The Cabinet of Caligari
Directed by Roger Kay
Written by Robert Bloch
1962/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation/Associated Producers/Robert L. Lippert Productions
First viewing/YouTube
Caligari: How old were you when you first let a man make love to you? Next, who was he? Next, how did you feel at the time? Next, how did you feel afterwards? What did you feel? What did you think? Were you pleased, frightened, ecstatic, disgusted? What did he say? What words did you speak? That’s what I want to know. Now. Tell me. Now. Now. All of it, now. Tell me. YES!
While it does not measure up to its illustrious predecessor or even its own poster, this confusing little thriller did hold my interest.
The YouTube version available to me cut off the credits and probably a few of the first minutes of the film. At any rate, Jane Lindstrom (Glenys Johns) has been plunked down into the middle of some kind of hotel or other lodging place and now is unable to leave. She is tormented by encounters with Caligari (Dan O’Herlihy).
Jane tries to enlist the help of her fellow guests, without success. I won’t spoil the ending.
I wasn’t expecting much from the title but it turns out the leads were A-list actors and its a competently made film. The director even tries to get a little Expressionistic in places but without the effect of the films famous predecessor.
