Waxworks (1924) 9/9

Directed by: Paul Leni & Leo Birinski

Emil Jannings - Harun al-Rashid, Caliph of Baghdad
Conrad Veidt - Ivan the Terrible
Werner Krauss - Jack the Ripper/Spring-heeled Jack
William Dieterle - The Poet

The owner of a waxworks ask a young writer to create a back story for three of the museums most popular attractions: the wax figures of an exuberant late 8th century Persian caliph, Harun al-Rashid, the tyrannical Russian Tzar Ivan the Terrible, and Victorian legend, Spring-heeled Jack (also referred to, confusingly, as Jack the Ripper in the film, although the two are not one and the same).

An intriguing example of German Expressionism.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• silent
• film
• movie
• waxworks
• emil
• janning
• conrad
• veidt
• paul
• leni

[bluegrasslass]

Wonderful! The Ivan The terrible episode was my favourite - Conrad Veidt's Czar was a nasty piece of work wasn't he?! Thanks so much for posting.

[fjdmusicman]

wow kumasie, you continue spreading hatred on every segment of this film, now you choose the gays to bash. I fell sorry for you, how can you live in a modern world and be happy while you hold such hateful values ?

[damienrecords]

@Twiste Odd, ALL silent films with no exceptions were shown with a musical accompaniment, usually a musical piece specifically orchestrated for the film. Early years, the acompaniment was a lone organ or piano, then as film progressed, time passed, massive orchestras accompanied the film as it toured entire countries and was screened throughout the world. "The silent film is the universal language." as Miss Lillian Gish said. Sound, differeent languages, talkies changed that forever.

[mikemcgee]

i had thought that the reporter was werner kraus he was just too hansome to be that actor

[kumasie01]

I feel The Calif of Baghdad was the absolute best of the three. The filtering process was the most complimentary to the Baker's Wife! She looked better in that version that in the other stories. The retelling of her wisdom and her keeping with her husband was an inspiration that the lesbians and homos of today are still completely baffled clueless about such appropriated devotion. This was a good piece of German Cinema.

[Twiste]

Oo thanks alot for this. I do like the music in this old films. I know there was not sound for real. But thsi music fits. well maby the band that was at the theater played this o well anyway nice story also.

[Hiacyntify]

...but I think that Veidt's the best role is in ,,The man who laught"

[SaintTidewolfe]

Thank you for uploading this, I watched it last night.

I was drawn to the film because of Mr Veidt's performance but found myself liking the other parts as well.