I love the bizarre feel of this movie, everything is exaggerated and slightly off, you can tell it was a huge influence on Tim Burton. One of the best looking movies I’ve ever seen
I have always found it interesting that the golden age of silent horror began in Germany in 1920 with Caligari, starring Conrad Veidt, and ended in Hollywood in 1928 with The Man Who Laughs...starring Conrad Veidt. Looking forward to your Veidt Video.
This is a very fair and illuminating assessment of a foundational classic. I know the static and artificial feel are partly a function of the budget and rush to finish as well as an aesthetic choice, but I've always chosen to see these as necessary to convey the claustrophobic feel of being trapped in the cage of an unending psychological nightmare. The walls are always closing in, with no escape, as it were.
I love Caligari. My Grandma introduced me to these old and really quite beautiful movies. They scared me as a child but as an adult I see how amazing early movies are. This movie does hold a special place in my heart. Good memories sitting with my grandma.
I was lucky enough to first watch this film with absolutely NO idea about it other than it was famous and from the silent era -- so I was able to form my own opinions. I fell it love with it immediately and still love it to this day. To be fair, I've always been a fan of expressionism in art, meaning this was always going to be in my wheel house. I've seen a number of reviews since, but this video is easily the best. Thanks!
Liked your mentions of Conrad Veidt, best known for roles he played at the beginning of his career (“Caligari”) and at the end (Major Strasser in “Casablanca”). But if you want to see him at his peak, check out the 1940 “Thief of Baghdad.”
Absolutely fantastic film. I can understand where someone might argue that it's a case of style over substance, but I think the story is also really solid. I'm glad that you've found a new appreciation for it.
I had to think back all the movies this film influenced. Right off all the Burton movies, but I put a little thought into it and I came up with that no one else might have thought about. DAY OF THE DEAD (1985). Logan appearance very much reminded me of Caligari while Bub looked the sommnambulist Cessare.
Another excellent video. I first watched it 15 years ago on DVD and thought it was boring, strange and bizarre. But after rewatching it on Blu-Ray now is one of my favorite silent movies.Atmospheric,dream like and the plot twist was good for its time (so good Scorsese ripped out it in a way with Shutter Island). In hindshight the DVD score not the movie was the problem: it was too modern ,strange and irritating .The Blu Ray one was excellent and elevated the movie for me.
Great video, as always! Caligari is one of my favorite films of all time so I want to defend the exposition-dump scene a little bit: I always loved it when they read about the historic Caligari. It adds even more mystery to the world. Reading about this forgotten man who drove an honorable doctor insane even centuries after his death. This is such a cool addition to the lore of the film imo. Also, reading Caligari's diary wasn't supposed to be another reveal that he is Caligari, it was supposed to show his state of mind and tell the story from his perspective. That's what the whole "Du musst Caligari werden" sequence is about and why it's so genius. What I love most about it is that it's a story within a story within a story. It adds another layer of complexity and richness.
I agree it is an interesting idea. It's the sort of thing that would have worked better in a novel, where the audience is a bit more forgiving if the story goes off on a tangent for a while. Maybe if the "historic Caligari" had been foreshadowed earlier in the film...
Nailed it on the head, Caligari is just so damn influential & important to film what can you really say about it? You found a great way to break it down, the mystery of these old films adds to the otherworldly vibe they possess
Thank you. Your long term essay on "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is terrific. I first saw "Caligari" on a dupey 16mm print and was underwhelmed. I guess that I had been told so much, and had read so much about the film, that I built my expectations too high. I have since become a big fan and have re-viewed it numerous times. I don't disagree with your criticism on the static nature of much of the film. I don't know if it was a matter of budget and/or schedule, or a simple stylistic choice. The only place it bothers me is when Francis and the doctors are standing around reading Caligari's diary. Weimar cinema is a fascinating era to study. Thanks, again. Peace,
I really appreciate these longer videos. I know from experience that they can be a pain to put together. Your passion and level of detail are easily seen here and I thank you for that. Cheers, bro!
I am so glad to see this from you guys, your horror documentaries are easily the best on RUclips. You're keeping silent & classic cinema alive. Keep doing what you do!
