I simply can't let the '31 version slide based on the old "it's an early talkie" line anymore. If it had been made in 1929, I probably would grit my teeth, but by 1931, there were very fluid films being made in comparison,


But are 1931 films made today?
In other words, while you may well point out other movies that were more "fluid" for 1931, the point is there still were other movies made just like JEKYLL in their period, and that is why it's awkward to today's audiences. The question is not whether or not some other period movies did it better (they DID). It's that I'd still bet the "love dialogue" worked fine in '31. So the "it's an early talkie that's awkward today" does carry some weight, regardless of whether others did it better in '31.

And guys - what of the sado-masochistic sequences that were so risque back then? THOSE do still translate to today's audiences.