The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) directed by Robert Wiene
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is one of the very first horror films and can be said to be the artistic predecessor of films like Nosferatu, Metropolis and M with its startling German Expressionist style, which in itself is the artistic ancestor of film noir and all the great films from that genre. It is also one of the very first films to incorporate a frame story narrative, that is a story told within a story, and the idea of a twist ending. So obviously this is a historically significant film but above all it is still a fine movie some 90 years later and a pretty sweet work of art.
The story begins with Francis telling a story to his friend setting up a flashback narrative. We are transported to the town of Holstenwall where Francis and his friend Allan attend a traveling carnival. One of the attractions features a Dr. Caligari who is in command of a somnambulist, or sleepwalker, named Cesare who's been asleep for 23 years. Cesare is a zombie-like being that draws inspiration from Frankenstein's monster and Dracula. I could not help but think of Nosferatu when Cesare is presented in his coffin. Dr. Caligari says that Cesare can answer any question so Allan boldly asks when he will die. Cesare ominously replies, "Before dawn." In a great scene of classic horror shortly after we see a dark shadowy figure approach Allan at his bed and kill him. We see the murder in frightening fashion in silhouettes where the figure chokes and stabs the victim to death. This is just one of a series of bizarre murders that have occurred since the arrival of the carnival. Immediately Francis suspects Dr. Caligari and Cesare of foul play.
It is revealed that Caligari is a madman who uses the sleepwalking Cesare to do his evil biddings. An even more startling discovery is that this doctor is the head of a mental asylum. In another classic horror scene Cesare is sent to kill Francis's fiance Jane. Struck by her beauty he instead kidnaps her and in a race against time Francis must uncover Caligari's secret and get back Jane. There is a twist in the end that I will not give away except that Shutter Island was probably influenced by this film in some way or another. Overall the plot is an intriguing horror suspense thriller. As an hour long silent film it may not have the depth or complexities of a more modern thriller but it is every bit as atmospheric and moody.
One of the lasting impressions of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is its strange German Expressionist visual style. The world it presents is a strange place with crazy exaggerated angles, jagged edges, and warped dimensions. The set pieces are like strange abstract paintings which gives the film a twisted sense of reality where everything is out of joint and nothing is what it seems. Dark elongated shadows dominate this world adding to the sense of doubt, mystery and intrigue. It is an unsettling world of fantasy dreams that could instantaneously turn into a nightmare at any moment.
Several days ago I watched The Passion of Joan of Arc and commented (okay... complained) about its lack of a musical score. The musical score composed for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is fantastically eerie and ominous and sets the mood just right.
Seen today, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari might seem a little tepid in the thrills department but I think it offers so much more in terms of atmosphere. I wouldn't say there are any really scary scenes or images but rather unsettling ones that linger with you. Speaking on a purely artistic and historical sense I give this film plenty of props. But would I really care to see this film or Nosferatu over Silence of the Lambs or Se7en? No (and I don't think it would be a particularly difficult decision), but I still appreciate these old classics a lot.
Grade: B+
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is one of the very first horror films and can be said to be the artistic predecessor of films like Nosferatu, Metropolis and M with its startling German Expressionist style, which in itself is the artistic ancestor of film noir and all the great films from that genre. It is also one of the very first films to incorporate a frame story narrative, that is a story told within a story, and the idea of a twist ending. So obviously this is a historically significant film but above all it is still a fine movie some 90 years later and a pretty sweet work of art.
The story begins with Francis telling a story to his friend setting up a flashback narrative. We are transported to the town of Holstenwall where Francis and his friend Allan attend a traveling carnival. One of the attractions features a Dr. Caligari who is in command of a somnambulist, or sleepwalker, named Cesare who's been asleep for 23 years. Cesare is a zombie-like being that draws inspiration from Frankenstein's monster and Dracula. I could not help but think of Nosferatu when Cesare is presented in his coffin. Dr. Caligari says that Cesare can answer any question so Allan boldly asks when he will die. Cesare ominously replies, "Before dawn." In a great scene of classic horror shortly after we see a dark shadowy figure approach Allan at his bed and kill him. We see the murder in frightening fashion in silhouettes where the figure chokes and stabs the victim to death. This is just one of a series of bizarre murders that have occurred since the arrival of the carnival. Immediately Francis suspects Dr. Caligari and Cesare of foul play.
It is revealed that Caligari is a madman who uses the sleepwalking Cesare to do his evil biddings. An even more startling discovery is that this doctor is the head of a mental asylum. In another classic horror scene Cesare is sent to kill Francis's fiance Jane. Struck by her beauty he instead kidnaps her and in a race against time Francis must uncover Caligari's secret and get back Jane. There is a twist in the end that I will not give away except that Shutter Island was probably influenced by this film in some way or another. Overall the plot is an intriguing horror suspense thriller. As an hour long silent film it may not have the depth or complexities of a more modern thriller but it is every bit as atmospheric and moody.
One of the lasting impressions of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is its strange German Expressionist visual style. The world it presents is a strange place with crazy exaggerated angles, jagged edges, and warped dimensions. The set pieces are like strange abstract paintings which gives the film a twisted sense of reality where everything is out of joint and nothing is what it seems. Dark elongated shadows dominate this world adding to the sense of doubt, mystery and intrigue. It is an unsettling world of fantasy dreams that could instantaneously turn into a nightmare at any moment.
Several days ago I watched The Passion of Joan of Arc and commented (okay... complained) about its lack of a musical score. The musical score composed for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is fantastically eerie and ominous and sets the mood just right.
Seen today, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari might seem a little tepid in the thrills department but I think it offers so much more in terms of atmosphere. I wouldn't say there are any really scary scenes or images but rather unsettling ones that linger with you. Speaking on a purely artistic and historical sense I give this film plenty of props. But would I really care to see this film or Nosferatu over Silence of the Lambs or Se7en? No (and I don't think it would be a particularly difficult decision), but I still appreciate these old classics a lot.
Grade: B+
This is a fun weird movie. And creepy. Definitely creepy. I agree with a lot of what you say.
ReplyDeleteThis movie introduced to me the concept of a somnambulist, for whatever that is worth. Ha ha.