Excellent summary. I admire Caligari, but like you I find 'Der Golem' more impactful (and more effective ) visually, as well as from a story perspective.
Caligari is probably my favourite movie of all time, I discovered it in a book on Horror Movies when I was 11 in 1975 & was just amazed at what it looked like, I tried to look like Cesere in my early teens, just in time for the rise of goth, Bela Lugosi's Dead had a still from it on the back cover! I was a ready made goth by the time it came out. I actually got my art college to rent the movie by collecting money from the other students when I was 17 & that was how I got to see it for the first time. I painted a night club in Luton as the set design in the 90s. This isn't just a fawning celebration of the movie, it's a direction of its properties & there's some really interesting history that I didn't know about in here too. I'm obviously going to be watching more Dark Corners videos now too. I must agree with pretty much all of your criticisms of it, the slowing down of the story as they read the book etc, but it still has a place in my heart. I love the fact that you do pick up on the possibility of the Dr Sonow acting like Caligari at the end giving us the double twist too. Not everyone `notices that
You know, I can't adore this channel enough. I mean, the amount of informations about fantastic movies I'm interested in, not just of the movies themselves but how they were made, the undeniable passion and respect you have towards the reviewed films, writers, actors and directors even if you don't particularly love some of it. That was another wonderful review, and actually I'm glad you focused a bit more on the historical factor about Wiene and the writers.
Excellent video! You speak with such eloquence and passion, it's refreshing to see someone who genuinely loves the medium of film. Caligari has never enthralled me, I don't love it, but the visuals and atmosphere have never left me. Scared the hell out of me as a child.
this was absolutely fascinating, I love german films from the 1920 and 1930s, they're so ominous, so foretelling of something terrible about to happen. They speak of a dark soul that terrifies, and would scare the entire world.
I am reminded of a case my abnormal psychology professor told us about: a reporter (?) entered an insane asylum and openly took notes about what he saw. The staff never figured out that he was sane. They thought he engaged in journaling activity. After he got out, thanks to an arrangement with a friend, he wrote an article about his experience. It was embarassing for the asylum. Later, the asylum claimed to have discovered some other sane persons pretending to be insane.
I absolutely love it, despite occasionally being difficult for me to follow. I've always accepted the odd ending as the result of a diseased mind coming up with the story... but as you mentioned, looking at Caligari at the end, you do start second-guessing your conclusions... which I love. First time I saw this, I was genuinely shocked to get to the final twist. I had been trying to make it all fit, and practically forgotten about our opening scene. It was like the scales falling off my eyes when the reveal happened. Such good storytelling!
I have to smile because just this afternoon I found a nice copy of the book "From Caligari to Hitler" about German film between the wars. These long DC videos are always excellent. Thank you!
When it comes to Wiene's self-identification and Nazi identification of him, what got you identified as Jewish under the Nazis was having at least two Jewish grandparents. You could be religiously Protestant, it didn't matter (if you didn't get a rare official exemption) if two of your grandparents had been born to Jewish families.
I showed this movie to my Dad recently, as he loves TCM. He said, "Huh, Caligari reminds me of Danny Devito as the Penguin," lol. I said that makes sense given how this movie clearly influenced Tim Burton.
I know these long form presentations are a huge undertaking and I commend yours and all the uncredited behind the scenes peoples effort. As far as your dislike of this movie I feel much the same about Joh Carpenters The Thing, but like this movie I will standby it as an important movie. So to paraphrase a famous quote I may not know movies but I know what I like
I have a very soft spot for works, in any medium, with a ton of potential, that come closer to reaching that potential than perhaps they have any right to, that paint evocative images, and that, in the end, inevitably fail at reaching the heights they aimed for. So yeah, I kinda love Caligari, though you’ve touched on a lot of the problems I’ll freely acknowledge with it.
I'll see your Caligari and raise you Nosferatu. That film created the Vampire films we've co.e to love. It also is far more horrifying as I told a Horror fan at work about this one and she was shocked at how terrifying the film was.
