Who did the stunt jumping down the stairs?
The acrobatics on the staircase are amazing. Was there a stunt double on the set? This scene is copied in the Spencer Tracer version, and not quite as spectacular.
Doug
Toronto
I have again watched the Spencer Tracy version. One reason the staircase sequence works better in the 1931 version is the editing, and the element of surprise. In the 1931 version Hyde turns his back, then reverses the motion by swinging around and at the same time, putting his cane in his mouth as he goes over the railing. And the cut is almost unnoticeable when he comes down from the top right of the picture into view, almost a single rhythmical motion swinging down from one floor level to the next below. And then he jumps the entire set of stairs to the next landing and knocks the next man over. This is a fantastic sequence, great to watch in stop action. The stunt man must of had fingers of steel to hang onto the molding of the floor as a pivot point for the swinging. The Tracy version is also very dramatic, and near identical to the 1931 version, but is still not quite as exciting.
Doug
Toronto