German Expressionism: Crash Course Film History #7

[@juanjuri6127]

"I'm not Dracula! I'm my own original character, Brapula!"

[@v.k.8153]

Thumbs up for correct pronunciation of "Weimar!"

[@GustafGouda]

Thumbs down for incorrect pronunciation of "Robert Wiene".

[@v.k.8153]

😩Win some, lose some I suppose…

[@KathyClysm]

that is quite literally the only German word in this episode he got right hahahaha but hey, who cares

[@mussoletart8485]

СестрыПоОружию Auto-ren-film was hilarious though.

[@Rhomega]

I've seen The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu, and Metropolis. I enjoyed all 3.

[@GoldZephonian]

Rhomega me too, have a look at M by Fritz Lang as well, the whole thing is on KZbin somewhere

[@SECONDQUEST]

Rhomega Yes, I took intro to film communications in high school as well.

[@Rhomega]

I actually didn't. I was inspired to watch Caligari and Nosferatu thanks to Cinemassacre's Monster Madness. Metropolis I found on Netflix and its name was mentioned as a classic early sci-fi film.

[@rattis]

My own experience watching Metropolis for the first time in a film class was COMPLTELY ruined by the fact that the film was shown with a horribly repetative soundtrack tacked on. I swear to God it was like a 7 minute loop of some kind of modern techno stuff. It drove me crazy and took away any potential enjoyment of the film. That was a a decade ago, and I should really give the film another chance.

[@KhanadaRhodes]

rattis did you watch the version that came out in 1984 (or some year around there) with the updated score by giorgio moroder? it sounds like you did. if there were bits with vocals by queen and stuff, that's what it was.

[@KassMcCormack]

Caligari is, without doubt, one of my favorite movies. It's creepy, visually interesting, and brilliantly performed. (Also, Conrad Veidt was super cute but I digress.)

[@kalrbaum]

metropolis is such a good film

[@crashcourse]

Right? Especially when you start showing it next to other films from right around the same time it really stands out! - Nick J.

[@dixie_rekd9601]

@CrashCourse, hey sorry to jump onto someone elses comment to harrass you with a question but I was just wondering if these series (film history, computer science, ect) are all filmed at once, like a full series filmed over a single day, or filmed one at a time once a week or so? I dont expect a reply because you probably have better things to do but it would help me to understand how you produce your series...

[@crashcourse]

When they involve a non-local host (i.e. not Hank, John, Stan, or Nicole) we film around 6 episodes at a time. With film we're quite a bit ahead of that because our upcoming host (Lily Gladstone) had a job with a theater company so we had to move the schedule up a bit. At this point we have about 31 episodes filmed with 15 left to shoot starting in July. :) - Nick J.

[@dixie_rekd9601]

@CrashCourse, wow thats an awesome explanation, I eagerly look forward to all of your upcoming episodes :D

[@novusmundi]

Metropolis is actually about the Book of Revelation from the Bible. They found over 20 minutes of lost footage and the film's transcripts. It exposes what the film was about. The rich man's son was Jesus and the android version of Maria was the Whore of Babylon. Amazing film. Buy the 2010 restored version. I believe that is the version that has the missing footage and the transcripts to complete the film.

[@queenofrapture6605]

Oh my god "Press F" on the gravestone made me laugh a little too hard...

[@paulrigsby2099]

The restored Metropolis, complete for the first time since the 30s, is amazing.

[@CathForStew]

As a French-Canadian with a degree in Theatre, I feel compelled to mention that 'Mise en scène' (great pronunciation btw Craig) is also the word for directing a play. So in French the director of a Play is called a 'Metteur en scène' and the direction you chose for the play is the 'Mise en scène' (basically what you said about Mise en scène in the movie, style, blocking etc.) on the other hand, someone who directs Movies is called a 'Réalisateur' which can be loosely translated to someone who implements. It come form the verb 'Réaliser' which means several things, among which, to make, implement, construct. I've never heard the words Misen en scène used in the context of film making, but of course, it works! Thank you for these videos, they are very fascinating!

[@evanhardy7706]

I love crash course so much! I'm not even in a film class I just love to watch!

[@TheOlian04]

Evan Hardy that's sort of the point :) If you're taking film you probably won't learn anything new from this.

[@benjamintheengineer]

I find it very informative, any and all information related to film and filmmaking i consider mandatory and educational in my book :D

[@quiroz923]

So here's an important myth: Metropolis had a certain political flair to it that would not have been necessarily adverse to Nazi Germany. Goebbels liked the film quite a lot. So he met with Lang and asked him to become the head of the state's film production. Lang said yes, of course I'll do nazi films for nazi Germany. Then he went home, packed a suitcase, got the hell out of the country and came to Hollywood, where, among other things, he made propaganda films against the nazis. Now his WIFE on the other hand....

[@paulrigsby2099]

quiroz923 so all of that is just a myth?