I agree that the film Caligari gets needlessly muddled towards the end, but I prefer it to Nosferatu, which, apart from a few iconic images, is stiffer, duller and with weaker acting. Oh, and thanks for including the Richard Strauss story - hadn't heard that one before!
I am very fortunate in that I heard of Caligari only once (in a book about special effects) before I saw it, so I saw it with almost the same blank slate mind as the viewers in 1920 must have. I wasn't tangled up in critics' preconceptions, I was just going, "What the fuuuuuuu..." Robin is right, the sets create a disquieting "our world, but wrong" impression. But it also works the other way around, they have the irresistible logic of a dream. The town square--is it a room or does it lead to rooms? Is it indoors or out?--is exactly as I used to imagine castle courtyards. You can't resist something that looks like our own subconscious.
Absolutely brilliant review Robin. Dr. Caligari is the original existential expressionist film. Brian DePalma took queues from this in his rock opera/horror knock up "Phantom of the Paradise". Creepy, elusive, emotionally gripping and astetically mesmerizing. Speaking of which, can you review that one?
I respect the honest take from someone who knows and understands their subject. Not another pretentious film snob who claims to love everything about this and talks about David Lynch’s brilliance because they think it makes them sound cool. 😀👍
Regarding other films that premiered in 1920, would love to see Fritz Lang's Das wandernde Bild and F. W. Murnau's Der Januskopf. Hopefully someday a copy of either is found.
Caligari definitely falls under the "admire" category for me. Good setup, great performance by Conrad Veidt (who REALLY needs his own special, as he left a big but hidden imprint on film) but it drags too much for me. As to other classics I can't stand? David Lynch's Blue Velvet...has way too many of the same pacing issues Caligari does.
Definitely in the admire camp. I'd heard so much about it, and so when I finally got to see it, I was also amazed by its visual style, but kind of let down by the story. In the world of horror, my classic that never quite worked for me is Halloween. I can recognize the craft, I can appreciate it, but when it gets down to it, I just am not a fan of slasher movies, even the good ones. I don't dislike it, but I'm probably one of the few people who prefers Prince of Darkness.
It's funny this mentioned the connection between Frankenstein (1931) and Caligari because the orignal director of Frankenstein, Robert Florey orignal vision for his take was going to be heavily inspired by Caligari.
Interesting story of the history of Caligari. Personally I love the film. In fact I would go so far as to say it is the greatest horror film ever made.
I have similar "issues" with Nosferatu. I admire the film, of course, it's iconic for a reason, but even though I've seen it in the theatre with live music, twice!, it still doesn't quite captivate me. Here too people often attribute its flaws (corny dialogue, static staging, etc.) to it's age, but likewise I've seen older or contemporary films that are far more dynamic and well acted (The Phantom Carriage f.ex.). I seem to be among the few people that much prefer the remake, imperfect as it is, and I look forward to seeing Egger's version this winter. Of course, Max Schreck is simply amazing as Orlok, that I don't dispute.
@@moongirl786 The writer of the Wizard of Oz said he was influenced by the device used in a silent film called Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), so around the same time.
I've been able to forgive still camera shots in horror films like Dracula (1931) if the atmosphere is great. But your thoughts on the multiple twists about Caligari (before the ending) are very eye-opening. In fact, knowing the history now has been eye-opening. I still love the film and rank it highly among my favorite horror films. But perhaps those prior twists about Caligari are manipulative. Maybe it really is Caligari and he's pretending to be a doctor who's using a historical Caligari as a cover? I know, sounds convoluted.
Thank tò this review of yours I do know much more than I thought about this movie. Thank you so much. I must Say I've been pretty lazy (😓😅) because I was attracted since late teen Age by the expressionist cinema (but I read many articles on magazines ages ago 😅) and now I really want tò see this one, scene by scene. It must be a feast for the eyes. 😃
Caligari's narrative has always confused me, & I am perpetually fascinated to hear what other folks think about it. I read years & years ago in David J. Skal's books that the initial idea was to use Cesare as a symbol of the German Empire's populace with Caligari as a stand-in for the ruling class, all in somber reflection after the colossal devastation of WWI... Such a reading suggests that to 'become Caligari' would be a message in support of a functional democracy over mechanized authoritarianism, but that's most likely just what I wish the movie would have posed to its audience. *Le Sigh* p.s. - as for other films that feature style over substance, I'll just say ~ TARANTINO ~
Looking at horror "classics" I don't love, my first thought is on The Lost Boys. I like it, but it always seemed like studio-mandated product to me and nostalgia seems to have overshadowed its qualities. I think this even more now that I've watched the excellently deranged Near Dark for the first time, which came out the same year.
