Visual History of Weimar Films

By Rainer Rother and Hans Helmut Prinzler

Between the First and Second World Wars, Germany under the Weimar Republic was the scene of one of the most creative periods in film history. Through the silent era to the early years of sound, the visual flair and technical innovation of its filmmakers set an international standard for the powerful possibilities of cinema as an art form, with movies such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, Metropolis, and M building a legacy that shaped the world of film.

Here is a showcase of more than seventy films, selected to give a wide-ranging overview of Weimar cinema at its finest. Every genre is represented, from escapist comedies and musicals to gritty depictions of contemporary city life, from period dramas to fantastical visions of the future, with themes such as sexuality and social issues tackled by iconic stars like Marlene Dietrich and Louise Brooks. A wealth of film stills captures the bold vision of great directors like Fritz Lang and Ernst Lubitsch, while the text sets the historical scene and gives intriguing insights into what the films meant to the society that created them.

This chapter in movie history was brought to a close by Hitler's rise to power in 1933. Directors, screenwriters and actors found themselves obliged to leave Germany, and brought their talents to Hollywood.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500516898
• ISBN13: 9780500516898
• Release Date: September 2013
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 4.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 10.1" x 12.3"

Customer Reviews

You will need a sturdy coffee table.

Prepare for a treat with 433 Illustrations, 335 in duotone (a halftone illustration made from a single original with two different colors at different screen angles). This book describes the environment and filming techniques. Usually, books like this are just hits on highlighted films. However, this critter got all my favorites and a few more. I have a collection of most and had to change from VHS to DVD. Some of the films in chronological order are: “Carmen” (1918), without the music, is a little strange. “Die Austernprinzessin” (1919) has a keyhole effect. “Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari” (1920), the twist in the end makes this worth rewatching. “Hamlet” (1921) added to my extensive Hamlet collection. “Der müde Tod” (aka ‘Destiny / Between two Worlds’) (1921) Four tales that ask whether love is stronger than death. “Nosferatu”. Eine Symphonic des Grauens. (1922) adapted from “Dracula.” “Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler” (1922). The evils of gambling. “Die Nibelungen” (1924) is a two-part story. Sometimes they are bought separately. I watch this several times each year as it has a cute dragon. “Der hielige Berg” “The Holy Mountain” (1926) A Leni Riefenstahl favorite. Be careful when you order this, as there is another movie with the same name. “Metropolis” (1927). You think you know this film, but read the book by Thea von Harbou first. Then look for a fully restored film version. “Die Büchse der Pandora” (1929). A Louise Brooks favorite. Mary Louise Brooks (November 14, 1906 – August 8, 1985) was an American film actress and dancer during the 1920s and 1930s. “Tagebuch einer Verlorenen” (1929) portrays Louise Brooks as a lost girl. “Dei weisse Hölle vom Piz Palü” (1929) is another of Leni’s Mountain films. “Frau im Mond” (1929): women and gold do not mix. “Der Blaue Engel” (1930). A Marlene Dietrich special. Be sure to get both the German and the American versions for comparison. “Die 3-Groshen—Opre” (1931). See Lotte Lenya again in “From Russia with Love” (1963) “M” (1931) Peter Lorre as the Child-murderer Hans Beckert. Very spooky. After reading this book from front to back, your next book, which should have been the first book, is “The UFA Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company 1918-1945” by Klaus Kreimeier (Author), Robert Kimber (Translator), Rita Kimber (Translator).