The Impact of German
Expressionist Films
upon the
Modern Film Industry
By Blayne Ferreira
The Origins of Expressionism
• Expressionism began as a movement in art in
Weimar, Germany during World War 1. The
movement affected many types of artistic
medium including architecture, painting,
music, literature and sculpture.
• Expressionist artists attempted to portray the
disparity of their surroundings in artistic form.
The German Film Industry
• At the beginning of World War 1, foreign film
companies dominated the industry.
• By the end of World War 1, the German Film
Industry flourished. It was propelled by a
population desperate for a diversion from their
daily struggles.
UFA
• UFA (Universum Film Aktiengelleschaft) became a
leader in the German Film Industry.
UFA produced many German Expressionist
films which were destined to become classics.
• Many of the films, which achieved infamy outside of
Germany, are still recognized and watched today.
Films and the Economy
• Because of the deteriorating post-World War I
economy in Germany, filmmakers were unable
to create films which could compete with the
grandiosity of Hollywood pictures.
• By using the elements of expressionism,
German filmmakers developed their own style
of filmmaking which incorporated symbolism
to expose deeper meanings and emotions.
Expressionism
• German Expressionist films were made during
the silent film era. They contained sounds and
music as opposed to dialogue.
• For many of the silent films, a piano player
was hired to play as live accompaniment.
Elements of Expressionism:
Exploitation
• Expressionism manipulated sound, lighting and
stage design to reveal emotions and realities in an
abstract manner.
• Stage sets were very artificial and were made to
appear as “paintings come to life”. All realism
was removed from sets in order to allow them to
become symbols of specific emotions and
conditions.
• Angular structures were utilized to exploit stage
design and influence the mood of a picture.
Mise en Scene
• “Mise-en-scene” is a French term used to
describe the technique of story telling through
stage design and cinematography. “Mise-enscene” is used in Expressionist films to
contribute to the design aspect.
Elements of Expressionism
• Expressionism conveyed a tone of dissonance by
effectively abolishing normal relationships
between objects and focusing upon the abstract.
• Expressionist techniques aimed to conjure
feelings of mystery, alienation, disharmony and
destabilization.
• Plots incorporated dream sequences, flashbacks
and distorted chronology to promote instability.
Expressionist Actors
• Expressionist actors engaged in harsh and
amplified movements that were often stiff or
jerky to represent inner turmoil.
• Overstated costumes and makeup contributed
to an actor’s ability to portray inner realities
and tumultuous emotions.
Elements of Expressionism:
Chiaroscuro and Lighting
• The technique of “chiaroscuro” was employed
in expressionism. Chiaroscuro is an artistic
technique in which light and darkness are
manipulated to achieve a heightened illusion of
depth.
• Expressionist directors contrasted light and
dark to create shadows and other effects which
were intended to portray and arouse emotion.
Chiaroscuro
Expressionist Architecture and
Landscape
• In order to put forth the abstract, it was
necessary for the Expressionist filmmaker to
obliterate nature and eradicate the natural
world.
• Expressionist filmmakers believed landscapes
should emit a soul and should be considered as
significant as a character in the film.
Expressionism Themes
• Mainstream and popular films of the period
were focused upon action, adventure and
romance.
• Expressionist films developed themes based on
insanity, madness, discordance and betrayal.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
• Since its origin, many films have been labeled
as works of Expressionism.
• The “Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” a German horror
classic directed by Robert Weine, best
personifies the Expressionist film genre.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari - 1920
This scene
demonstrates the
effect created
through the
Expressionist
technique of using
angular structures
to help represent a
disjointed mood
and a nightmarish
atmosphere.
The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari
• The “Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” employed the
Expressionist technique of using dream
sequences and flashbacks to twist reality and
warp chronology.
• The unnatural and exaggerated character of
Cesare carried out frightening acts during the
dream sequences.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Cesare’s movements were stiff and robotic. His
makeup was excessive and overdone. Some of the
shadows in this scene were created by wall paintings to
enhance contrast between light and dark.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Director, Robert
Weine, was
praised for his
effective use
of expressionist
technique and for
his set designs
and scenery.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
True to expressionist
form, the plot of
“The Cabinet of
Dr. Caligari”
included
murder, sleepwalking,
threats
and madness.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Designed by the
Expressionist
Bahaus School,
the films’ sets were
contorted and artificial.
The distorted designs
helped
to develop the atmosphere
of
disorientation.
Expressionism
• Expressionist elements (particularly sinister
plots, horrific events, and chiaroscuro lighting)
continued to be highlighted in German cinema
throughout 1920’s and into the 1930’s.
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror:
1922
“Nosferatu”,
directed by F. W.
Murnau,
became a vampire
classic which
featured many
expressionist
elements.
Shadows and Silhouettes
Expressionism
and the use of
shadows became
became
widely associated
with the film “Nosferatu”.
In some Expressionist
films, silhouettes were
used in place of shadow.
Expressionism in the 1920’s
• Though the harsh and contrived unnatural
environments of the original Expressionist
films began to fade, Expressionist themes were
integrated into films during the 1920’s and
1930’s.
• Artistic control over light and scenery were
exercised to set the expressionist mood.
Metropolis: 1927
“Metropolis”,
directed by Fritz Lang,
used
Expressionist elements
to depict a futuristic
city.
Metropolis
In keeping with
Expressionist
concepts, Lang
portrayed women
in the unnatural
Form of machines.
