The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Das Kabinett des Dr. Caligari in German) is a groundbreaking 1919 silent film directed by Robert Wiene. It stars Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Friedrich Fehér, Lil Dagover and Hans Heinrich von Twardowski.
The movie was written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer.
Producer Erich Pommer wanted to have Fritz Lang direct this film, but Lang couldn't work it into his schedule, so it went to Wiene.
The film was much noted for its Expressionist style, with wild, distorted painted sets and harsh lighting and is an excellent example of film communication through mise en scène.
It tells the story of deranged doctor (Caligari), and his faithful somnambulist Cesare. The story centers around Caligari and Cesare, and their connection to a string of murders in a small quiet German town in the mountains.
Caligari is the first modern horror film, symbolized by its dramatic acting, scenery, and music (mise en scène). Caligari is also the first film to fully express German Expressionism. The opposite of impressionism, expressionism centers on the artist's vision rather than on the viewer's impression. German Expressionism is dotted with dark images, sharp contrasting figures, jagged geometry, and chiaroscuro. All of these artistic devices serve to express the despair felt in Germany after the First World War. Other German expressionist movies include Metropolis and Nosferatu.
External links
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- The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Set/9078/cindex.htm) - Retelling of the movie
- Das Kabinett des Doktor Caligari (1920) (http://www.film.u-net.com/Movies/Reviews/Cabinet_Caligari.html) - Review
- Caligari: A German Silent Masterpiece (http://www.filmtribune.com/caligari.html)de:Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari
es:El gabinete del Doctor Caligari (película) pl:Gabinet doktora Caligari