The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Program Notes

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) is a German silent horror film by Robert Wiene, written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer. A key work of German Expressionist cinema, it narrates the story of a hypnotist (Wien er Kruss) who uses a sleepwalker (Conrad Veidt) to commit murders. Its dark, twisted visual style, with sharp angles and painted shadows, reflects the pacifist writers’ distrust of authority post-WWI. Themes include irrational authority, subjective reality, and human duality. Considered one of the most influential silent films in history. Caligari’s expressionist design, complex themes, and genre elements combined with Beal’s searing score showcases the singular voice of the musical storyteller.

This film is from the holdings of the Friederich-Wilheim-Murnau-Stiftung in Wiesbaden.