Uploaded June 2023 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago

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This video is the third in a series on German Expressionism. It provides an overview of the film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Wiene, 1920), focusing on allegorical interpretations of its plot and themes of authority and obedience. Special attention is paid to Frankfurt School theorist Siegfried Kracauer's reading of the film from his 1947 book From Caligari to Hitler. Finally, the video turns to a brief examination of Guillermo del Toro as a filmmaker whose body of work resonates deeply with The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, from his emphasis on fantastical mise-en-scene and dark imagery to his consistent interest in authoritarian figures, fascism, and disobedience. A brief comparison is made between Pan's Labyrinth and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

This video is part of a series on German Expressionism:

Part 1: youtu.be/M6GGDW5rds8
Part 2: youtu.be/F8ApbYYyxm8
Part 3: youtu.be/Q3b76pGp_c0