On this day in 1920, Robert Wiene's German expressionist masterpiece Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari was released into cinemas.
One of the most iconic masterpieces in cinema history, Robert Wiene's Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari shook filmgoers worldwide and changed the direction of the art form when it was release on 26 February 1920.
Incalculably influential, the film's nightmarishly jagged sets, sinister atmospheric and psychological emphasis left an immediate impact in its wake (horror, film noir, and gothic cinema would all be shaped directly by it).
Back in 2014, Eureka! released the definitive restoration on dual format as part of their Masters of Cinema Series, then in January last year, the expressionist masterpiece was brought out in a collectable Steelbook Blu-ray edition, which includes the 2014 documentary, From Caligari to Hitler, a two-hour exploration of German Cinema during the Weimar Republic (1918-1933). Plus, there's a host of brand-new bonus extras to savour.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX • High-definition presentation, from the extensive FWMS restoration • Option of Stereo and 5.1 surround scores • Original German intertitles with optional English subtitles • From Caligari to Hitler: German Cinema in the Age of the Masses • You Must Become Caligari: Video essay by film critic David Cairns • Exclusive audio commentary by film historian David Kalat • Caligari: The Birth of Horror in the First World War: 52 minute documentary on the cultural and historical impact of the film • On the Restoration: three short video pieces on the film's restoration • Trailer for the release of the new restoration of the film • Booklet featuring vintage writing on the film by Lotte H Eisner; an original Variety review of the film; and rare archival imagery
