Made in 1919, this German film is hailed as a classic and the first ‘cult’ movie. I decided that it was time to find out for myself.
A young student by the name of Francis encounters Doctor Caligari at a village fair. His act consists of reviving a somnambulist (for the illiterate Zugs like myself, that’s a sleepwalker or somebody in a hypnotic trance) who can predict future events. When asked, he tells Francis’ friend that he will die at dawn and, sure enough, the event occurs. In fact, there is a spate of murders while Caligari is in town and, eventually, the finger points towards him and his attraction. The film moves towards a (for its time at least) quite unexpected conclusion, which is cleverly executed but leaves enough hanging at the end to propel the viewer into his own line of thought.
The scenery is excellent - mostly painted backdrops – lop-sided buildings, asymmetrical doors and windows - giving it a nightmarish and Dali-esque quality (and this before Dali had even painted enough to invent the term!). The most similar style I have seen is that of Nosferatu – another wonderful German offering of the silent era.
What this stylistic setting does reveal are the origins of cinema, and gives the feeling that you are watching a silent play that just happens to be filmed. The actors have the usual exaggerated expressions of love, fear, loathing and revenge – all in their pale faces and dark ringed eyes – again showing the origins of greasepaint and footlights. And that’s why films like this are so important – that’s why they deserve to live on in our modern times and not be dumped in some forgotten vault where the celluloid that contains them is left to rot, and we forget they ever existed. Films like these are evolutionary bridges to another time – a piece of history on a spool.
Is it a classic? Undoubtedly
A cult film? Probably, but hopefully not. A cult film for me implies a narrow niche of acceptance. This film deserves a much wider audience than that. If you appreciate wonderful films then make room for this. Even if you just watch it once in your lifetime, the 82 minutes it takes up will not be wasted. You will take something from this - that, I promise you.
A young student by the name of Francis encounters Doctor Caligari at a village fair. His act consists of reviving a somnambulist (for the illiterate Zugs like myself, that’s a sleepwalker or somebody in a hypnotic trance) who can predict future events. When asked, he tells Francis’ friend that he will die at dawn and, sure enough, the event occurs. In fact, there is a spate of murders while Caligari is in town and, eventually, the finger points towards him and his attraction. The film moves towards a (for its time at least) quite unexpected conclusion, which is cleverly executed but leaves enough hanging at the end to propel the viewer into his own line of thought.
The scenery is excellent - mostly painted backdrops – lop-sided buildings, asymmetrical doors and windows - giving it a nightmarish and Dali-esque quality (and this before Dali had even painted enough to invent the term!). The most similar style I have seen is that of Nosferatu – another wonderful German offering of the silent era.
What this stylistic setting does reveal are the origins of cinema, and gives the feeling that you are watching a silent play that just happens to be filmed. The actors have the usual exaggerated expressions of love, fear, loathing and revenge – all in their pale faces and dark ringed eyes – again showing the origins of greasepaint and footlights. And that’s why films like this are so important – that’s why they deserve to live on in our modern times and not be dumped in some forgotten vault where the celluloid that contains them is left to rot, and we forget they ever existed. Films like these are evolutionary bridges to another time – a piece of history on a spool.
Is it a classic? Undoubtedly
A cult film? Probably, but hopefully not. A cult film for me implies a narrow niche of acceptance. This film deserves a much wider audience than that. If you appreciate wonderful films then make room for this. Even if you just watch it once in your lifetime, the 82 minutes it takes up will not be wasted. You will take something from this - that, I promise you.
