Once again a real appreciation for the importance and influence of a classic can be tempered a bit by its portrayal and themes. Paul Wegener's The Golem is a masterful expressionistic film with obvious influences on Frankenstein and other imagery that has subsisted throughout film history. It's well-directed, the editing is especially amazing for the time, the acting is great (the method has gone out of style and is sometimes mocked and mugged, but at the period it came out it was a very good way to get the point across), and a very precise use of color tinting adds dimensionality.
And it's also antisemitic. There's just no denying it, like as to appreciating the narrative influence of Birth of a Nation while not being able to ignore its racism. At least the Jews in this movie are not so animalistic and cannibalistic as in Birth of a Nation, but here they are portrayed as blackmailing sorcerers tampering with natural laws unto their own destruction. If anything has aged and dated poorly in this movie, making it laughably kitsch. it's not the expressionistic acting, it's not the silent film, it's not the film techniques, it's the portrayal of Jews.
However, at least the Golem itself is an interesting character. Wegener's acting and the suit, arguably silly looking but definitely clay-like and picturesquely animated by his movements, are really quite engaging, and the movements again are both immediately haunting and echo through to portrayals of Frankenstein, zombies, and other horror film monsters throughout history.
It's still a worthwhile film. Just take it with a grain of salt.
--PolarisDiB
And it's also antisemitic. There's just no denying it, like as to appreciating the narrative influence of Birth of a Nation while not being able to ignore its racism. At least the Jews in this movie are not so animalistic and cannibalistic as in Birth of a Nation, but here they are portrayed as blackmailing sorcerers tampering with natural laws unto their own destruction. If anything has aged and dated poorly in this movie, making it laughably kitsch. it's not the expressionistic acting, it's not the silent film, it's not the film techniques, it's the portrayal of Jews.
However, at least the Golem itself is an interesting character. Wegener's acting and the suit, arguably silly looking but definitely clay-like and picturesquely animated by his movements, are really quite engaging, and the movements again are both immediately haunting and echo through to portrayals of Frankenstein, zombies, and other horror film monsters throughout history.
It's still a worthwhile film. Just take it with a grain of salt.
--PolarisDiB