Maniac

Francis Dolarhyde, also known as the 'Tooth Fairy,' is often cited as a film character from the 1980 movie "Maniac". In reality, the principal character of 1934 film 'Maniac,' as based on the movie overview you provided, is actually a character named John Aysgarth, not Francis Dolarhyde, which is a character from another movie (Manhunter). John Aysgarth, played by Dennis O'Keefe, is a struggling actor in a vaudeville show called "The Dr. Cyclops Murder Mystery," a comedy. Aysgarth was a former vaudeville actor in a Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde play. He becomes increasingly disillusioned with his life. When he discovers that his former friend Dr. Edwilton, a scientist, is also attempting to create a Frankenstein creation, but in reality is using a corpse for his experiments, Aysgarth sees the chance to finally get noticed and become a star. Aysgarth visits Dr Edwilton's secret laboratory, where he witnesses Edwilton's cruel treatment of a female victim, who was a former woman Edwilton was romantically involved with. The female victim was a model for one of Edwilton's previous experiments. Dr Edwilton kills her when he decides that she is no longer useful and plans to bury her in an asylum where her body can be taken by other scientists. While Aysgarth observes Dr Edwilton's gruesome experiments, he learns that he was planning to use the corpse of the model, who was killed just before, to be part of his Frankenstein-esque experiment which involves stitching body parts together. Aysgarth, in a fit of rage, kills Dr Edwilton during one of his experiments. Believing that this opportunity will give him a breakthrough in his acting career by becoming the subject of his own tragic story, John takes on Dr Edwilton's identity in an attempt to create a sensationalized persona. As John, using the alias Edward G. Robinson-inspired name, Dr Edlington, continues to pretend to be Dr Edwilton, a new series of events unfold as the story progresses. Aysgarth's plan backfires, and his reputation as the 'Maniac' spreads, causing chaos and fear in the community he lives in. While it's unclear how well his acting career does after this, it's known that as 'Maniac,' John Aysgarth, is the subject of a local scandal, and a series of tragic events ensues in the film.