I love Caligari but I'm not much of a fan of Nosferatu. I'd say the static camera was utterly necessary because of the sets; if you moved the camera, you would lose the illusion. I wanted to hear more about the movie itself so hopefully this is just a dry run and we'll get a real video later. I can't believe someone who would go on and on about Lewton couldn't be bothered to do anything with Caligari.
Cat People (1942) is a classic that I appreciate, but I don’t particularly like it. To me, there is such a thing as being too understated, especially with a premise that is so bonkers. Its few atmospheric set pieces are undermined by the surrounding world of the film - a world that’s so banal and totally void of atmosphere when we should be feeling Irene’s brooding fear. The world of the movie should make us feel that an insane ancient legend about cat monsters MIGHT be possible. By the time any supernatural element comes up, it feels out of place with the movie that came before it. There’s restraint, and then there’s giving us nothing.
![Gucci Mane & Sexyy Red - You Don't Love Me [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/j7IBqyFKT4c/mqdefault.jpg)
I love the bizarre feel of this movie, everything is exaggerated and slightly off, you can tell it was a huge influence on Tim Burton. One of the best looking movies I’ve ever seen
These long form presentations are my favorite
The definitive documentary about this landmark in movie history. Bravo.
I have always found it interesting that the golden age of silent horror began in Germany in 1920 with Caligari, starring Conrad Veidt, and ended in Hollywood in 1928 with The Man Who Laughs...starring Conrad Veidt. Looking forward to your Veidt Video.
"One of the most talked-about films of the silent era" sounds like it should be an oxymoron, but it certainly applies here.
I literally went "Oooooooo"! When I saw you were going to talk about this film. 😊 It one of my favorites.
This is a very fair and illuminating assessment of a foundational classic. I know the static and artificial feel are partly a function of the budget and rush to finish as well as an aesthetic choice, but I've always chosen to see these as necessary to convey the claustrophobic feel of being trapped in the cage of an unending psychological nightmare. The walls are always closing in, with no escape, as it were.
I love Caligari. My Grandma introduced me to these old and really quite beautiful movies. They scared me as a child but as an adult I see how amazing early movies are. This movie does hold a special place in my heart. Good memories sitting with my grandma.
The fact that the history and making of Caligari is as mysterious and cryptic as the movie itself is poetic. It's like it was meant to be
I was lucky enough to first watch this film with absolutely NO idea about it other than it was famous and from the silent era -- so I was able to form my own opinions. I fell it love with it immediately and still love it to this day. To be fair, I've always been a fan of expressionism in art, meaning this was always going to be in my wheel house. I've seen a number of reviews since, but this video is easily the best. Thanks!
OMG YES! I’ve been a Fan of this channel when I saw the ICONIC Nosferatu Video
Liked your mentions of Conrad Veidt, best known for roles he played at the beginning of his career (“Caligari”) and at the end (Major Strasser in “Casablanca”). But if you want to see him at his peak, check out the 1940 “Thief of Baghdad.”
Our next video will look more at Conrad's films
@@DarkCornersReviews I look forward to that! :D
Absolutely fantastic film. I can understand where someone might argue that it's a case of style over substance, but I think the story is also really solid. I'm glad that you've found a new appreciation for it.
I had to think back all the movies this film influenced. Right off all the Burton movies, but I put a little thought into it and I came up with that no one else might have thought about. DAY OF THE DEAD (1985). Logan appearance very much reminded me of Caligari while Bub looked the sommnambulist Cessare.
Another excellent video.
