The Golem (1920)

[Scott]

THE GOLEM (1920) - Amazing silent film made in Germany. This is a real gem as you get a bit of film history and a probable portrait of German society (and Europeans, and other national peoples) of the period all wrapped up in one film. The story is set in 1600's and based on Jewish folklore.

Not to mention that this probably influenced the film FRANKENSTEIN (1932) (not the story). They really made a lot of good film during that period NOSERFRATU (1922), CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920), and METROPOLIS (1927). Film runs at approximately 90 minutes.





Post Edited (09-21-05 21:28)

[dean]

I always enjoy a good silent film, particularly those of the horror genre [I just got Nosferatu on DVD last week actually]

It's always a treat, especially in some films with the set design.  Particularly on German expressionist films like Metropolis.  Have yet to see The Golem, since its a little harder to find around here, but its on my 'silent films to see list'.   I've been slogging my way through famous silent films for the last few months now gradually, from Birth of a Nation to the surrealist film Un chien andalou [which is pretty nutty] so I hope to get to it sooner rather than later.

[Jim H]

Wow, I was under the impression this one was lost (I read something a number of years ago that had it listed that way).  Glad to hear that was a mistake.

[Mr. Hockstatter]

There was a movie about a golem that I remember seeing as a kid.  It was from 1978, the second (and last) episode in a series called The World Beyond.  Somebody made a golem and it was chasing people around a cabin.  They cut it's hand off in the door when it was trying to get in, then they later found out that salt would destroy it.  That was a freaky cool movie.  Wich they would come out with it on DVD.

[Menard]

Mr. Hockstatter wrote:

> There was a movie about a golem that I remember seeing as a
> kid.  It was from 1978, the second (and last) episode in a
> series called The World Beyond.  Somebody made a golem and it
> was chasing people around a cabin.  They cut it's hand off in
> the door when it was trying to get in, then they later found
> out that salt would destroy it.  That was a freaky cool movie.
> Wich they would come out with it on DVD.

Ah...so somebody else remembers that pilot.

From what I recall, if the series had continued, the main character had died in a motorcycle accident, but was allowed to come back. It was his mission to encounter paranormal happenings and deal with them.

[AndyC]

I remember that one as well. Pretty freaky. As I recall, the golem in that show either had no face, or a really basic one. Freaked me out as a kid.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Yeah, it was a good film. Somewhat ironic that the next decade in Germany would see the rise of Hitler, the concentration camps, and the persecution of the Jews in Germany.

The film also raises the question, whatever happened to the German film industry?
With this film, "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," Metropolis," "Nosferatu," etc. It got off to such a start, that today, it should  be the greatest or second greatest maker of films in the world.

[Scottie]

Kevin wrote:

<>

What happened was the first and second world war. The immense toll the war took on the german economy turned filmmaking into less of a priority than rebuilding a nation. Alongside the Treaty of Versailles, the rise to leadership of Hitler in the power vacuum of post WW I Germany drew funds away from the liberal arts and towards the state arts (ex. propoganda films). Furthermore, the decadence of Hollywood at this time attracted many of Germany's most renowned directors to work in America. That is why, as Scott pointed out, films such as Frankenstein seem to be influenced by movies such as The Golem. History states that German filmmakers worked for cheap and here in America, they were snatched up by Universal studios, which at the time, was a cheap studio. They used the same styles from German Expressionist films and turned them into American products. Note the dark sets, accentuated acting, presence of monsters, and an evil persona who haunts the film. These characteristics come directly from Germany's own movement and were absorbed into America's film industry.

Pretty neat, huh?

[Scott]

German filmmakers coming to America is like German scientist coming to America both before and after war.

The sets in THE GOLEM are really awesome for the time period and the cast was in the 100's (crowds).

The copy I found is very good and distributed by oldies.com. for about $5.99.

Hard to believe your watching a film that is 85 years old and that all of those people including the children are probably gone now.

[peter johnson]

Brilliant film --
Also see Der Spinne (The Spiders) by Fritz Lang & later when things went to sound, Fritz Lang's "M".
Such art was little appreciated in America.
The German film industry also gave us Erich Von Stroheim (Wedding March, Grand Illusion, Sunset Boulevard), Pabst, and countless others in technical capacities.
German cameras and film were also the best in the '20's and '30's:  Leica, Agfa, etc.
peter johnson/denny crane

[dean]

There are quite a few good European and German films in the mix nowadays, though they don't exactly have the same kind of impact as they would have back then [perhaps because silent films were more accesible for everyone regardless of language?]

Anyway, German films still do have a certain feel for them which is different to other Hollywood films, but I haven't really seen enough to comment too much on the topic.  The last one I remember seeing was Run Lola Run which was great, very stylistic.

[PSlugworth]

Interestingly enough, Paul Wegener, who is credited as one of the directors of this picture, also co-directed two other Golem films (one of which was a comedy!) during a 5 year period!  This film (1920) was the final one.

There was a second Golem comedy called "The Golem's Last Adventure" in 1921, apparently, but Wegener had nothing to do with the production.

Strange that this 1920 version seems to be the only one that's been distributed to the public on home video/DVD.

[Scott]

Didn't know about the other GOLEM films of the time PSlugworth. It's a nice film for the collection.



Post Edited (09-24-05 22:46)

[BoyScoutKevin]

Thank-you for the explanation, Scottie. The answer is obvious if one thinks about it.
It is unfortunate that what started so well, ended so badly. Still it is nice to know that it did have some influence on other filmmakers.

[Shadowphile]

I saw the Golem in the mid eighties as one of the feature films for a gaming club movie night, well before I developed respect for others ;-).  It was, of all things, on 8mm projector.

There were a pair of older silent film buffs who showed up expressly to see this film.  The crowd of university students (myself included) supplied our own dialogue for the film, which was mostly hysterically funny.  The film buffs walked out after ten minutes.

I had encountered the legend before in, of all places, one of those old pocket book sized comic books that used to contain a number of stories, a few Ripley's tales and odd sundry jokes, puzzles and games.  It has fascinated me ever since, in many different variations.