Finally, horror has made it from the Grand Guignol to the big stage of today's most successful musical productions. Here we give an overview of musicals adapted from classic horror stories, which are currently running. We indicate the original text, the most important filmed versions (with links to our sites) and the musical versions currently running. On February 19, 1999, there will be the big premiere of the German version of the Jekyll & Hyde musical in our home-town Bremen, therefore we start featuring Jekyll & Hyde.
1886 | ![]() |
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson Allegedly based on a nightmare, Stevenson wrote his doppelganger / mad scientist novella, which would become one of the three most well-known horror stories, inspiring hundreds of stage and film versions. |
1920 | ![]() |
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde USA, John S. Robertson The most famous silent version and first feature-length adaption of Stevenson's original script sets the standard. It combines Stevenson's tale with Oscar Wilde's Picture of Dorian Gray, and adds the women's characters to the story. |
John Barrymore |
1920 | ![]() |
Der Januskopf Germany, F. W. Murnau As with Nosferatu, his other adaption of a classic horror tale, Murnau couldn't obtain the rights for the original story, so he changed the names and let Veidt act as "Dr. Warren and Mr. O'Connor". |
Conrad Veidt |
1932 | ![]() |
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde USA, Rouben Mamoulian Still counts as the best adaption of the subject. March won an Oscar for his brilliant performance. The transformation scene was arguably film history's first 360 degree pan. |
Fredric March |
1941 | ![]() |
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde USA,Victor Fleming MGM's effort to outdo the 1932 Paramount version stars Tracy in the title role, also Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner. |
Spencer Tracy |
1960 | ![]() |
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll GB, Terence Fisher Hammer's merciless version shows an unsympathetic Jekyll versus a charming Hyde. |
Paul Massie |
1963 | ![]() |
The Nutty Professor USA, Jerry Lewis Lewis plays both roles in this discourse about his former partner, Dean Martin: Jekyll is an ugly, clumsy Lewis-type guy, who transforms into a good-looking womanizing Martin-type Hyde. |
Jerry Lewis |
1975 | ![]() |
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde GB, David Winters He sings! Made for television, Douglas stars in this first Jekyll & Hyde Musical. |
Kirk Douglas |
1990 | ![]() |
Jekyll & Hyde GB/ USA, David Wickes Wickes directed two tv mini-series in a Victorian setting, starring Caine: Jack the Ripper (1988), in which Jekyll & Hyde is performed as a stage-play, and Jekyll & Hyde itself, both hugely successful. |
Michael Caine |
1995 | ![]() |
Mary Reilly USA, Stephen Frears A change of perspective: This time, the story is seen from the pov of Jekyll's house-maid, Julia Roberts. The film was adapted from a novel by Valerie Martin. |
John Malkovich |
1990 | ![]() |
Jekyll & Hyde Alley Theatre, Houston, Texas Frank Wildhorn's Musical adaption opens. After a hugely successful run, it opened on Broadway in 1995, no end in sight. |
Robert Evan |
1999 | ![]() |
Jekyll & Hyde (German version) Musical-Theater, Bremen, Germany First time in Europe, the German language version opens in Bremen. |
Ethan Freeman |
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