The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

The film, The Cabinet of Dr, Caligari, immerses itself in rich, dark mise-en-scene. Aside from its black-and-white appearance, the movie uses heavy shadows and sparse lights to create a dreamlike environment that constantly makes the audience wonder whether the events that are occurring on screen are one of the character’s dreams. Since half the movie takes place in a bizarre mental hospital, the overall environment of the film showcases dead, stark trees, howling wind, harsh rain and colossal gothic structures.

            The set design in the film fully completes the film’s mise-en-scene. Every single set is built by hand and each set is carefully thought out and crafted like a piece of art. This film so very heavy handed with its German Expressionist influence in its set design it almost a tribute every time a character plods across the warped floorboards. The costumes in the film add the eerie mise-en-scene that the environment builds. Many of the characters wear dark colors in flowing costumes and saturated make-up to accentuate the mood and feel of the piece. 

            Since the film is silent, the music played during the movie adds to its stark, creepy environment. The title cards, which are written in scratched cursive, complete the experience because any information that is thrown directly at the audience in text form is crafted to fit the mood.

Mike Curcio