Stills from Classic Film THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI (1920) Highlight Sotheby’s Online Photographs Auction
Sotheby’s online Photographs sale features a remarkable group of 55 photographs that documents many of the psychologically and visually twisted scenes from the 1920 classic silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, generally recognized as the first true horror film. Directed by Robert Wiene, this tale of an insane, diabolical hypnotist who manipulates a somnambulist to execute a series of murders is considered the first German Expressionist film. The iconic sets and costume designs mirror the film’s dark narrative through the use of abstract designs and unsettling camera angles, which were captured by cinematographer Willy Hameister. The film’s macabre and shocking story was also an allegory that referenced contemporary political events: Dr. Caligari personified the German government during World War I, while the somnambulist symbolized soldiers who were trained as killing machines. Though rooted in its time, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari remains one of the most influential films ever created, inspiring generations of filmmakers and firmly establishing the horror genre.
Stills and promotional photographs from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari rarely appear at auction. A selection of prints are located in institutional collections, including Los Angeles County Museum of Contemporary Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Synopsis:
At a carnival in Germany, Francis (Friedrich Feher) and his friend Alan (Rudolf Lettinger) encounter the crazed Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss). The men see Caligari showing off his somnambulist, Cesare (Conrad Veidt), a hypnotized man who the doctor claims can see into the future. Shockingly, Cesare then predicts Alan’s death, and by morning his chilling prophecy has come true — making Cesare the prime suspect. However, is Cesare guilty, or is the doctor controlling him?
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