The Head of Janus
Encyclopedia
The Head of Janus was a 1920
horror silent film
directed by F. W. Murnau. The film was an unauthorized adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson
's novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but the source
material went unrecognized by the German media due to changes in the characters' names.
Released on September 17, 1920 by the Lipow Co., this is one of Murnau's lost film
s. The screenplay was written by Hans Janowitz
, who collaborated with Carl Mayer
on the script for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
(1919). While the film itself does not survive, the scripts and related production notes do, from which some of the more salient points of the plot can be pieced together.
plays Dr. Warren (the Dr. Jekyll character) who changes into Mr. O'Connor (a parallel of Mr. Hyde). This transformation is brought about, not by experimentation with chemicals as in Stevenson's original, but through the supernatural agency of a bust of Janus
(the Roman god of the doorway), which Warren / O'Connor purchases in the opening sequence as a gift for his sweetheart, Jane Lanyon (Margarete Schlegel). When she refuses the gift, horrified, Warren / O'Connor is forced to keep the statuette himself.
It is at this point Dr. Warren first transforms into the gruesome character Mr. O'Connor, and returns to Jane's house in a rage, kidnapping her and taking her back to his laboratory. Upon recovery, Warren is horrified by what he has done and tries to sell the bust at auction, but the hold it has over him forces him to buy it back again. A second transformation proves to be his ruin, committing random acts of violence in the streets.
Ultimately, Dr. Warren as Mr. O'Connor is forced to take poison after locking himself in his laboratory. He dies, clutching the statue to his chest.
released by Paramount Pictures
and starring John Barrymore
. Swedish film critics of the time found the Murnau production to be more 'artistic'.
1920 in film
The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
horror silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
directed by F. W. Murnau. The film was an unauthorized adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
's novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but the source
Source
Source may refer to:-Research:* Source text, in research , a source of information referred to by citation** Primary source, firsthand written evidence of history made at the time of the event by someone who was present...
material went unrecognized by the German media due to changes in the characters' names.
Released on September 17, 1920 by the Lipow Co., this is one of Murnau's lost film
Lost film
A lost film is a feature film or short film that is no longer known to exist in studio archives, private collections or public archives such as the Library of Congress, where at least one copy of all American films are deposited and catalogued for copyright reasons...
s. The screenplay was written by Hans Janowitz
Hans Janowitz
Hans Janowitz was a Bohemian-born German author.Janowitz was an officer in World War I, but returned from it as a pacifist. Shortly after the war ended, he met the similarly minded Carl Mayer in Berlin, who suggested he work as an author. Together they wrote the script to The Cabinet of Dr...
, who collaborated with Carl Mayer
Carl Mayer
Carl Mayer was an Austrian screenplay writer who wrote or co-wrote the screenplays to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Haunted Castle , Der Letzte Mann , Tartuffe , Sunrise and 4 Devils , the last five being films directed by F. W...
on the script for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a 1920 silent horror film directed by Robert Wiene from a screenplay by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. It is one of the most influential of German Expressionist films and is often considered one of the greatest horror movies of the silent era. This movie is cited as...
(1919). While the film itself does not survive, the scripts and related production notes do, from which some of the more salient points of the plot can be pieced together.
Plot
Conrad VeidtConrad Veidt
Conrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
plays Dr. Warren (the Dr. Jekyll character) who changes into Mr. O'Connor (a parallel of Mr. Hyde). This transformation is brought about, not by experimentation with chemicals as in Stevenson's original, but through the supernatural agency of a bust of Janus
Janus
-General:*Janus , the two-faced Roman god of gates, doors, doorways, beginnings, and endings*Janus , a moon of Saturn*Janus Patera, a shallow volcanic crater on Io, a moon of Jupiter...
(the Roman god of the doorway), which Warren / O'Connor purchases in the opening sequence as a gift for his sweetheart, Jane Lanyon (Margarete Schlegel). When she refuses the gift, horrified, Warren / O'Connor is forced to keep the statuette himself.
It is at this point Dr. Warren first transforms into the gruesome character Mr. O'Connor, and returns to Jane's house in a rage, kidnapping her and taking her back to his laboratory. Upon recovery, Warren is horrified by what he has done and tries to sell the bust at auction, but the hold it has over him forces him to buy it back again. A second transformation proves to be his ruin, committing random acts of violence in the streets.
Ultimately, Dr. Warren as Mr. O'Connor is forced to take poison after locking himself in his laboratory. He dies, clutching the statue to his chest.
Trivia
An intriguing note on the script points to possibly the first instance of a moving camera in cinematic history. When the doctor is climbing the stairs to his laboratory, Janowitz's notes state "Camera follows him up the stairs".Reception
This adaptation of R. L. Stevenson's classic novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was released in 1920, the same year as an American version, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeDr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 film)
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1920 horror silent film, produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount/Artcraft. The film is based upon Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and starring actor John Barrymore.The film was directed by John S....
released by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
and starring John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
. Swedish film critics of the time found the Murnau production to be more 'artistic'.
Credited Cast
- Conrad VeidtConrad VeidtConrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
as Dr. Warren / Mr. O'Connor - Magnus StifterMagnus StifterMagnus Stifter was an Austrian film actor. He appeared in 85 films between 1914 and 1941.He was born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary and died in Vienna, Austria.-Selected filmography:...
as Dr. Warren's friend - Margarete Schlegel as Jane Lanyon / Grace
- Willy Kaiser-HeylWilly Kaiser-HeylWilly Kaiser-Heyl was a German film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1916 and 1952.He was born in Frankfurt, Germany and died in Berlin.-Selected filmography:* Der Im Rausche der Milliarden...
as Extra - Béla LugosiBéla LugosiBéla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó , commonly known as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian actor of stage and screen. He was best known for having played Count Dracula in the Broadway play and subsequent film version, as well as having starred in several of Ed Wood's low budget films in the last years of his...
as Dr. Warren's Butler - Margarete Kupfer as Extra
- Danny Guertler as Extra
- Gustav Botz as Extra
- Jaro Fürth as Extra
- Hans Lanser-Rudolf as Extra
- Marga Reuter as Extra
- Lanja Rudolph as Extra
Also known as
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (UK)
- Der Januskopf – Eine Tragödie am Rande der Wirklichkeit (Germany)
- Love's Mockery
- Schrecken (Germany) (trailer title)
- The Head of Janus
- The Janus Head
- The Two-Faced Man (USA) (informal literal English title)
See also
- List of films made in Weimar Germany
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 film)Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920 film)Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a 1920 horror silent film, produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount/Artcraft. The film is based upon Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and starring actor John Barrymore.The film was directed by John S....
- Béla Lugosi filmographyBela Lugosi filmographyBela Lugosi was in a large number of movies during the course of his career. The following list is believed complete.-1910s:*Nászdal *Az Ezredes *A Régiséggyüjtö *Leoni Leo *Casanova *Lulu...