DAS WACHSFIGURENKABINETT

Paul Leni was a set designer, painter, architect and graphic artist, who had a major influence on the “look” of Weimar Cinema. Thus it is not surprising that there is also a lot to see and marvel at in WAXWORKS, a film he directed. This movie is an attraction in itself, and fittingly set at a fairground. A poet auditions with a showman, whose daughter makes eyes at him. The creative poet is hired to write about three wax figures: Caliph Harun al-Rashid, Ivan the Terrible and Jack the Ripper. He brings the rigid puppets to life in his imagination and, with them, bygone days in exotic places.
In the tradition of THE CABINET OF CALIGARI and DR. MABUSE THE GAMBLER, screenwriter Henrik Galeen tells the story of the three sinister figures. The top-notch cast as well as the detailed sets in this pinnacle of expressionism are as impressive today as they were at the time: “A rare, preciously cool, but absolutely pure artistic pleasure!” (Film-Kurier, 1924) (fw)

Live-Musik: Daniel Pabst & Martin Siewert
Introduction: Stefan Drößler (Filmmuseum München)