Directed by:
Robert WieneCinematography:
Willy HameisterComposer:
Alfredo AntoniniCast:
Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Fehér, Lil Dagover, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski, Rudolf LettingerVOD (1)
Plots(1)
In this silent, classic example of early German expressionism, this cinematic landmark relates the stylized tale of a Dr. Caligari, a fairground showman who hypnotizes an innocent villager--turning him into a sleepwalking "zombie"--and compels him to carry out fiendish murders. (official distributor synopsis)
Reviews (10)
Madness simply oozes from the Cabinet. Dark distorted images (the sets seem to have fallen out of a brain afflicted with a persecution complex and a twisted perception of reality) in the most classic sense. The incidental music is extraordinarily suggestive. A jazzy bizarreness combined with various sounds and complemented by a symphony orchestra. Incredibly intense.
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Now, this is a true horror classic and without doubt one of the most remarkable projects from the silent 1920s. To be more precise, while with the famous Nosferatu the audience of that time could at least run to the toilet, in the company of Professor Caligari only diapers could help them. Even after all these years, this is an extremely impressive film with sets and modest design that may seem ridiculous today, but in terms of atmosphere, actors and story, including an excellent twist, it has nothing to be ashamed of. 85%
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The forefather of all cinematic twists, visually one of the most original films ever, the cornerstone of cinematic horror and the best German movie of all time. Don't you think that this is easily worth five stars, despite the somewhat slow start, and even without the knowledge that it is one of the world's most important classics? P.S.: I watched the longer version that is listed here, but for comparison I also intend to get the one that lasts less than an hour.
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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari will be remembered primarily for its visuals, individual shots, and the play of light and shadow, which can still evoke a sense of the terrifying, unexpected, horrific, and insane even today. The expressionism that emanates from the setting at every turn highlights how intertwined the visual arts were with cinema at that time.
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I put off watching The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari for a really long time because I thought it was a silent film and I just prefer sound films - and even though I saw the edited version, which was enhanced with music, the film ended up surprising me beyond my expectations. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari artfully blends horror, action and detective fiction, making it – at least in my opinion – appealing to contemporary audiences. Moreover, the whole thing is wrapped up in an eerily beautiful set with distinctively made-up characters. A textbook example of German expressionism in film!
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Gallery (113)
Photo © Decla-Bioscop
![The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/160/422/160422575_115496.jpg)
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