There was a time when some of the most influential cinema in the world came from Germany. In the silent era, an entire cinematic style - German Expressionism - was named after the county that perfected its techniques. The style is a kind of warped and amplified Art Deco - featuring heavily painted and stylized sets, heavily caked-on make up effects, and intimidating angular design. Elegant, yet distant. Accessible, yet fantastical. Although German Expressionism was a form known in each storytelling genre, it reached its full potential when it was employed in what is legitimately considered the worlds first Horror feature. That movie was 1920’s THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI.
More under the fold!
Directed by Robert Weine, THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI tells the story of Francis; who visits a carnival with his friend Alan. There they see the show of Dr. Caligari who displays a somnambulist named Cesare who he claims can tell the future. Cesare tells Alan that he will die that very night. When Alan is brutally murdered by a shadowy figure a few hours later, Francis suspects that Caligari is behind it - having controlled Cesare to kill Alan. When Cesare turns his attention to Francis’ fiancée Jane, Frances sets out to expose the truth.
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI employs a framing device in the narrative in which Francis recounts his story in an insane asylum. It is within this framework that Robert Weine most effectively uses the expressionist style. When in the asylum, the style is absolutely real - no expressionism on display at all. It is real-world set design and costuming. When Francis is telling his story, however, the production design and direction becomes hyper-stylized - with jagged angles, extreme light and shadow, and exaggerated, showy acting. Weine uses Expressionism to convey the mania that Francis’ pursuit of Caligari instilled in him. It allows the story to be real and unreal at the same time.
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI was a worldwide smash when it was released 94 years ago. It won rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and played in many European cinemas for years on end. It made an international superstar out of Conrad Veidt, who played the murderous, yet sympathetic Cesare. To this day, it is one of those rare films that receives almost universal praise. More that just a great movie, THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI is a touchstone in cinematic history. It is not only a perfect example of German Expressionism, but it also showcases the earliest artistic merits of the Horror genre. It was the first film to show us the experimental freedom that can be found when telling a spooky tale.
And no film has ever used that freedom better!
Parental Guide: Not very scary by today's standards. Small children might find the atmosphere to be too much. 8+
THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI fun facts - To promote the film, the producers put up posters throughout Berlin that read simply “Du Musst Caligari Werden!” (“You must become Caligari!”). There was no indication at all on the posters that it was promotion for a film. The mysterious posters caused a bit of a sensation around town.
The ‘all a delusion‘ epilogue was added to appease German censors who objected to an authority figure being depicted as evil.
Fritz Lang turned down the chance to direct this film in favor of “Die Spinnen”.
The film played theatrically in Paris for seven years.
Jane - “We who are of noble blood may not follow the wishes of our hearts.”
Francis - “You fools! This man is plotting our doom! We die at dawn! He is Caligari!”
Repeated line - “Du musst Caligari werden!”