The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is the first silent film I have ever watched. It was also a horror film, which is a genre I am really not a fan of. I didn’t have expectations before watching the film, however now that I have watched it, the impression it left is very strong. The first thing that made an impression on me was how much I didn’t understand, due to the lack of speech. I would think that actions speak louder than words, but the shock was as intense as it must have been to watch a movie with dialog/speech for the first time. The intertitles seemed very funny at first, but thinking about it, it was the only way at the time to add words and I became accustomed to it at one point. Another aspect of the movie that left an unimaginable impression on me was the music that accompanied the film. It was very dark and creepy. The difference between today’s sound effects and those made with instruments at that time is incredible. The music accompanied the events well and fit the mood that was being acted out. The music was most helpful to understanding the plot of the movie and it really made it seem like a horror film. The lack of proportions and logical structure of the scenery made it more confusing and eerie for me. The doors were all sideways and the trees and shadows were sharp. I also couldn’t understand if it was day or night and sometimes whether the scene was inside or outside! All things considered, the amount that the directors and producers accomplished at this time is noble, however, in today’s day and age, the unfamiliarity with the elements of the film made it very difficult for me to follow and understand.
That being said, if I had to direct a silent film in New York City today, I would certainly try to focus on the other elements of a film, like scenery, music, and plot, to make it as clear to the viewers as possible. Music has proved itself to be the most effective for creating horror, so I would certainly rely on that to make my film a scary one. Additionally, I would use the city’s architecture to create the ideal scene for mystery. The buildings are primarily grey and brown, with perfect squares and rectangles for windows. Their redundancy creates an excellent background, that could make the actors stand out whether they are wearing bizarre costumes or simply colored clothing. The most terrifying thing that could happen in New York City is if it became abnormally empty and estranged. The crowdedness today is overwhelming; however, it has become a norm. These elements would help me create a perfect setting for a horror film. In conclusion, the “silent” element would be compromised for with musical accompaniment and visual simplicity, while New York’s architecture would be used to create the perfect murder mystery!
Ellen Stoyanov
