MARY REILLY

US, 1996, 117 minutes, Colour.
Julia Roberts, John Malkovich, Glenn Close, George Cole, Michael Gambon, Michael Sheen, Ciaran Hinds.
Directed by Stephen Frears.


Mary Reilly came into cinemas and went very quickly. Some complained that the whole film was too dark to see (and it was dark). Others complained that it moved too slowly (and much time was spent in contemplating the characters). Then others said that this variation on the Jekyll and Hyde story (Mary Reilly is Jekyll's housekeeper) did not offer much new. There is a point to all these criticisms, but nevertheless it is very interesting in its interpretation of Jekyll/Hyde's power over each other and how Mary Reilly (who had a disturbing childhood) related to each. Julia Roberts is Mary and John Malkovich is Jekyll with support from Glenn Close as a brothel keeper, a film late in the career of George Cole, early for Michael Sheen and Ciaran Hinds. Michael Gambon is Mary Reilly’s father. Stephen Frears directs what is clearly intended as an artful reworking of Robert Louis Stevenson.

1. The work on Robert Louis Stevenson? The 19th century atmosphere? The late of Victorian era? The archetypal story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
2. The popularity of this story? The many film versions, variations? The introduction of Mary Reilly and her perspective?
3. The work of Stephen Frears, the writing of Christopher Hampton? The strong cast? The sets, costumes, décor? London, the house, its vastness, the kitchen, the library, the rooms, laboratories, hospitals, streets? The atmospheric score?
4. The portrait of Mary Reilly, Julia Roberts, audience sympathy? 19th century Irish, poor, in England? Her brutal father, his violence, putting her in the cupboard, the rats and the biting, his drinking, her mother and her hard work, the pathos of her mother’s death, found in the cupboard? Mary and the money for the funeral, the funeral itself and her grief, her father’s presence, cajoling, her dislike? Her being in service?
5. With Dr. Jekyll, the variety of jobs in the house, the role of a maid? The carrying the trays, working in the kitchen, working in the garden? The supervisor and his sternness? The jolly cook, the young man and his jokey surliness? The other maid, sharing the room with her? Her nightmares visualized? The details of work, the supervisor and his being asked to travel to commit pharmaceuticals? The decorum of the house? The hierarchical order?
6. The introduction to Dr. Jekyll, John Malkovich? His personality, some charm, introspective, his experiments, the laboratories, secretive? His declining health? With Mary, liking her, the question about the bites and the rats? Her confiding in him? The criticisms of the staff and the supervisor for her being in his room, the story about the garden, Dr. Jekyll covering for her?
7. The experiments, the chemicals, Jekyll’s ambitions, his inner self, wanting to come out, for freedom? Inventing his assistant, Edward Hyde? The conditions of his helping, not seeing the staff?
8. Hyde, younger, unseen, the issue of the lodgings, the deal with Mrs. Faraday, Jekyll’s sending Mary to Mrs. Faraday, seeing the brothel, the young girls, that this could have been her fate? Sir Danvers and the politicians, Victorian morals and immorality? Delivering the note, returning? Seeing Hyde, the blood in the room, on the roof, Mrs. Faraday and her response, Jekyll and his excuses and explanations? Mary upset that Hyde knew about the rat bites and that Jekyll had told him?
9. Jekyll and the transitions to Hyde, controlled, becoming more erratic, the externals of the proper Jekyll becoming the lascivious, Hyde’s explanations of his relationship with Jekyll?
10. The increasing crises, the response of the staff, Jekyll’s speeches to them, his changing and declining?
11. Mrs. Faraday, at home, Sir Danvers, the girls, her prim appearance and proper manner and character, a commendation for Hyde, her cleaning the blood-stained room? The visit to the house, her waiting, Hyde telling her, brutally?
12. Mary, her understanding, her feelings for Jekyll, love and compassion, saving Hyde from the police?
13. Jekyll moving in and out of character, losing control, the monster taking over, death?
14. A psychological story? A moral fable about personality, the splitting of personality, character and shadow?