CG Arts & Animation / Space: Unit 2 / Film 1 The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Dir: 1920)

For a lm that is so dated (1920 - although the content and context is hard to accurately age) it seems odd at rst that it is so familiar. Then when one considers the lmic styles that have been so popular, it is easy to see where these Directors have drawn their inspiration. This is a lm of innovation, exploration and manipulation. Whilst these themes may be present in the lm, it is art direction and artistic vision, more than acting, story or script that leave their mark. Consider how new the cinematic experience is in 1920, not only for the audience, but also for the lmmaker. This is perhaps why Caligari is such a success. Because of the infancy of the art the Filmmaker had to rely on those theatrical tricks and trompe loeil that had fooled theatre audiences for so long. The backdrops are fascinating. It would have been wonderful to see them with ones own eyes, purely to see how clever they actually are. The effect in cinema is superb, though grainy. The viewer is constantly drawn in, shown where to look, and slightly puzzled at the odd angles and the way the cast use the set. In short, this is a triumph. The viewer was, and still is at the mercy of the director. A director who, using some skilled and visionary art direction was able to get the audience to emote.

CG Arts & Animation / Space: Unit 2 / Film 1 The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (Dir: 1920)

A case can be made that Caligari was the rst true horror lm Roger Ebert / Chicago Sun-Times It is difcult to imagine the lm done better with the benet of sound, colour, or any innovation since. BBC / Critic unknown A seminal horror movie, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was hailed upon its release as the rst lm to elevate the cinema from the realm of popular entertainment to that of high art. TV Movies Movie Guide / Critic unknown