The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920)

Paul Wegener is credited with creating one of the first film franchises.  What we know as The Golem is the third movie, The Golem: How He Came into the World.  The original film, made in 1914, is now lost, although there are rumors that a print survived World War II in a private collection.  Despite that the only bit that has surfaced is about four minutes, mostly of the finale.  We do know that it took place in what was at the time the modern day, with the Golem (Wegener) being found in an antique shop and going on a rampage when reanimated and rejected by a woman he falls for. 

There was a comedy sequel, The Golem and the Dancing Girl, made in 1917 and which is also lost.  The movie we have, which has been pieced together from various prints and negatives from Europe and the U.S., is a prequel to the first.  While The Golem takes place in modern Prague, The Golem: How He Came into the World tells of the story of the creature's creation and its role in helping the inhabitants of the city's Jewish ghetto survive.

Rabbi Löw (Albert Steinrück) is a spiritual leader of the Jews in Prague and a practitioner of Kabbalistic arts.  His observations of the stars lead him to believe that his people are in danger, and he is correct.  The Emperor (Otto Gebühr) has declared that the ghetto must be cleared immediately and sends his squire Florian (Lothar Müthel) with the message.  Löw, in turn, demands an audience with the Emperor, while his daughter Mirjam (Lyda Salmonova) and Florian quickly fall for each other, much to the chagrin of Löw's servant (Ernst Deutsch) who is also in love with her.

In secret Löw has been creating a golem and, to bring it to life, needs to get a secret word from a demon named Astaroth.  He achieves this and at first the Golem is his loyal servant and plays a hand in protecting the Jews.  However, like all creatures, the Golem craves life.  The problem is Astaroth's influence means that there is a limited time before the Golem turns on its master. 

The story is a loose retelling of a story, thought to have been invented sometime in the 19th century, about the real Jewish mystic and religious leader Judah Loew ben Bezalel, also known as the Maharal.  The historical figure had a long career and published numerous works interpreting scripture and providing guidance in spiritual matters.  In most versions he uses magic similar to that used by Jehovah in the creation of Adam, but I have to admit the scenes with him wresting the word of life from Astaroth are some of the best I have seen in silent cinema.  

Paul Wegener plays the creature in full makeup and co-directed this movie with Carl Boese, as well as writing it with Henrik Galeen, who had directed the first film.  This idea of a franchise, and of an artist doing everything from writing to directing a film, is normal these days.  It was not so much in the past where many jobs were separated, which is why Charlie Chaplin and Orson Welles both stood out among the filmmakers of their day.  Wegener's Golem makeup is one of the more famous designs of early horror films.

What makes the film is the set design.  The poster art is a good representation of the buildings depicted in the movie, which combines both sets and location filming.  It takes place in the 1500s, but most of the buildings look like something twisted and half-formed in a dream.  The Golem: How He Came into the World is considered one of the key films in the German Expressionist movement, even if it is often overshadowed by Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.  

Wegener, who was also a stage actor, brings emotion and sympathy to the Golem, making him more than just a shambling beast.  Lyda Salmonova, who had also played the lead in the previous movies as well as others by Wegener, is quite beautiful even if she was significantly older than her character in the movie.  Also, she deserves some credit if that was her being dragged by the hair through the streets of the ghetto by the Golem near the end. 

It is too bad the other movies aren't around to be seen, at least at this time, as it would be interesting to see how they compare to the classic we know as they were made before Expressionism became a major part of German film style and, at least with the first, was made before Europe got embroiled in World War I.  What little we have of it shows some early hints of the style of the 1920 feature as well as scenes that would not look out of place in a modern horror film.  Still, it is lucky we have the movie we do, as it is among the classics of early cinema. 

The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920)

Time: 91 minutes

Starring: Paul Wegener, Albert Steinrück, Lyda Salmonova, Otto Gebühr

Directors: Paul Wegener, Carl Boese