I first watched it 15 years ago on DVD and thought it was boring, strange and bizarre.
But after rewatching it on Blu-Ray now is one of my favorite silent movies.Atmospheric,dream like and the plot twist was good for its time (so good Scorsese ripped out it in a way with Shutter Island).
In hindshight the DVD score not the movie was the problem: it was too modern ,strange and irritating .The Blu Ray one was excellent and elevated the movie for me.
Great video, as always! Caligari is one of my favorite films of all time so I want to defend the exposition-dump scene a little bit: I always loved it when they read about the historic Caligari. It adds even more mystery to the world. Reading about this forgotten man who drove an honorable doctor insane even centuries after his death. This is such a cool addition to the lore of the film imo. Also, reading Caligari's diary wasn't supposed to be another reveal that he is Caligari, it was supposed to show his state of mind and tell the story from his perspective. That's what the whole "Du musst Caligari werden" sequence is about and why it's so genius. What I love most about it is that it's a story within a story within a story. It adds another layer of complexity and richness.
Nice comment. I agree.
I agree it is an interesting idea. It's the sort of thing that would have worked better in a novel, where the audience is a bit more forgiving if the story goes off on a tangent for a while. Maybe if the "historic Caligari" had been foreshadowed earlier in the film...
Nailed it on the head, Caligari is just so damn influential & important to film what can you really say about it? You found a great way to break it down, the mystery of these old films adds to the otherworldly vibe they possess
I think Caligari is the only silent film I actually have felt swept up by. I bet it was loads of fun painting those backdrops.
Thank you. Your long term essay on "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" is terrific. I first saw "Caligari" on a dupey 16mm print and was underwhelmed. I guess that I had been told so much, and had read so much about the film, that I built my expectations too high. I have since become a big fan and have re-viewed it numerous times. I don't disagree with your criticism on the static nature of much of the film. I don't know if it was a matter of budget and/or schedule, or a simple stylistic choice. The only place it bothers me is when Francis and the doctors are standing around reading Caligari's diary. Weimar cinema is a fascinating era to study. Thanks, again. Peace,
We're lucky today to be able to see good prints of this. I, like you, grew up in the old days when the available copies were abysmal.
Must have been an exciting time for cinema, with nobody ever seeing anything like this before.
That's one of the things I love about this era; everything is new. You got to go to work in the morning and invent the world.
I really appreciate these longer videos. I know from experience that they can be a pain to put together. Your passion and level of detail are easily seen here and I thank you for that. Cheers, bro!
I am so glad to see this from you guys, your horror documentaries are easily the best on RUclips. You're keeping silent & classic cinema alive. Keep doing what you do!
Our pleasure!
I waited all day for this and when I got home I watched this while taking a bath and drinking 😂 highlight of my day
A terrific essay/video on this classic movie. Thanks so much!!
Fantastic Special! Nicely done.
As for the question at the end: "Eyes without a Face."
It took this long for a Dark Corners review of Caligari.
When I started film school in 1973, this film was the first one shown to students.
Excellent summary. I admire Caligari, but like you I find 'Der Golem' more impactful (and more effective ) visually, as well as from a story perspective.
Caligari is probably my favourite movie of all time, I discovered it in a book on Horror Movies when I was 11 in 1975 & was just amazed at what it looked like, I tried to look like Cesere in my early teens, just in time for the rise of goth, Bela Lugosi's Dead had a still from it on the back cover! I was a ready made goth by the time it came out. I actually got my art college to rent the movie by collecting money from the other students when I was 17 & that was how I got to see it for the first time. I painted a night club in Luton as the set design in the 90s. This isn't just a fawning celebration of the movie, it's a direction of its properties & there's some really interesting history that I didn't know about in here too. I'm obviously going to be watching more Dark Corners videos now too. I must agree with pretty much all of your criticisms of it, the slowing down of the story as they read the book etc, but it still has a place in my heart. I love the fact that you do pick up on the possibility of the Dr Sonow acting like Caligari at the end giving us the double twist too. Not everyone `notices that
You know, I can't adore this channel enough. I mean, the amount of informations about fantastic movies I'm interested in, not just of the movies themselves but how they were made, the undeniable passion and respect you have towards the reviewed films, writers, actors and directors even if you don't particularly love some of it.
