in a series of Buster Brown films as Buster's dog Tige. The familiar circle around his eye was painted on by a makeup man.[2]
Production edit
- Directed by: Scott Pembroke and Joe Rock
- Produced by: Joe Rock
- Cinematography by: Edgar Lyons
- Assistant Director: Murray Rock
- Titles by: Tay Garnett
- Company: Joe Rock Comedies
Additional details edit
- Runtime: 21 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Color: Black-and-White
- Sound Mix: Silent
- Aspect Radio: 1.33 :1
- Certification: UK:U
References edit
External links edit
- Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde at IMDb
- Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
