Synopses & Reviews
Taken as a whole, the sixteen remarkable films discussed in this provocative new volume of essays represent the brilliant creativity that flourished in the name of German cinema between the wars. Encompassing early gangster pictures and science fiction, avant-garde and fantasy films, sexual intrigues and love stories, the classics of silent cinema and Germany's first talkies, each chapter illuminates, among other things: the technological advancements of a given film, its detailed production history, its critical reception over time, and the place it occupies within the larger history of the German studio and of Weimar cinema in general. Readers can revisit the careers of such acclaimed directors as F. W. Murnau, Fritz Lang, and G. W. Pabst and examine the debuts of such international stars as Greta Garbo, Louise Brooks, and Marlene Dietrich. Training a keen eye on Weimer cinema's unusual richness and formal innovation, this anthology is an essential guide to the revolutionary styles, genres, and aesthetics that continue to fascinate us today.
Synopsis
"Weimar Cinema" focuses on the most widely taught films of the period: "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari," "Nosferatu," "The Joyless Street," "Faust," "Metropolis," "Pandora's Box," and "The Blue Angel," among others. Chapters address the technological advancements of each film; their production and place within the larger history of the German studio and Weimar cinema; the signature style of the film's director; the actors and the rise of the German star; and the critical reception of the film both during and after its release. Genres discussed include horror, science fiction, melodrama, avant-garde and fantasy. Readers can revisit the German debut of Greta Garbo, Louise Brooks, and Marlene Dietrich, the early careers of such directors as F. W. Murnau and Fritz Lang, and the visionary producers and cinematographers that cemented Weimar's reputation for unprecedented artistic innovation.