[@quiroz923]

Well, that's how Fritz Lang told the story. According to Gösta Werner, it wasn't exactly like he told it: "(A) The contact between Goebbels and Fritz Lang: Even though it is highly probable that Goebbels did offer Lang the post as head of the entire German film production, there is not a word about it in Goebbels's usually meticulous diary for the year 1933. Lang is not mentioned there at all.(B) Lang's headlong flight to Paris: The answer is to be found in Lang's passport. The passport, numbered 11 53.31, was issued in Berlin on 11 September 1931, and valid until 11 September 1936. It contains a large number of stamps and Fritz Lang's name is to be found alongside nearly every one of them. There are no visas or exit stamps for the months of February, March, and the beginning of April 1933. There is only one exit visa for Fritz Lang. It is made out by Der Polizeipräsident in Berlin and dated 23 June 1933. It is valid for exits for a period of six months. Up to that date Lang had therefore never left Germany. The passport also contains several visas for entry into Belgium, every one issued in Berlin and at the end of June and July 1933. Further, during the same period Lang purchased foreign currency repeatedly at the Weltreisebureau Union in Unter den Linden in Berlin, totalling 1,366 Reichsmark. All these transactions are duly registered in the passport in dated stamps: 26 June, 27 June, 20 July. These days Lang must have been in Berlin.According to the testimony of entry and exit stamps, in June and in July 1933 Lang visited England and Belgium, inter alia by air. He had a two-year visa for repeated entries into France. It was issued in London 20 June 1932 and was valid until 20 June 1934. The entry stamps for 1933 are all from June and July 1933, the first being dated 28 June, the last 31 July.The foreign currency stamps from Berlin testify, as do the various entry and exit stamps, that between the journeys abroad in the summer of 1933 Lang returned to Berlin, which city he left finally only on 31 July 1933-four months after his legendary meeting with Goebbels and supposed dramatic escape." So it was kinda truth, but not exactly as dramatic as he told it, which is why I say it's an important myth, because it's a really cool story, even if it wasn't EXACTLY like he told it.

[@xThePinkApple]

I go to uni in Germany and had a film history class last semester where the lecturer said that Metropolis isn't as great as everyone makes it out to be (she said it's too long for one) and so instead we watched M (which is also slightly too long imo but still really good!) I was surprised M wasn't mentioned because it's pretty expressionistic but then again it's also a sound film (and we're still at silent films) so maybe it'll be mentioned later on. For the next video I predict Craig will talk a lot about Eisenstein and montage and the nationalistic Russian films and Battleship Potemkin (with that stairs scene!)

[@-Gorbi-]

I love this host. He has that compelling John-Hodgman-esque calm and dryness

[@SuperAngryPacman]

You should probably check out his personal channel, then. Craig is an astoundingly underrated comedian.

[@crashcourse]

SuperAngryPacman is not wrong! Check out wheezywaiter :) - Nick J.

[@vilebeggar7301]

the way you pronounced 'autorenfilm' made me spit out my breakfast

[@DerMessiasderSatire]

Like "Auto-renn-film" lol

[@Librarymania]

🖤 German expressionism. It was a great influence on one of my favorite films, Night of the Hunter.

[@TheMogul23]

It's strange to see the influence of The Cabinet of Dr Caligari discussed without Tim Burton's name coming up. His whole visual style is a direct lift from that film.

[@markcysts]

I remember seeing Cabinet of Dr. Caligari in high school and thought it was just ho-hum and nifty that Tim Burton used the somnambulist as a model for Edward Scissorhands. It wasn't until after I came back from Iraq and spent more time in the waking world where I really appreciated it. Nosferatu may seem tame now but it's exceptionally creepy if you watch it on an old reel to reel like how I saw it for the first time with my parents on some random Halloween.

[@JuvenileStacks]

9:23 a friggin well placed "press f to pay respects" easter egg

[@SickSticker717]

Sick reference at 9:25, my guys. It took me a second, but that's a good inscription.

[@RubenBrackman]

I have an exam film history next week. I wish this series was finished already. Guess I'll have to learn the old way.

[@kyleolin3566]

Never thought I would have an interest in old movies, but after watching the camera work, and lighting on these movies, i'm intrigued

[@LuisSierra42]

The first plot twist

[@Zyswest]

"...was meant to be super creepy. This is the heart of German Expressionism."

[@coltondulin6576]

Loved the episode but how can you mention Lang without the masterpiece M?

[@Eryncerise]

I'm guessing that if they do mention M, they might put it in with an episode on the advent of sync sound, since M isn't one of Lang's more expressionist movies and tends to be hailed as one of the earliest master-level uses of sound in film.

[@coltondulin6576]

ErynCerise I see your point, here's to hoping they include it later!

[@tobi2731]

+ErynCerise - M is one of Lang's more expressionistic films. Just think of how the titular letter is used.

