Paul Wegener and Stellan Rye's THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE is one of the earliest silent horror films, following Georges Melies' horror shorts and Thomas Edison's 1910 version of FRANKENSTEIN. The film, which is based on the Faust legend, along with Wegener's three versions of THE GOLEM, directly influenced future German horror films (THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, NOSFERATU). Balduin (Wegener) is the best student and swordsman in Prague, but he confides to creepy, mysterious Scapinelli (John Gottowt), that he really desires money or a rich heiress. Balduin fortuitously saves Countess Margit (Grete Berger) from a riding accident, and instantly falls in love. Margit doesn't love her fiancé, the Baron (Fritz Weidemann), but Balduin's poverty discourages him from pursuing her. One day, Scapinelli appears in Balduin's room offering riches in exchange for something in the student's room. Balduin eagerly signs the proffered contract, but is shocked when Scapinelli takes his image from the mirror. Only the smitten gypsy girl Lyduschka (Lyda Salmonova) realizes the true gravity of the situation until Balduin's doppelganger begins wreaking havoc. Wegener's gripping horror classic features strong performances, lovely location shooting and some surprising special effects for such an early film.