1919 - (6) Dr. Caligari

Next entry, a surrealistic and allegedly scary movie.

Title: Das kabinett des Dr. Caligari (Dr Caligaris cabinet.)
Instructor: Robert Wiene
Year: 1919
Runtime (My version): 1 hr. 11 minutes, finally a short movie.

Seen: Spring / Summer 2009

How i got this: This is on the internet archive i mentioned before.

Plot Outline: A man and his friend goes to a fair, where a somnambulist is exhibited by an iconic man called dr. Caligari, not only is the somnambulist a somnambulist, he is also able to foretell the future. The friend asks when he is going to die, and gets the answer "Tonight". Throw in a kidnapping, a mad doctor, and a mental asylum, and you got yourself a movie that made people scream in 1919.

First impression: This movie looks unique and special. I look forward to seeing it.
But on second thought: The style and plot of this movie is a bit tiresome.

General comments: The settings in this movie are all made in a surrealistic way, where both shapes and lighting gets distorted. This gives a unique feel to this movie. The plot, albeit not really catching me, is quite original, and credit must be given to the twist in the ending.

The camera is stationary, making this movie a bit like watching a play, only with faster changing of the background. But what a surreal atmosphere this play has. What the movie sets out to do, it does good, but I think its niche might be rather narrow, and to be frank, this was not a movie I enjoyed in particular.


That being said, the movie deserves its applause for its accomplishments , and the frame narrative works quite well, along with the surrealistic framework of the flashback, that constitutes most of this movie.

Music: Nice, sometimes eerie music, that really does help the movie.

Pictures: Interesting, an unlike anything I'd seen before, with nice special effects at points.

Essentially this is: One of those movies that only really appeals to some of us.

Why you should see this: As an early bold experiment with the movie medium, this deserves some attention.
Why you shouldn't see this: The movie just isn't that good.


Honorable mention: The decorators for this movie. In a time without LSD, this movie is quite the achievement.

Final rating: 58% It just doesn't talk to me, not really.

BTW: A somnambulist is a sleepwalker. Yep, fancy pantsy word.... Really artsy...