Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Year: 1912
Plot: A condensed, silent short film adaptation of the classic Robert Louis Stevenson novella (though it pulls elements from a popular stage play). The film follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, a respected physician who experiments with a chemical formula designed to separate the good and evil sides of man. Upon drinking the potion, he transforms into the monstrous, evil entity known as Mr. Edward Hyde. Hyde indulges in violent mischief, terrorizing the community, and commits murder (often the father of Jekyll's fiancée, depending on the specific film print). The transformation eventually becomes involuntary, leading to tragedy when the antidote is depleted. With the police closing in, Hyde—now permanently trapped—takes poison, killing himself and ending Dr. Jekyll's life.
