Topic: German Expressionism

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast George O'Brien · Janet Gaynor · Margaret Livingston · Bodil Rosing

Synopsis Sunrise (1927) tells the tale of a contented farmer, portrayed by George O' Brien, whose life takes a dramatic turn when he encounters a charming city woman, played by Margaret Livingstone. Initially living in harmony with his devoted wife, Janet...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Peter Lorre · Otto Wernicke · Gustaf Gründgens · Theo Lingen

Synopsis M (1931) plunges into the grimy streets of Berlin, where terror grips the city as a serial child killer wreaks havoc. The chilling deeds of this criminal are so abhorrent that even the hardened criminals of the underworld seek his...

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast Emil Jannings · Maly Delschaft · Max Hiller · Emilie Kurz

Synopsis The Last Laugh (1924) centers around an aged hotel doorman whose life takes a dramatic turn when he is reassigned to the role of lavatory attendant. Ashamed of his new position, he attempts to conceal it from his friends and...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Gustav Fröhlich · Brigitte Helm · Alfred Abel · Rudolf Klein-Rogge

Synopsis Metropolis (1927) presents a starkly divided society, where the affluent elite enjoy opulence and control, while the laborers endure harsh working conditions and live in squalor. The narrative unfolds when Freder, the privileged son of the city's ruler, Joh Fredersen,...

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast Emil Jannings · Gösta Ekman · Camilla Horn · William Dieterle

Synopsis Faust (1926) opens with a celestial wager between angels and the Devil, who claims dominion over Earth. The Devil, disguised as the cunning Mephisto, spreads plague in a town, causing the elderly scholar Faust to seek a cure. Mephisto tempts...

Direction Robert Wiene

Cast Werner Krauss · Conrad Veidt · Friedrich Feher · Lil Dagover

Synopsis The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) introduces the enigmatic Dr. Caligari who arrives in a small town accompanied by his mysterious somnambulist, Cesare. Cesare, who has been in a deep sleep for 23 years, is now under Caligari's hypnotic spell....

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Paul Richter · Margarete Schön · Hanna Ralph · Theodor Loos

Synopsis Die Nibelungen: Siegfried (Die Nibelungen - Part I) (1924) is an adaptation of the 13th-century German epic, chronicling the journey of the heroic Siegfried. The narrative begins with Siegfried's forging of a legendary sword and his triumph over a fearsome...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Rudolf Klein-Rogge · Oskar Beregi · Theodor Loos · Karl Meixner

Synopsis The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933) follows Berlin police inspector Lohmann as he delves into a perplexing case where all evidence points to a man who has been confined to a mental institution for years—Dr. Mabuse. As Lohmann digs deeper,...

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast Max Schreck · Alexander Granach · Gustav von Wangenheim · Greta Schröeder

Synopsis Nosferatu (1922) chronicles the tale of Count Orlok, who journeys from his crumbling castle to the bustling city of Wisborg following a visit from Thomas Hutter. Upon his arrival, Orlok becomes entangled with Thomas' betrothed, Ellen, who possesses the unique...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Rudolf Klein-Rogge · Alfred Abel · Aud Egede Nissen · Bernhard Goetzke

Synopsis Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler (1922) follows the sinister mastermind Dr. Mabuse as he embarks on a mission to amass wealth and dominate the city of Berlin. His schemes are met with resistance from Detective Wenk, who is determined to thwart...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Lil Dagover · Walter Janssen · Bernhard Goetzke · Rudolf Klein-Rogge

Synopsis Destiny (1921) follows a young couple who pause their journey at a quaint village inn. Tragically, the man is taken by Death and confined behind an immense, impassable barrier. The woman, desperate to save her beloved, discovers a hidden, mystical...

Direction Fritz Lang

Cast Margarete Schön · Rudolf Klein-Rogge · Georg John · Theodor Loos

Synopsis Die Nibelungen: Kriemhild's Revenge (Die Nibelungen - Part II) (1924) follows the aftermath of Siegfried's demise, as Kriemhild, now wedded to Etzel, the Hun king, welcomes her brothers to a grand celebration. Following the birth of her child, Kriemhild seeks...

Direction Georg Wilhelm Pabst

Cast Louise Brooks · Fritz Kortner · Alice Roberts · Carl Goetz

Synopsis Pandora's Box (1929) unfolds in the vibrant yet tumultuous setting of Weimar Germany, where Lulu, a captivating and free-spirited young woman, enchants the men around her with her irresistible allure. Currently, she is involved with the esteemed Dr. Schön, but...

Direction Walter Ruttmann

Synopsis Berlin: Symphony of a Great City (1927) begins with a swift journey through the countryside as a train approaches the bustling metropolis of Berlin. As the train decelerates and arrives at the station, the city is still largely silent, with...

Direction Ewald André Dupont

Cast Emil Jannings · Maly Delschaft · Lya De Putti · Warwick Ward

Synopsis Jealousy (1925) follows the tale of "Boss" Huller, a convicted murderer who, after a decade behind bars, shares his life story with the warden. Once a renowned trapeze artist, Huller and his wife run a modest sideshow featuring "erotic sensations."...

Direction Carl Theodor Dreyer

Cast Julian West · Sybille Schmitz · Henriette Gérard · Albert Bras

Synopsis Vampyr (1932) follows the journey of a curious adventurer who is deeply intrigued by the paranormal. During his travels, he arrives at a quaint, old inn and stumbles upon unsettling clues that suggest the presence of vampires. The film delves...

Direction Paul Leni

Cast Conrad Veidt · Mary Philbin · Olga Baclanova · Cesare Gravina

Synopsis The Man Who Laughs (1928) unfolds in the grim era of 1690, where a defiant nobleman's refusal to pay homage to the tyrannical King James leads to his brutal execution. As a consequence, his young son is subjected to a...

Direction F.W. Murnau

Cast Emil Jannings · Werner Krauss · Lil Dagover · Hermann Picha

Synopsis Tartuffe (1925) is a cinematic adaptation of Molière's classic tale of religious deception, directed by the masterful F. W. Murnau. The narrative revolves around a devoted wife (Lil Dagover) who attempts to persuade her husband (Werner Krauss) that their seemingly...

Direction Paul Wegener · Carl Boese

Cast Paul Wegener · Albert Steinrück · Lyda Salmonova · Ernst Deutsch

Synopsis The Golem (1920) tells the tale of a clay statue, the golem, which was animated by Rabbi Loew in 16th century Prague to protect the Jewish community from severe oppression by the city's authorities. Centuries later, in the 20th century,...

Direction Joe May

Cast Albert Steinrück · Else Heller · Gustav Fröhlich · Betty Amann

Synopsis Asphalt (1929) unfolds in the bustling city of Berlin, where a stylish and cunning woman, portrayed by Betty Amann, manages to pilfer a valuable gem from a jewelry store. In a twist of fate, she attempts to enchant the policeman,...