Here are several lobby cards from the 1921 american release by goldwyn of the german film the cabinet of dr. Caligari is doing now, back in 1793 in northern italy. Caligari 1919 one of the most influential films of all time, the cabinet of dr. Every set the whole town, the forest, the asylum everything is jarringly odd angles. Based upon an unsolved murder of a girl at a carnival, the film. Francis gets the police over there and after looking through books and notebooks in the office, they discover a historical book about a mythical caligari, who did just what dr. Caligari is really the mental institutions director where francis is interned. Robert wienes masterpiece of psychological horror, made five years ago but just released in the uk. The visual style is arresting and disturbing, a triumph of german expressionism.
The movie uses stylized sets with abstract, jagged buildings painted on canvas backdrops. Turner classic movies presents the greatest motion pictures of all time from one of the largest film libraries in the world. Caligari set a brilliantly high bar for the genre and. Caligari 1919 is generally acknowledged as the first german expressionist film. Caligari, released in germany in 1920, is a legendary horror film that set new standards for cinema. The cabinet of dr caligari film analysis context is. Caligari stars werner krauss, conrad veidt, lil dagover, friedrich feher the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 9 min, and received a score of out. The actors inhabit a jagged landscape of sharp angles and tilted walls and windows, staircases climbing crazy diagonals, trees with spiky leaves, grass that looks like knives. Caligari 1920 not only holds that title, but exists as the quintessential definitive piece of german expressionist cinema. How the cabinet of dr caligari 1920 was the first psychological horror. Robert wienes silent horror film is widely considered the defining work of german expressionist cinema and went on to inspire the look of such film. Caligari 1920, starring werner krauss and conrad veidt. It has come down to us as the first art movie, the first work of german expressionism, and a movie despised by its initial audiences that took time to win favor.
Francis and his friend alan visit the cabinet of dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, cesare, to commit murders. Caligari 1920 from july 1914 to november 1918 the great war raged a tantrum of metal, fire, and pride that rent the earth and chewed flesh. A generation of men would be decimated, their views about life, government, authority, and mortality inextricably altered. Caligari 1921 cast and crew at a carnival in germany, francis friedrich feher and his friend alan rudolf lettinger encounter the crazed dr. Arguably the first true horror film, the cabinet of dr. Feb 26, 2014 the cabinet of dr caligari film analysis filmed in 1920, the cabinet of dr caligari is a german silent horror film, which tells the story of dr caligari and his silent somnambulist cesare, whom caligari stores in a coffinlike cabinet and displays as an attraction at the holstenwall carnival. Oct 15, 2014 in 1920, one brilliant movie jolted the postwar masses and catapulted the movement known as german expressionism into film history. Caligari, who exhibits a somnambulist, cesare, that can predict the future. In 1920, one brilliant movie jolted the postwar masses and catapulted the movement known as german expressionism into film history. Film analysis of the cabinet of doctor caligari sjfilmhistory.
Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the. Caligari was the first german expressionist film, although brockmann and film critic mike budd claim it was also influenced by german romanticism. It is one of the first films to have a twist ending, and it is a complete surprise unless you read this before watching. Caligari manages to emotionally engage the audience with images that are striking and characters that are at least by the end somewhat sympathetic.
Considered by many to be the first true horror film, the cabinet of dr. F ive years ago, or thereabouts, a certain robert wiene made a certain film in germany, and called it the cabinet of dr. Caligari francis friedrich feher and an older man are sitting in a garden, telling stories. It also was the first film in the german expressionist movement. This is about a brand new stage version of the 1920 classic silent movie being created by stephen simms with birmingham school of acting in the u. One of the most influential films of all time, the cabinet of dr.
A collection of 55 still photos from the 19191920 production of the cabinet of dr. Caligari 1920, it shares very few similarities except for the main plot twist. A man named francis relates a story about his best friend alan and his fiancee jane. It is one of the first films to have a twist ending, and it is a complete surprise unless. It was inspired by an art movement that reached its peak in germany during the period 19181933 and was filmed entirely in berlins decla studio, with the exception of the prologue and epilogue which.