That was another wonderful review, and actually I'm glad you focused a bit more on the historical factor about Wiene and the writers.
ruclips.net/p/OLAK5uy_mhEZ3UI0H-zJgtoStnprn7r4_ra9WDwM4
Yeeeees I was waiting for you to take on Caligari! Superb, as usual.
Excellent video! You speak with such eloquence and passion, it's refreshing to see someone who genuinely loves the medium of film. Caligari has never enthralled me, I don't love it, but the visuals and atmosphere have never left me. Scared the hell out of me as a child.
The painted scenery gives it the look of a stage play.
this was absolutely fascinating, I love german films from the 1920 and 1930s, they're so ominous, so foretelling of something terrible about to happen. They speak of a dark soul that terrifies, and would scare the entire world.
I am reminded of a case my abnormal psychology professor told us about: a reporter (?) entered an insane asylum and openly took notes about what he saw. The staff never figured out that he was sane. They thought he engaged in journaling activity. After he got out, thanks to an arrangement with a friend, he wrote an article about his experience. It was embarassing for the asylum. Later, the asylum claimed to have discovered some other sane persons pretending to be insane.
As a visual artist I must say that the sets are what have always impressed me the most about this film.
a good idea would be to review Italy's best silent film CALABRIA, a masterpiece of silent filmaking
I'm with you, Robin. I respect it, admire it, appreciate it. But I can't honestly say I like it. Great piece!
I absolutely love it, despite occasionally being difficult for me to follow. I've always accepted the odd ending as the result of a diseased mind coming up with the story... but as you mentioned, looking at Caligari at the end, you do start second-guessing your conclusions... which I love.
First time I saw this, I was genuinely shocked to get to the final twist. I had been trying to make it all fit, and practically forgotten about our opening scene. It was like the scales falling off my eyes when the reveal happened. Such good storytelling!
I really need to see this one. It looks and sounds so interesting. Thanks for covering it!
Thanks. As someone said of hamlet, "'caligari' plumbs the depths....yet it's own depths cannot be plumbed". ❤
Thank you so much for this excellent review! Love and greetings from Germany!
I can't wait! But I suppose I'll have to.
I have to smile because just this afternoon I found a nice copy of the book "From Caligari to Hitler" about German film between the wars. These long DC videos are always excellent. Thank you!
I was lucky enough to attend a showing of the film with live music by The Tiger Lillies. An absolutely perfect pairing.
Superb video - thank you!
Outstanding video!
There's nothing new under the sun. If a marketing firm employed a campaign with such a slogan, they'd be called 'original' and ''disruptive'
When it comes to Wiene's self-identification and Nazi identification of him, what got you identified as Jewish under the Nazis was having at least two Jewish grandparents. You could be religiously Protestant, it didn't matter (if you didn't get a rare official exemption) if two of your grandparents had been born to Jewish families.
I love your channel, great episode ❤
I showed this movie to my Dad recently, as he loves TCM. He said, "Huh, Caligari reminds me of Danny Devito as the Penguin," lol. I said that makes sense given how this movie clearly influenced Tim Burton.
This movie is a brilliant work of art. Absolutely love it!!
That was fascinating, thank you!
This is my favorite silent horror film.
The music video for the song 'Otherside' by Red Hot Chilli Peppers also is strongly influenced by Dr. Caligari.
I hope I'm half as captivated by the film as I was by this video.
You should do Millenium (1989) - "They can go anywhere....ah ken feel it". Great, daft fun
I know these long form presentations are a huge undertaking and I commend yours and all the uncredited behind the scenes peoples effort.
As far as your dislike of this movie I feel much the same about Joh Carpenters The Thing, but like this movie I will standby it as an important movie. So to paraphrase a famous quote I may not know movies but I know what I like
Gotta love these psychological horrors that unintentional predict the future.
Never knew you had a twin brother.
That's me. Looking back it is misleading.
