The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
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
- Not Rated
- 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
The film that changed my life
I saw this film on the same day that I saw Trainspotting, and those two films made me realise what cinema can really do. This is a film that tells it EXACTLY as the film makers see it. The warped visuals say more about its subjects than words ever could. The travelling fair is as twisted and ugly as all travelling fairs seem to be, and the expressionist sets and lighting sum up perfectly the sense of urban alienation in a very unnerving way. It's story is simple enough to be accessible, but don't expect a straightforward film - just let it speak to you.
helpful•6935
- Urchin
- Dec 6, 1998
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Кабінет доктора Каліґарі
- 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 7 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1920) officially released in India in English?
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