The Dinosaur and the Missing Link: A Prehistoric Tragedy is a 1917 American comedy silent film animated by Willis O'Brien

Willis O'Brien

Willis Harold O'Brien was an Irish American pioneering motion picture special effects artist who perfected and specialized in stop-motion animation. He was affectionately known to his family and close friends as "Obie"....

 that premiered in 1915, and is one of O'Brien's only wholly animated films. It was financed and distributed by Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...

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The film is also known as The Dinosaur and the Baboon (American reissue title).

Plot

It starts with a man going to give some flowers to a girl. He fails when he hits a tree. However, he keeps going. However, the "Self Appointed Hero" of the story steals the girl's heart. Meanwhile, an evil Gorilla-like creature called the Missing Link is watching them. When the Missing Link goes to the lake to get some water, where the dinosaur is, the dinosaur kills the Missing Link and goes away. Then the "Hero" finds the Missing Link and takes the credit for killing it.

External links

• Watch the restored edition of "The Dinosaur and the Missing Link"