The Golem (Restored Authorized Edition)

The Golem (Restored Authorized Edition)

The Golem (Restored Authorized Edition)
List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $10.48
You Save: $9.47 (47%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $10.45 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD Cover Information

Actor: Ernst Deutsch, Paul Wegener
Brand: Kino International
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC, Silent
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 91 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-09-24
Audience Rating: Unrated
Model: 2552
Studio: Kino Video
Product features:
  • DER GOLEM-WIE ER IN DIE WELT KAM (DVD MOVIE)

Movie Reviews of The Golem (Restored Authorized Edition)

Movie Review: A prototype of silent classics!
Summary: 5 Stars

THE GOLEM is a landmark in filmmaking because it was the very first of the silents, after Edison's long-lost and sought after production of FRANKENSTEIN in 1910 to present to the cinema the art of camera movement to provide suspense and horror. A movement very popularly mesmerizing through German Expressionism. Seeing this film to mind brings comparisons to the later FRANKENSTEIN films which no doubt had a strong influence on James Whale. There were actual rumors that for Bela Lugosi's screen test for the Monster he was built heavily of clay, and had a wig very much resembling Paul Wegener's Golem.

This DVD is much better than the three pack of Golem/Caligari/Nosferatu released several years ago, because like the individual DVD releases of Caligari and Nosferatu (with the curious exception of Metropolis) the film's actual tints and title cards are restored, thus viewers are able to see what they initially missed through earlier VHS releases.

Paul Wegener's Golem is very much portrayed as a precursor to Karloff's Frankenstein Monster. Hulking, sympathetic, misunderstanding, easily crossed, and feared by all except children. The films imagery is remarkable with the astrological symbols and sights of the stars in the sky, making the film atmospherical and at the same time suspenseful. The scene in which Rabbi Loew (Albert Steinruck) harbors black magic by spawning a ring of fire about him whilst spelling the magic words of ASTAROTH is still spellbinding after 80 years.

Legends of creatures made from clay are as old as recorded history. These were artificial men made of clay or mud, which was brought to life when the name of God is pronounced over it. Some stories say that it is then able to understand orders and is just great for doing housework. Others say that it can be used as a frightening type of bodyguard. Either way, it seemed that if you had a pet golem, there would be trouble right around the corner. On its' forehead is written the Jewish word EMETH, which means "truth". Every day the golem would become bigger and bigger, and heavier and heavier. Finally it would become a nuisance, if not a downright danger, to have it around the house. So the first letter of the word on his forehead must be rubbed out. The inscription now would read METH, which now would mean "he is dead". The golem would collapse and turn into clay once again. One story w䁡s told of a golem that grew so tall and large that its' master could not reach its forehead to rub out the magic letter. So the golem was ordered to take off its shoes. When it bent over to do this, its' master quickly erased the first letter. Unfortunately the golem turned into a huge lump of clay and fell on top of its' master, thereby crushing him to death. Rabbi Loew has a different method by simply snatching the magical symbol from the Golem's chest.

For those of you who own the recent VHS releases and want to know the name of the beautiful music piece heard throughout the film, it is "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Minor" composed by Johann Sebastian Bach. Karl Freund and Edgar G. Ulmer (who later directed the 1934 classic THE BLACK CAT) give the film their usual fantastic photography to the film. Lyda Salmonova is still an eye opener as Miriam, and look fast for Greta Schroeder (who appeared later as Ellen in NOSFERATU) as a flower girl.

Summary of The Golem (Restored Authorized Edition)

GOLEM - DVD Movie
Similar DVD Movies
The Phantom of the Opera - The Ultimate Edition (1925 Original Version and 1929 Restored Version) ImageThe Phantom of the Opera - The Ultimate Edition (1925 Original Version and 1929 Restored Version)
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2003-09-09; DVD
Best price: $70.00
Pandora's Box (The Criterion Collection) ImagePandora's Box (The Criterion Collection)
Image Entertainment; Release date: 2006-11-28; DVD
Best price: $25.53
Price in other shops: $39.95
Island of Lost Souls (Criterion Collection) ImageIsland of Lost Souls (Criterion Collection)
IMG; Release date: 2011-10-25; DVD
Best price: $16.09
Price in other shops: $29.95
German Expressionism Collection (The Hands of Orlac / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Secrets of a Soul / Warning Shadows) ImageGerman Expressionism Collection (The Hands of Orlac / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Secrets of a Soul / Warning Shadows)
Kino Video; Release date: 2008-02-19; DVD
Best price: $33.58
Price in other shops: $69.95
Die Nibelungen ImageDie Nibelungen
Kino International; Release date: 2002-11-19; DVD
Best price: $22.91
Price in other shops: $39.95
The Complete Metropolis ImageThe Complete Metropolis
KNV; Release date: 2010-11-16; DVD
Best price: $16.64
Price in other shops: $29.95
The Phantom Carriage (Criterion Collection) ImageThe Phantom Carriage (Criterion Collection)
IMG; Release date: 2011-09-27; DVD
Best price: $17.10
Price in other shops: $29.95
Faust (Restored 2-Disc Deluxe Edition) ImageFaust (Restored 2-Disc Deluxe Edition)
Kino International; Release date: 2009-03-17; DVD
Best price: $15.94
Price in other shops: $29.95
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Restored Authorized Edition) ImageThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Restored Authorized Edition)
Kino International; Release date: 2002-09-24; DVD
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops: $19.95
Nosferatu (The Ultimate Two-Disc Edition) ImageNosferatu (The Ultimate Two-Disc Edition)
Kino International; Release date: 2007-11-20; DVD
Best price: $17.13
Price in other shops: $29.95
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners