The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Robert Wiene, 1920): Germany

Reviewed by William Conlin. Viewed on DVD.

Since the beginning of film, one genre has maintained a constant level of popularity. Whether the latest craze is western or musical, sci-fi or biopic, the horror genre has never gone out of style. In the early 1920’s, one such horror film terrified audiences from its native Germany and around the world. This film was The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Set in a small mountain village, we met the sinister Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss) trying to obtain a permit to display his fortune-telling somnambulist Cesare (Conrad Veidt) at the local fair. The town clerk laughs in his face and leaves Caligari without his permit. The next morning the clerk is found stabbed to death. Now, with the whole town terrified, local resident Francis (Friedrich Fehér), sets out to solve the crime before his fiancé (Lil Dagover) his best friend (Hans Heinrich von Twardowski), who have both been targeted, suffer the same fate as the clerk. With Dr. Caligari and Cesare as his prime suspects, Francis is forced to confront his demons and seek Caligari out, no matter what it costs him. After his search takes an unexpected turn no one can guess the twist ending that lies in store for Francis.

Although the acting is standard for silent film, melodramatic and farcical, this film displays a feel that is years ahead of American filmmaking at the same time. I’m a big fan of silent films and when I first saw this, I was shocked. I especially enjoy the twist ending that, although it is hard to portray without dialogue, is made quite obvious. The film actually plays out like a well made episode of The Twilight Zone.

The sets alone make this film worth watching. Although it’s evident that every scene was filmed on a stage, the designs by Hermann Warm are intriguing to say the least. The expressionistic style of the sets make every location in the town seem mysterious and dangerous. Mixed with a dark and moody style of cinematography by Willy Hameister, this film can actually scare you at times. I would place it right up there with Nosferatu and Phantom of the Opera on my list of the greatest silent horror films.

I think it’s very important to look at silent films because without the lessons learned during those first pivotal decades, filmmaking wouldn’t be where it is today and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a prime example of silent filmmaking at it’s finest.

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Published:
12.19.08 / 7pm
Category:
DVD, Films, Silent films