Metropolis
Lang
accentuated the
dark mood of
the film
by including
lighting
practices
characteristic
of
Expressionist
cinema.
Directors
• During the period of Expressionist filmmaking
in Germany, other notable directors included
Paul Wegener, Karl Heinz Martin, Leon
Brinsky and George Wilhelm Pabst.
The Emigration of Expressionism
• When the Nazi party came to power in
Germany, many filmmakers felt it
necessary to leave the country. They
emigrated to America and integrated
Expressionism into American cinema.
• Expressionist films became successful
in America and largely impacted the
American film industry.
The Expressionist Influence
• American Horror films and Film Noir were
two American film genres that were heavily
influenced by Expressionism.
• The silent film “The Phantom of the Opera,”
starring Lon Chaney incorporated many
Expressionist elements.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Expressionist Influence
• German filmmakers such as Karl Freund,
designed dark sets for use in American classic
films such as Universal Studios 1931 release
of “Dracula”.
• German directors, Fritz Lang and Otto
Preminger, expanded Expressionist themes
into American crime dramas which further
spread the influence of Expressionism.
Alfred Hitchcock
• Alfred Hitchcock had worked in Germany in the
1920s. He became greatly influenced by
Expressionism which became evident in many of
his films.
• Hitchcock’s early British films and his black and
white films of the 1950’s were permeated with
Expressionist techniques. The Expressionist
influence can be seen in his color films of the
1960’s as well.
Alfred Hitchcock: The Lodger-1927
Hitchcock employed the use of shadow and light. He directed his
actors to over-exaggerate their facial movements to better
emphasize their inner emotions in “The Lodger”.
Alfred Hitchcock- I Confess-1953
The exploitation of light and shadow assisted in
expressing this film’s interwoven themes of guilt
and deceit.
Hitchcock- The Wrong Man-1957
In addition to traditional Expressionist elements, Hitchcock engaged the use
of whirling camera movements to create a dizzy and disorienting effect for
his audience. In contrast to his earlier films, “The Wrong Man” was based
upon a true story.
Alfred Hitchcock-Psycho- 1960
Hitchcock relied heavily
on the
use of shadows and
silhouettes
in the movie “Psycho”.
He also represented the dark
emotionality of Norman
Bates by maintaining a bleak
environment and contrasting
light and darkness
throughout the film.
Hitchcock- The Birds- 1963
In his movie, “The Birds”, Hitchcock manipulated sound as was
done in the early German silent films. The sound effects contributed to the
to the turmoil in the movie and added to the chaotic atmosphere.
Hitchcock- Marnie 1964
Hitchcock’s use of color in “Marnie” provoked
and conveyed a frenzy of emotion. His use of
artificial backgrounds and highly stylized sets
reflected the influence of Expressionism.
Hitchcock and Expressionism
• Alfred Hitchcock was exceedingly popular and
many other filmmakers copied his techniques.
• Because he was mimicked by so many other
directors, Hitchcock inadvertently acted as a
vehicle to propel the influence of
expressionism more widely into filmmaking
than ever before.
Ridley Scott-Blade Runner-1982
• Many analysts believe that Expressionist
media often contains an underlying and
ambiguous social critique.
• In the science fiction movie, “Blade Runner”,
directed by Ridley Scott, poetic speeches
contained vague political themes and
ideologies.
Blade Runner
• In the manner of Expressionism, Ridley Scott
incorporated dark shadows, hazy lighting and odd
camera movements into the film.
• In addition to the parallels to movie “Metropolis”,
“Blade Runner” imitated sequences from other German
Expressionist films. Bladerunner’s emphasis on the
degraded, alienating city resembled that of many
expressionist "street films" taken together. Some
propose that “Bladerunner” was a remake of Lang's
Metropolis.
Bladerunner
Similar to the earlier Expressionist film, “Metropolis”,
“Bladerunner” portrayed a futuristic city as bleak and dark.
Bladerunner
Ridley Scott contrasted light and dark and used straight
angles and silhouettes. Images in the movie were reminiscent
of “Nosferatu”.
Tim Burton
• Tim Burton is a modern-day director for whom
the influence of Expressionism is evident in
many of his films.
Tim Burton – Beetlejuice-1988
The painted backdrops used in “Beetlejuice”
mimic those seen in “The Cabinet of Dr.
Caligari”.
Tim Burton and Expressionism
• Burton’s depiction of Gotham City in his
movie “Batman Returns” was also compared
to Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis”. The angular
building designs and severe looking city
squares of Gotham City bore resemblance to
Lang’s futuristic city.
Tim Burton-Batman Returns-1992
• The urban design of
Gotham city resembled
a dream or nightmarelike landscape. A variety
of architectural styles
including Expressionism
were borrowed from in
the creation of the city.
Tim Burton- Nightmare before
Christmas- 1993
• Expressionist themes permeated the opening
montage of this film and were familiar to the
silent Expressionist films of the 1920’s.
Edward Scissorhands
Critics have compared the likeness of Weine’s
“Cesare” to Burton’s “Edward Scissorhands”.
Other Expressionist Influence
• In addition to the direct influence of emigrated
German filmmakers, filmmakers in other
countries were impressed with expressionist
style and techniques. They incorporated the
style into their own films which expanded the
influence of Expressionism to international
films from the 1930’s to the films of today.
Works Cited
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Works Cited
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