Ynno Louis Idanan Ynno Louis Idanan 14677 14677 ANNA3B ANNA3B
Jun 26, 2015
Ynno Louis IdananYnno Louis Idanan
1467714677 ANNA3BANNA3B
Introduction Rise of the German Film Industry A brief intro to the start of german
expressionism Principle directors of the Movement What makes German Expressionism Unique The End of the Movement It’s Influences to Hollywood, Specifically Film
Noir and American Crime Thrillers.
Content
There are a lot of crime shows nowadays that
we would be able to say, comes from the ideology, or even only the Mise-en-scene of German expressionism. Which would be one of the main traits that MAKES German Expressionism unique.
Introduction
Shows such as Hannibal (Ridley Scott) or CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which focus mostly on reading the minds and psyche of criminals and madmen, and their view to the world, showing off a dark and Nightmarish theme, make fine examples of German Expressionisms influence within Hollywood.
1920-1933: Flourishing of The Expressionist
Movement 1916: Gov’t Banned most of Foreign Films
locally 1918: 130 local Film production companies 1921: 300 local Film production companies
Rise of the German Film Expressionism
German Gov’t gave Full support to the Local
Film Producers during the Weimar Period Post War period of Germany Germany sold Films cheaply abroad and
imported less foreign films
Late February, 1920: The Cabinet of Dr.
Caligari Originally was supposed to be Directed by Fritz
Lang. Became the Template of Local Directors for
Expressionist Films. Proved to still be the most prominent German
Expressionist Film until the End of the Movement.
Beginning of the Movement
Robert Weine: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) Raskolnikow (1923) The Hands of Oralc (1924)
F.W. Murnau : Nosferatu (1922) Tartuffe (1925) Faust (1926)
Fritz Lang: The Weary Death aka Destiny (1921) Dr. Mabuse the Gambler (1922) Kriemhild’s Revenge (1924) Metropolis (1927)
Prominent Directors of the Movement:
February, 1920: Decla Company releases The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,
directed by Robert Weine, marking the beginning of the German Expressionist Movement in Film.
Spring, 1920: Decla and Deutsche-Bioscop merged to form Decla-Bioscop; under the Erich Pommer’s supervision.
November, 1921: UFA absorbs Decla-Bioscop, still under Pommer as a separate production unit.
Autumn, 1924: Hyperinflation ends.
December, 1925: UFA is rescued from bankruptcy by loans from Paramount and MGM.
February, 1926: Pommer is forced to resign as the head of UFA.
January, 1927: Metropolis, Fritz Lang.
Important dates to take note of during the movement
Offers nightmarish dark realms.
What makes German Expressionism Unique?
Plays with the Mise-en-scene: Lighting Staged and stylized sets Exaggerated surrealist settings Jerky/Dance-like Movements of the actors
1920-1924 Amount and quality of German
Expressionist Films were intense. January 1927: Marked the end of German
expressionism movement.
The end of the Movement
Excessive budgets of the later films Low number of German Expressionist Film makers
that are still interested in the style. Departure of Expressionist Film makers into
Hollywood. Restructuring of the UFA (Universum Film
Aktiengesellschaft). Resulting in Pommers departure for Hollywood
Film makers could no longer have exceeded budgets from the Gov’t to produce Films
Reasons for the decline of the movement
Film Noir: Classical Crime Dramas of Hollywood Use of lighting, and prominent use of shadows. Use of Low-angle, Wide-angle, Skewed/Dutch Shots
(sometimes through distorted objects such as mirrors). Setting and narrative form of the story, being dark, and
corrupt.
Influences in Hollywood
The Woman in the Window The Blue Gardenia Scarlet Street The Big Heat The Secret Beyond the Door Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Film ExamplesFritz Lang
German Expressionism, although indirect, still
influences modern day films, in terms of the use of their narratives, themes, camera angles, etc.
Conclusion
Thompson, K. & Bordwell, D. (2009) Film
History: an Introduction. 3rd edition. New York: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
Rausch, A.J. (2004) Turning Points in Film History. Illustrated. New York: Citadel Press.
Brockmann, S. (2010) A Critical History of German Film: Volume 93 of Studies in German Literature, Linguistics and Culture. Illustrated. New York: Camden House.
Bibliography