Photography has the power to capture one singular moment, framing a millisecond of an event, emotion, or reaction. The way a photograph snapshots a moment of reality is far different when compared to a way film captures a series of moments. Film and videography has the power to narrate an entire story while incorporating movement and action. Once film was introduced, artists were able to narrate stories through actors, sound, and special effects. For the first time, an artist had the power manipulate a scene, while playing with the concept of reality.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, directed by Robert Wiene in 1920, was one of the first murder-mystery films that allowed a viewer to question reality. While all films at this time were silent, the director was restricted to creating the film’s scenery, the actor’s expressions, the sounds behind each scene, as well as the special effects used in each scene. The scenery and stage effects used in this film were Tim Burton-like, including tilted walls, crooked door frames, and dull, unrealistic colors and shapes for real-like objects. The medium of film and video gave directors the ability to change the background scenery to accompany the storyline at play. To accompany the mystery and angst of the film, the director chose to use scenery that was unlike anything you would see in reality.
The most notable effects of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari were the use of sound effects without the use of voice, the font used to describe each scene, as well as the unusual scenery incorporated into each background. If I were to create a silent murder mystery film in modern-day New York City, I would use my surroundings and any visual representations to my advantage. In order to promote angst and worry, I would shoot many scenes in alleyways or places with dim-light. I would incorporate the creepy, unsatisfying aspects of the city in order to promote a sense of fear and wonder. I would even consider using a psychic as a character in the film to promote the questioning of reality and what’s real. Murder-mysteries are meant to cause question and panic in the viewer, which can only be described through scenery, the actions of the actors, and the sound effects in a silent film. Without the help of constant narration of voices in a silent film, a director has the responsibility to demonstrate the story line through other ways than the actors itself.
