Mary Reilly (film)
| Mary Reilly | |
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Theatrical Release Poster
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| Directed by | Stephen Frears |
| Produced by |
Norma Heyman Ned Tanen Nancy Graham Tanen |
| Written by | Christopher Hampton |
| Based on |
Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin |
| Starring | |
| Music by | George Fenton |
| Cinematography | Philippe Rousselot |
| Edited by | Lesley Walker |
| Distributed by | TriStar Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $47 million |
| Box office | $12,379,402 |
Mary Reilly is a 1996 American film directed by Stephen Frears and starring Julia Roberts and John Malkovich. The movie was written by Christopher Hampton and adapted from the novel Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin (itself inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde). This was the re-teaming of director Frears, screenwriter Hampton, and actors Malkovich and Glenn Close, all of whom were involved in the Oscar-winning Dangerous Liaisons (1988).
Mary Reilly is a servant in the home of Dr. Henry Jekyll. A friendship between Mary and the doctor develops, which becomes an attraction. The doctor takes an interest in Mary, confiding in her and she in him; specifically she tells him of abuse she suffered at her father's hands. After Mary and the Doctor spend a considerable time talking one morning as she brings him his breakfast; the head of the household staff, Mr Poole challenges Mary's story that the two of them were discussing the planting a garden, thinking that she lied. Upon being discreetly questioned by Poole, the doctor deftly covers for Mary and says that the garden they talked about is "the very thing" needed in the house. However, the household is thrown into turmoil when the master announces he will be getting an assistant. The staff speculate on his employment and origins, as he is never fully seen and remains a mystery.
While delivering his breakfast, Jekyll asks her to deliver a letter to a Mrs. Farraday, the madam of a whorehouse. The madam agrees to let an apartment to the doctor's assistant, who is the sinister Edward Hyde. Curious, Mary follows him into the doctor's lab one night, where she witnesses Hyde handing over a cheque for blood money. She then hides in the lab because the exit door is locked. She is terrified as Hyde discovers her hiding place, but he merely throws her a key. The next morning, she finds Jekyll in the yard with a sprained ankle.
The following morning, Jekyll wakes her with another letter for Mrs. Farraday. When she arrives at the brothel, the madam is furious. She shows Mary the room that has been let to Hyde, which is covered in blood. Mary returns to the house with a blood-stained handkerchief of Jekyll's, as well as a message from Farraday promising to do what is necessary to conceal the bloody event.
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