The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: Film Critique

The Cabinet of Dr Caligari is said to be the first horror in early cinema, dating back to 1924. This silent black and white, directed by the German Robert Wiene, also introduced viewers and contemporary filmmakers to the (now) conventional ‘plot twist’, which I found easy to miss in this early ‘masterpiece’…

The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari Film Poster (2013)

Being one of the first silent films I have ever watched, the plot was a challenge to follow. One reason for this was the distracting and dramatic use of set design. Environments often felt claustrophobic and cluttered, due to the bold blacks either bordering a camera shot or striking a scene in an unusual way e.g. as an unsettling pattern. General set design is very smart, being able to create unrestricted dimension through good use of shape alongside shading. This can be seen in figure 1, where a dark overhanging structure in the foreground is separated by the lighter buildings filling the background. An impressive achievement when you realise most sets were hand painted onto paper or wooden boards. I am surprised at the clear depth in each scene despite the lack of architectural sense; unsymmetrical buildings challenge your perspective as a viewer looking at the scene. “A film of delusions and deceptive appearances” – Roger Edbert (2009) rogerebert.com.

Figure 1, Scene from The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari (2015)

Another cause of distraction from the unusual plot was character design. I found it difficult to distinguish between the male protagonist and his friend (who is murdered by the Caligari). I found their clothing, hair and complexion so similar that they also blended-in with the rest of the crowd during our first introduction to the somnambulist at the fayre. A more striking physical trait would have made their character arcs easier to follow, as I might’ve identified them quicker. Other than Jane, the female lead, all other character’s dress in black. Viewers are left with only silhouettes and faces to watch, adding to the disturbing atmosphere of the film. Amongst the deliberately bland character design, I found Dr Caligari to be the most striking. In figure 2, his appearance resembles a cartoon, with blocks of black outlining his pale features. The texture of Dr Caligari’s face creates dark shadows that look like painted black lines, probably not deliberate but certainly add to the villainous portrayal.  His white hair can be seen parted into three sections on the top of his head, defined by dark segments in-between. Additionally, dramatic lines on his gloves create an abstract style, almost blending the character into the unusual and deranged mess of the painted set designs. A viewer’s eyes focus on unnatural elements of Dr Caligari’s character due to this outlining and definition technique, “when he moves, he becomes a mess of abstract forms” - Claire Travers (2012) zooetrope365.wordpress.com.

Figure 2, Dr Caligari (2011)

As a viewer, I am grateful for the attention to sound in this silent film. By including a soundtrack that is tailored to the events on screen, the viewing experience is amplified; the music helps audiences understand what they should be feeling. As someone who found the film a challenge to follow, I appreciated the assistance of good music to help me break down a scene and interpret the situation. For example, the end discovery that the protagonist is insane. The visuals on scene are met with a high-pitched clash of orchestral instruments, insinuating that this is a pivotal moment in the films story. In my opinion, music was not a distraction, but helpful assistance. “Although there’s no spoken dialogue in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, complete silence is by no means the ideal way in which to watch it”. - James Berardinelli (2019) reelviews.net.


The strongest negative feelings I have for this film involve the story, and how challenging it was to follow. An example of a frustrating story event was when “Cesare falls from a height to his death to end the pursuit” (2019) imdb.com. However, in this scene, Cesare is carrying the female protagonist Jane. Why does she survive if the abductor fell from a height on accident? Why does Cesare drop Jane before he falls to his death? Plot holes make this film a little frustrating to watch. Another negative I have is the duration of the film, adding additional challenge to following the story. Its 50-minute duration is unconventional for film, and I felt unprepared for the quick ending. Viewers aren’t equipped for the finale as this timestamp is often a halfway point in most modern films. An additional negative point is the aesthetics. Although the mix between black-and-white along with handmade sets was uncontrollable due to budget, it is brutal to the film’s visuals. Even in a low resolution, uneven paint and messy lines are clear to viewers, something that bothered me. I saw it as unprofessional and It took away from the initial viewing experience. Only after I understood its connection to lunacy and other dark themes did I realise what it gave to the film.


Although there is much I dislike about the film, there were also some enjoyable elements. Despite being hard to understand, the plot was well told. I was never bored whilst watching since the story progressed as a captivating timeline. My attention was on the film during the entire screening, I think that this helped me appreciate the film to some degree. As previously mentioned, the films low budget is very evident. However, it plays into its cardboard style well, creating a pop-up atmosphere that works with the novelty of stinginess and the idea of circus (a significant environment seen in the film). The majority of all environments seen in the film link to unsettling psychopathic themes, also previously discussed. Therefore, another strong aspect of this film is the strength of its themes throughout the entire plot, and how they are thoughtfully sewn into its 50 minutes.

Overall, this isn’t a film I would decide to watch for myself. However, I realise how important it is to the history of cinema and its influence over the film industry. It’s a stylised classic with culture and ideas that were new and unexplored in the 1920’s. Its use of set design is important, and something I want to take into my own projects; embracing limitations, linking the environment to themes in a plot, lighting and its interactions with space. This watch was a challenge but worth the artistic lessons.

Bibliography

• Berardinelli, J. (2019). Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The | Reelviews Movie Reviews. [online] Reelviews Movie Reviews. Available at: http://www.reelviews.net/reelviews/cabinet-of-dr-caligari-the [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• Blogger (2011). Dr Caligari. [image] Available at: http://recentlyviewedmovies.blogspot.com/2011/10/tales-from-archives-movie-church-may.html [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• Ebert, R. (2019). The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari movie review (1920) | Roger Ebert. [online] Rogerebert.com. Available at: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-1920 [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• CUPAFS. (2019). Madness and Civilisation: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason – CUPAFS. [online] Available at: https://zooetrope365.wordpress.com/tag/madness-and-civilisation-a-history-of-insanity-in-the-age-of-reason/ [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• Open Culture (2013). The Cabinet of Dr Caligari Poster. [image] Available at: http://www.openculture.com/2013/10/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-see-the-restored-version.html [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• IMDb. (1998). The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) - IMDb. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0010323/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• IMDb. (2019). The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) - IMDb. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0010323/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ql_stry_3#synopsis [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
• Rotten Tomatoes. (n.d.). The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari) (1920). [online] Available at: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_cabinet_of_dr_caligari [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].
  
• WordPress (2015). Scene fron The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. [image] Available at: https://carrieannebrownian.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/the-cabinet-of-dr-caligari-part-ii-behind-the-scenes/ [Accessed 3 Oct. 2019].