IMDb RATING
8.0/10
63K
YOUR RATING
Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
63K
YOUR RATING
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Videos1
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
- Alanas Alan
- (as Hans Heinz v. Twardowski)
Rudolf Lettinger
- Dr. Olsenas Dr. Olsen
- (as Rudolph Lettinger)
Hans Lanser-Rudolf
- Ein alter Mannas Ein alter Mann
- (uncredited)
- …
Ludwig Rex
- Ein Mörderas Ein Mörder
- (uncredited)
- …
Elsa Wagner
- Die Wirtinas Die Wirtin
- (uncredited)
- …
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Francis, a young man, recalls in his memory the horrible experiences he and his fiancée Jane recently went through. It is the annual fair in Holstenwall. 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. When Alan asks Cesare about his future, Cesare answers that he will die before dawn. The next morning Alan is found dead. Francis suspects Cesare of being the murderer, and starts spying on him and Dr. Caligari. The following night Cesare is going to stab Jane in her bed, but softens when he sees the beautiful woman, and instead of committing another murder, he abducts her. Jane's father awakens because of the noise, and he and some servants follow the fleeing Cesare. When Cesare cannot outrun his pursuers anymore, he gently places Jane down on the ground, and runs away. Francis and the police investigate the caravan of Dr. Caligari, but the doctor succeeds in slipping away. Francis pursues the fleeing Dr. Caligari, and sees him disappear into a madhouse. Francis enters the madhouse, where he is sure he will find the truth behind all these mysterious events. —Maths Jesperson {maths.jesperson1@comhem.se}
- Taglines
- The most amazing story ever screened.
- Genres
- Certificate
- K-16
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaWriter Hans Janowitz claims to have gotten the idea for the film when he was at a carnival one day. He saw a strange man lurking in the shadows. The next day he heard that a girl was brutally murdered there. He went to the funeral and saw the same man lurking around. He had no proof that the strange man was the murderer, but he fleshed the whole idea out into his film.
- GoofsIn the wide shot, the sign at the asylum reads "Insane Asylum," in English. In the close-up, the sign is written in German (Kino Blu-ray Disc version, may not be present in all editions of the film).
- Quotes
[last lines]
Dr. Caligari: Now I also know how to cure him.
- Alternate versionsUSA laserdisc reissue restores the original hand-drawn title cards that have been missing from every known print of the film since 1923. When first released on video in the United States, film was in black-and-white, and played back many scenes at double speed and featured different music. Although no scenes were cut out, the running time was reduced to only 51 minutes. The restored version restores the colour-tinting, restores the original title cards, and plays the film back at regular speed, returning the film to its original 69-minute running time.
- ConnectionsEdited into People Who Die Mysteriously in Their Sleep (2004)
Top review
messiah of the terror
The most important film in horror. Moody and shocking this chiller is the height of German Expressionist cinema and the prototype for whole genres in horror. Using violent contrasts of light and shadow, surreal settings and distorted camera angles to represent madness, chaos and psychosis, its influence is still seen even today in the likes of John Carpenter and the emerging actor and director Stephen Armourae, who has been also influenced by the film in his artwork and as the composer Stephen Armourae-Perry. Its twists towards the end put everyone from Hitchcock to the maker of 'The Village' into pale imitation. This film is now neglected by the public as it is a silent film. It really needs to be seen and appreciated more. Robert Wiene the director clearly inspired by the First World War transferred that shock and terror onto the screen with all its starkness. Hos purpose was to present moral ambiguity of the plot and action as a commentary on the paranoia, imbalance and uncertainty of post was Germany. And another parallel: not only has it influenced Stephen Armourae, he too is a hypnotist and recurring themes in his writings and plays are the moral ambiguities of insanity and culture, and German society of the twentieth century.
helpful•5523
- francisreidlight
- May 15, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Tohtori Caligarin kabinetti
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $18,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $8,811
- Gross worldwide
- $8,811
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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By what name was Tri Caligarin kabinetti (1920) officially released in India in English?
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