About Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Considered by many to be the first great American horror film, John S. Robertson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde allowed stage legend John Barrymore to deliver his first virtuoso performance on film. Blending historic charm with grim naturalism, this 1920 version is one of the more faithful of the many screen adaptations of Stevenson’s story—though greatly influenced by T.R. Sullivan’s popular stage treatment —recounting a visionary scientist’s ill-fated attempts to unleash the human mysteries that dwell beneath the shell of the civilized self. The Kino Lorber restoration from the 35mm negative beautifully showcases the dramatic brilliance and gruesome thrills of this silent classic. Presented with a recorded performance of a new orchestral score by IU alumni Ryn Jorgensen that received its world-premiere performance at IU Cinema in February 2020. [67 min; horror, drama; silent film with intertitles]
Celebrating its first decade in 2026, the IU Cinema Vickers Scoring Award is named after IU Cinema’s founding director Jon Vickers; it is an IU Cinema-exclusive program produced in partnership with the Jacobs School of Music, and is generously endowed by former IU Trustee the Honorable P.A. Mack Jr.
The screening will be preceded by the short film You Feel Like Home (Dietrich Gunther, 2026).
A Q&A with composer Ryn Jorgensen and IU Jacobs School of Music Professor Larry Groupé will follow the screening.
"A wig, hairy prosthetic hands, and a slouched posture were all Barrymore needed to bring Stevenson's defining creation to life, and he did so with gusto." — Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis
"One of the better renditions of the tale, thanks to John Barrymore's brilliant silent performance." — Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
"One of the first significant American horror movies." — John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Any film screened at IU Cinema may contain content that viewers find sensitive or upsetting. Visit our Audience Advisories page to learn more.
