The Golem: How He Came Into the World
March 24th, 2007
Before he made this 1920 version, director Paul Wegener, who also stars as the monster, had already adapted the Jewish folk tale about the Golem in 1915 and 1917. Individual moments of this third incarnation are great, but in a decade filled with fantastic movies, they’re somewhat few and far between. You know the story: the Rabbi breathes life into a clay statue to protect the ghetto, but he doesn’t read the fine print, and the Golem exacts a terrible price. 1920 was a long time ago (especially in movie years), and the film is worth appreciating as a museum piece and early horror classic more than something you’d watch for kicks. Some of The Golem prefigures Frankenstein and so forth, but from our vantage, most of it doesn’t feel terribly inspired. For one thing, it’s much too slow, and you could be excused for setting the DVD player to double speed and providing your own soundtrack. I do wish there were more movies with Rabbis who cast spells–and I don’t mean Matisyahu.
Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam. Paul Wegener, 1920. ***
After the jump, the entire movie via Google Video. It’s ok for taking a look, but if you’re serious about watching it, you’re much better off with the Kino DVD–it’s a restored version with better intertitles and tints.
Pandora’s Box
June 1st, 2006
Louise Brooks is incredible in GW Pabst’s lurid 1929 tale of a revue dancer, based on the Wedekind play. The plot lost me a bit in the end, but man, the first hour is perfection. Film Forum is about to show a restored version with live piano accompaniment. Read Jürgen’s review
Der Müde Tod
May 29th, 2006
Whoa–I started to think of Fritz Lang as a bit of a hack who happened to be in the right place at the right time, but this 1921 flick (The Weary Death, usually translated as Destiny) restored some of my faith. The story, courtesy of Thea von Harbou, is great maudlin melodrama, but the images are fantastic. With Lil Dagover, Walter Janssen, Bernhard Goetzke and Rudolf Klein-Rogge.
Die Weisse Hölle vom Piz Palü
March 29th, 2006
Like “Snakes on a Plane,” “the white hell of Piz Palü” has become a bit of a stock phrase around here, indicating the dangers of letting me administer the Netflix queue all by myself. Directed in 1929 by Dr. Arnold Franck, the father of the mountain film, and G.W. Pabst, this Alpine adventure stars Leni Riefenstahl as one of the many people who climb up the mountain and get into trouble. Some awesome avalanche footage, a lot of ice, majestic peaks, etc. Somebody’s wife falls into a glacier and freezes over.
Die Nibelungen: Siegfried
February 19th, 2006
Part one of Fritz Lang’s 1924 adaptation of the classic German legend (which is also the basis for Wagner’s Ring cycle.) Glorious cinematography and way oversized drama. This is the kind of epic tragedy Sith ought to be compared to.
