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Greetings, and welcome to VIEWING THE CLASSICS. Here you'll find capsule reviews of vintage movies from the early days of cinema through the 1970s, with a special emphasis on sci-fi, horror, and mystery movies. Be sure to check out the Pages links, where you can find a Film Index of all my reviews, links to the reviews organized by cast members, directors, and other contributors, and links to my reviews of the films of talented young director Joshua Kennedy.

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Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Golem (1920)

Starring Paul Wegener, Albert Steinruck, Lyda Salmonova, Ernst Deutsch, Hans Sturm
Directed by Carl Boese & Paul Wegener
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

This silent film is a retelling of the ancient Jewish legend of the Golem, a clay statue which was constructed and brought to life by a rabbi in order to save his people.

An often-filmed story with themes familiar to horror movie fans past and present, the story of the Golem is memorably presented here, with quality lighting, makeup, and art direction.  Wegener, who also co-directed the film, excels in portraying a realistic artificial man, with stiff walking movements and limited facial expressions, but also allows us to see a yearning in his eyes for something more.  The film's special effects are also impressive, ranging from blinking stars, to a crumbling palace, to the conjuring of the demon Astaroth.  It's an exciting and well-paced picture that holds up well today.

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