I have a very soft spot for works, in any medium, with a ton of potential, that come closer to reaching that potential than perhaps they have any right to, that paint evocative images, and that, in the end, inevitably fail at reaching the heights they aimed for.
So yeah, I kinda love Caligari, though you’ve touched on a lot of the problems I’ll freely acknowledge with it.
I'll see your Caligari and raise you Nosferatu. That film created the Vampire films we've co.e to love. It also is far more horrifying as I told a Horror fan at work about this one and she was shocked at how terrifying the film was.
I agree that the film Caligari gets needlessly muddled towards the end, but I prefer it to Nosferatu, which, apart from a few iconic images, is stiffer, duller and with weaker acting.
Oh, and thanks for including the Richard Strauss story - hadn't heard that one before!
… up to this moment, I had always believed, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari was a book, not a film. 😂
I love "Caligari." But I also appreciate the thoughtful criticisms of those who don't. 🙂
somehow surprisingly this has escaped my viewing which I'll hopefully fix during the month of Halloween as I like Veidt.
I am very fortunate in that I heard of Caligari only once (in a book about special effects) before I saw it, so I saw it with almost the same blank slate mind as the viewers in 1920 must have. I wasn't tangled up in critics' preconceptions, I was just going, "What the fuuuuuuu..." Robin is right, the sets create a disquieting "our world, but wrong" impression. But it also works the other way around, they have the irresistible logic of a dream. The town square--is it a room or does it lead to rooms? Is it indoors or out?--is exactly as I used to imagine castle courtyards. You can't resist something that looks like our own subconscious.
love the film its in my top 50 films I constantly watch
The song "Living Dead Girl" by Rob Zombie, was heavily inspired by "The Cabinet Of Caligari".
The accompanying video is.
Cesare is currently living on in a web series called Bigtop Burger, it's quite adorable, lol.
The OG King Kong is the only other movie I can think of that may well be overshadowed by its own reputation.
Absolutely brilliant review Robin. Dr. Caligari is the original existential expressionist film. Brian DePalma took queues from this in his rock opera/horror knock up "Phantom of the Paradise". Creepy, elusive, emotionally gripping and astetically mesmerizing. Speaking of which, can you review that one?
We have vague plans to do a Phantom of the Opera special somewhere down the line and Phantom of Paradise would be included in that, I think
I respect the honest take from someone who knows and understands their subject. Not another pretentious film snob who claims to love everything about this and talks about David Lynch’s brilliance because they think it makes them sound cool. 😀👍
Regarding other films that premiered in 1920, would love to see Fritz Lang's Das wandernde Bild and F. W. Murnau's Der Januskopf. Hopefully someday a copy of either is found.
Fingers crossed.
I want to see Der Januskopf so badly. I'm willing to bet it was the best interpretation of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
I live for Dark Corners Classics
Caligari definitely falls under the "admire" category for me. Good setup, great performance by Conrad Veidt (who REALLY needs his own special, as he left a big but hidden imprint on film) but it drags too much for me.
As to other classics I can't stand? David Lynch's Blue Velvet...has way too many of the same pacing issues Caligari does.
There is a Conrad Veidt video coming
@@DarkCornersReviews Awesome! Conny deserves the love!
Definitely in the admire camp. I'd heard so much about it, and so when I finally got to see it, I was also amazed by its visual style, but kind of let down by the story.
In the world of horror, my classic that never quite worked for me is Halloween. I can recognize the craft, I can appreciate it, but when it gets down to it, I just am not a fan of slasher movies, even the good ones. I don't dislike it, but I'm probably one of the few people who prefers Prince of Darkness.
What a first question to ask...🤣
I always though the movie was "interesting". The plot was "eh ok". I did love the artwork and set design. That's about all I can say.
It's funny this mentioned the connection between Frankenstein (1931) and Caligari because the orignal director of Frankenstein, Robert Florey orignal vision for his take was going to be heavily inspired by Caligari.
James Whale screened a few expressionist films before directing it.
@@DarkCornersReviews I'm talking about Robert Florey the first director for Frankenstein before he left for presumably creative differences.
