The Guide To....
THE CABINET OF DR CALIGARI (1920)
You must become Caligari
What’s it about?
One of the handful of films that can truly be said to have revolutionised cinema, this
massively influential horror movie was the first film in the cinematic style that would
be known as German Expressionism. At a weird fairground, the mysterious Dr Caligari exhibits a young man, Cesare – a somnambulist (or sleepwalker), he exists in a
kind of coma, but can be controlled by the sinister Caligari. Soon after his first appearance, a killing spree begins. As well as being a way for young film fans to learn
more about the evolution of the movies, this low budget silent classic is a genuinely
creepy experience.
Who made it?
Backstory
Director Robert Wiene was born to a
theatrical family in Germany in 1873. He
studied as a lawyer before turning to the
family business, starting out as an actor
then becoming a director.
The Cabinet of Dr Caligari offers a
psychological and artistic snapshot of
a Germany reeling from its defeat in
World War I. The story of a sleepwalker
controlled by a madman is often seen
as representing the way Germans felt
they had been manipulated by their
leaders – while its visual style linked it
to the expressionist movement that
was emerging at the time, which
placed psychological “truth” above
realism. Even Germany’s financial
woes helped create the film’s strange
atmosphere – the stark shadows that
are seen so often were at least partly
due to the high cost of electricity after
the war.
Berlin-born Conrad Veidt (Cesare) began
acting in films in 1916. He fled Germany in
1933 when Hitler took power and, ironically, then found work playing Nazis in British
and Hollywood films such as Casablanca.
He died in 1943.
The production
Director Fritz Lang (Metropolis) was originally supposed to direct the tale, but when
his previous film overran, Robert Wiene was hired – his own father had been declared insane and so he was seen as having an insight into the subject.
The reviews
What happened next?
“Undoubtedly one of the most
exciting and inspired horror movies ever made.”
a horror trend that would soon produce
-
Time Out
noir. The expressionist style eventually
reached America (as did many of the
of the silent era.”
New York Times
evolved into this most shadowy and stylish of genres.
Look out for
The early scene in which the character of Alan meets his death is a brilliant use
of shadow and suggestion rather than outright violence. It shows a relatively
young visual medium evolving to understand that not everything has to be
shown to be effective – with the scene managing to look both shocking and
strangely modern. Directors are still using its technique now. Look past the crazy
Talking points
Review starter
• Name three weird things about
• It’s hard to describe just how bizarre
• Do you feel sorry for Cesare?
• If you’re a fan of scary movies, you
have to see this…
• Fairgrounds are meant to be fun,
but they’re often used in horror
• If you ever sleepwalk, you should
creepy?
What we think
etty scary movie
too.