‘Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde’ (1931)
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
When Schimberg first sat down to write “A Different Man” he thought of doing a spin on director Rouben Mamoulian’s pre-Code classic. From a plot standpoint, it was an approach that proved too unwieldy, nonetheless, it’s a film that left a lasting impression.
“What I like about the film is it took me by surprise in how disturbing it is,” said Schimberg. “There’s this one scene he’s just terrorizing [actress] Miriam Hopkins, it’s strongly suggesting he’s assaulting her and she’s screaming, and he’s so full of joy. He’s so happy that he can get away with this, that he can be so evil, he feels so free. And it’s really one of the most disturbing scenes that I’ve ever seen. I wasn’t prepared for how upsetting it would be.”