The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

1920

1h 17m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

1.7K

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Drama

Horror

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Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. Francis and his friend Alan visit The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, an exhibit where the mysterious doctor shows the somnambulist Cesare, and awakens him for some moments from his death-like sleep.

Directors

Robert Wiene

Writers

Hans Janowitz(screenplay by)

Carl Mayer(screenplay by)

Stars

Werner Krauss

Conrad Veidt

Friedrich Fehér

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Videos6

Photos101

Top cast

Dr. Caligari

Cesare

Francis

Jane

Hans Heinrich von Twardowski

Alan

Rudolf Lettinger

Dr. Olsen

Henri Peters-Arnolds

Young Doctor (uncredited)

Rudolf Klein-Rogge

Criminal (uncredited)

Hans Lanser-Rudolf

Old Man (uncredited)

Ludwig Rex

Murderer (uncredited)

Elsa Wagner

Landlady (uncredited)

Directors

Robert Wiene

Writers

Hans Janowitz(screenplay by)

Carl Mayer(screenplay by)

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8/10

This is a seriously creepy affair that follows the story of the young "Franzis" (Friedrich Feher) who goes to a fairground one night with his friend "Alan" (Hans Heinrich von Twardowski). They happen upon the performance of the coffin-dwelling somnambulist prophesier "Cesare" (Conrad Veidt) and his spooky master "Dr. Caligari" (Werner Krauss). "Casare" - who is all but skeletal in appearance, portends looming disaster for "Alan", and when he is found murdered next morning suspicions turn to this enigmatic pair- even though there is no real "evidence" at all! Things take an even darker twist when the anaemic seer predicts that "Jane" (Lil Dagover), a gentle creature admired by both the deceased and his surviving friend, is not long for this mortal coil either... It falls to "Franzis" to solve the mystery and save his love from... The story is bleak at times, the settings stark and angular, frequently almost abstract in appearance. Veidt is outstanding, as if he were in a nightmare in an Escher drawing, or some other such challenging structure for our minds to comprehend; and Krauss, too, with his maniacal eyes and almost orchestra leading hand gestures is wonderful too. The photography has a tendency to draw out the shots a little too much, but again - they help create a genuine sense of scariness. Nothing gory, or bloody - just eerie, and enormously effective. Unlike so many films that have attained critical acclaim, or cult status, this is actually a really good story with strong acting talent and wonderfully vivid visuals from Robert Wiene (and Willy Hameister) that really is amongst the best of it's - or any other - genre..

Geronimo196706 Jun, 2022