Interesting story of the history of Caligari. Personally I love the film. In fact I would go so far as to say it is the greatest horror film ever made.
No place is safe on the internet
I have similar "issues" with Nosferatu. I admire the film, of course, it's iconic for a reason, but even though I've seen it in the theatre with live music, twice!, it still doesn't quite captivate me. Here too people often attribute its flaws (corny dialogue, static staging, etc.) to it's age, but likewise I've seen older or contemporary films that are far more dynamic and well acted (The Phantom Carriage f.ex.). I seem to be among the few people that much prefer the remake, imperfect as it is, and I look forward to seeing Egger's version this winter. Of course, Max Schreck is simply amazing as Orlok, that I don't dispute.
Now make your brother do the next review 😂
So, The Cabinet of Caligari inspired The Wizard of Oz?
Perhaps the ending of the 1939 movie...
@@moongirl786 The writer of the Wizard of Oz said he was influenced by the device used in a silent film called Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), so around the same time.
Most talked about...I think SW might have something to say about that...
I've been able to forgive still camera shots in horror films like Dracula (1931) if the atmosphere is great. But your thoughts on the multiple twists about Caligari (before the ending) are very eye-opening. In fact, knowing the history now has been eye-opening. I still love the film and rank it highly among my favorite horror films. But perhaps those prior twists about Caligari are manipulative. Maybe it really is Caligari and he's pretending to be a doctor who's using a historical Caligari as a cover? I know, sounds convoluted.
Thank tò this review of yours I do know much more than I thought about this movie.
Thank you so much.
I must Say I've been pretty lazy (😓😅) because I was attracted since late teen Age by the expressionist cinema (but I read many articles on magazines ages ago 😅) and now I really want tò see this one, scene by scene. It must be a feast for the eyes. 😃
It's definitely that
Caligari's narrative has always confused me, & I am perpetually fascinated to hear what other folks think about it. I read years & years ago in David J. Skal's books that the initial idea was to use Cesare as a symbol of the German Empire's populace with Caligari as a stand-in for the ruling class, all in somber reflection after the colossal devastation of WWI... Such a reading suggests that to 'become Caligari' would be a message in support of a functional democracy over mechanized authoritarianism, but that's most likely just what I wish the movie would have posed to its audience. *Le Sigh*
p.s. - as for other films that feature style over substance, I'll just say ~ TARANTINO ~
So the Assistant Science Advisor is your niece?
Yes. She wants to be a food scientist.
@@DarkCornersReviews, great for her! Lots of chemistry with that, then.
I have to say I've always been put off of watching Caligari - more of a "Son of The Sheik" gal myself - but now I'm intrigued!
Looking at horror "classics" I don't love, my first thought is on The Lost Boys. I like it, but it always seemed like studio-mandated product to me and nostalgia seems to have overshadowed its qualities. I think this even more now that I've watched the excellently deranged Near Dark for the first time, which came out the same year.
Try watching The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari whilst drinking a Cabernet and eating Calamari.
There are few more underappreciated in the film industry than the "jobbing" members of crews and actors.
I love Caligari but I'm not much of a fan of Nosferatu.
I'd say the static camera was utterly necessary because of the sets; if you moved the camera, you would lose the illusion. I wanted to hear more about the movie itself so hopefully this is just a dry run and we'll get a real video later.
I can't believe someone who would go on and on about Lewton couldn't be bothered to do anything with Caligari.
Uncle Uncanny Valley!
For a few years there it was really hurtful!
So SHutter Island is just Caligari then?
Cat People (1942) is a classic that I appreciate, but I don’t particularly like it. To me, there is such a thing as being too understated, especially with a premise that is so bonkers. Its few atmospheric set pieces are undermined by the surrounding world of the film - a world that’s so banal and totally void of atmosphere when we should be feeling Irene’s brooding fear. The world of the movie should make us feel that an insane ancient legend about cat monsters MIGHT be possible. By the time any supernatural element comes up, it feels out of place with the movie that came before it. There’s restraint, and then there’s giving us nothing.
Fantastic doc 👌
☮ Impresionante flow 🎸 Échale un ojo a mi trabajo! 👊