The cabinet of caligari is a 1962 american horror film by roger kay, starring glynis johns, dan oherlihy, and richard davalos, and released by 20th century fox although the film s title is very similar to the german silent horror film the cabinet of dr. See more ideas about dr caligari, silent film and silent horror. Budd notes the films themes of insanity and the outcry against authority are common among german romanticism in literature, theatre and the visual arts. Find video, photos, forums, blogs and shop for some of the best movies ever made only at tcm. Lobby cards were 11 x 14 posters that came in sets of 8. Caligari us a stunning visual masterpiece, with for the time an innovative narrative. Francis goes to the directors office and it turns out the director and dr. Accounts differ as to its financial and critical success upon release, but modern film critics and historians have largely praised it as a revolutionary film. Its a film that deals heavily with mental illness, enslavement, and a general loss of free will. Caligari stars werner krauss, conrad veidt, lil dagover, friedrich feher the movie has a runtime of about 1.
The german expression style is used to signify a dream state, which is a really good idea. The whole story was a fragment of franciss imagination. Robert wienes silent horror film is widely considered the defining work of german expressionist cinema and went on to inspire the look of such film classics as f. Caligari is the first modern horror film and it influence a number of contemporary productions. Read next watch vegas mayor advocate survival of the fittest reopening strategy, with total disregard for human life send us a tip subscribe. Caligari was released just as foreign film industries were easing restrictions on the import of german films following world war i, so it was screened internationally.
Caligari are now up for auction, courtesy of sothebys. Caligari is the definitive german expressionist film, one in which all the elements of the miseenscene lighting, set design, costume design, makeup, props, the movement of figures within the frame, etc. The cabinet of caligari is a 1962 american horror film by roger kay, starring glynis johns, dan oherlihy, and richard davalos, and released by 20th century fox. With werner krauss, conrad veidt, friedrich feher, lil dagover. Caligari played by werner krauss arrives in a rural german village with his.
Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his deathlike sleep. Although the film has a title that is very similar to that of the acclaimed silent horror film the cabinet of dr. Caligari, german silent horror film, released in 1920, that is widely considered the first great work in the genre. Caligari set a brilliantly high bar for the genre and remains terrifying nearly a century after it first stalked the screen. Caligari 1921 at a carnival in germany, francis friedrich feher and his friend alan rudolf lettinger encounter the crazed dr. It was inspired by an art movement that reached its peak in germany during the period 19181933 and was filmed entirely in berlins decla studio, with the exception of the prologue and epilogue which take place in a garden. Caligari seems to be a very typical classic horror movie. Basically, its an old silent german horror film about this dude caligari and his cabinet. German expressionism visually and thematically throughout the world film history, it is able to say that the cabinet of dr caligari, is one of the most regarding films during the european avantgarde current that influence and inspire many films in the following. This was a film i had heard was a classic, but i never really gave it a chance until now. The unexpected thing about this film was the abrupt ending with the twist, where the audience learns that dr. It is one of the greatest horror movies of the silent era.
Caligari is a 1920 silent horror film directed by robert wiene from a screenplay by hans janowitz and carl mayer. The first thing everyone notices and best remembers about the cabinet of dr. Filmed in 1920, the cabinet of dr caligari is a german silent horror film, which tells the story of dr caligari and his silent somnambulist cesare, whom caligari stores in a coffinlike cabinet and displays as an attraction at the holstenwall carnival. Jan 06, 2015 straight from the german expressionist movement, 1920, the cabinet of dr. Although the films title is very similar to the german silent horror film the cabinet of dr. German expressionism visually and thematically throughout the world film history, it is able to say that the cabinet of dr caligari, is one of the most regarding films during the european avantgarde current that influence and inspire many films in the following generation, especially in the film noir and horror. Its visual style is the pinnacle of the genre, with its crooked backdrops, harsh lines, painted shadows, and surreal nature permeating every scene. A girl lil dagover walks past, unresponsive, as in a daze. Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancee jane recently went through.
1621 186 594 1448 1046 658 1149 39 475 796 1368 694 798 1223 688 895 454 242 1068 1123 1517 668 1128 1028 817 55 541 1183 1129 959 343 431 512 1465 1302 642