[@anilatarannum]

I have absolutely no relation to any film class neither do I delve deep into aspects of movies. I just enjoy watching them. And I cannot believe how much I'm enjoying this crash course.

[@smithwillnot]

Decla was "lacking resources" and they proceed to create intricate sets for The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. That's must have been hell.

[@FlosBlog]

Its Autóren-film with an emphasis on the o. The way you pronunced it (Autorennfilm) means car racing film.

[@JSeedProductions]

I was right! I knew 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' would be featured!

[@CamelDance]

+CrashCource I'd like to point out that the flag used in the first animation here is inaccurate. In 1917, the German flag was still black-white-red, not black-red-gold. I get that you want the animations to be simlar, but it's just inaccurate.

[@zirasoul]

9:20 "Press F to pay respect" good one :D

[@CynicalFish.]

Last time I was this early Prussia was a thing

[@rarestpepe3917]

Prussia is always a thing, with their 500% discipline

[@Bejunckt]

Well.. there's still Brandenburg and Berlin, and the descendants of Prussian exiles living all around Germany

[@tiscotisa9731]

Tomás Corben BLASTS PRUSSIAN ANTHEM AT 500% DISIPLINE

[@yuuneeq9494]

member Prussia? I member.

[@carlosmanuellimaribeiro5577]

What? Prussia no longer exists? *Plays flute, Fredrick II style*

[@Darkendeep]

This episode was really funny. I especially like how Craig downplayed the Great War for comedic affect.

[@mudawarsyed836]

Can the narrator speak a bit slowly? i am playing the video at 0.75 speed.

[@rebeccahowarth2250]

This was fascinating! I'd absolutely love an episode on the history of the films of Leni Riefenstahl - she's a fascinating personality study and her filmmaking techniques would be really interesting to see on crash course!!

[@BlueSugarMaple]

Fritz Lang can rock a monocle!

[@victikirby15]

Clicked because I was curious why Kirby was there

[@miriamkorver1443]

And you didn't get an answer. Seriously, what does Kirby have to do with anything?

[@isaacs8783]

victikirby15 who the hell is Kirby

[@IridiumAxle]

You monster! You don't even know who kirby is... uncultured swine

[@izzy3995]

Miriam Korver clickbait.

[@cj5502]

@CrashCourse Thankyou for this! Could not have been more perfectly times as i am doing an essay on German expressionism. Cabinet of Dr Caligari was a masterpiece.

[@iantharobot3288]

Is there an episode on continuity errors? because you punched the eagle off at 0:20 and then it immediately comes back :D

[@LuisSierra42]

hAHAHHAAH, good catch

[@isaacs8783]

ian m no there's just a battle of eagles trying to wipe out Craig but he's too busy with filming crash course, so he's multitasking

[@samking4704]

Can't wait until you cover French New Wave

[@crashcourse]

It's coming. It was a bear of an episode, too. But, I'm pretty happy with it :) - Nick J.

[@samking4704]

Sweet dude, looking forward to it

[@TheSpeedster37]

'DRÜCKEN SIE F' on the Weimar period tombstone towards the end of the video means 'press F' ahahaha

[@williamfitch1408]

I was fortunate enough to see a screening of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with a three-piece band - cello, electric bass and drums - accompanying it. Outstanding, even if I say so myself.

[@TorkildKahrs]

I can't wait for this show to reach the clone wars

[@JSeedProductions]

You made me laugh!

[@joaquincasares2895]

The cabinet of Dr. Caligari sounds pretty much like the Joker (2019)

[@withnail-and-i]

That's because Joker is 100% derivative of previous better pieces

[@entangledwebmanagement5842]

The further we get into this series, the more I'm enjoying it. Thanks, Craig and CC.

[@phlsnst5882]

Very interesting. I learned so much from this episode! Not just film, but story telling, and even about the world en general! Im very thankful

[@matthewpuzzo8997]

Happy to say this is my favorite Crash Course since World History season 1.

[@Ontime2day]

thank you crash course and PBS, and viewers like you.

[@williamhosp701]

I've seen the three main films you mentioned and you summarize them very well.

[@DancingRaspberry]

Please make more! I have film history exam next month on the 7th! These videoes are everything to me right now ❤🎉

[@Luxalpa]

Hm, I wonder if a future episode will also mention The 12 Stages of The Hero's Journey

[@jasonrobbins6944]

Sounds very philosophically close to what eventually became the German Expressionist movement in music, including musicals like "The Soldier's Story" (I didn't want to risk what spellcheck would do with the actual title) where the types of voices used and modes of tonality (or more often the extreme lack of them) sat the audience on edge.

This was the best episode so far. Thank you.

[@firdaus99031]

simple... I see kirby I press like :D

[@EM-vf7xn]

thank you crashcourse i love you i cant believe this is for free youre doing the good work love you

[@stonesofvenice]

Why are you putting these scratchy "old timey" filters over the films?? These films have since been restored and look great today. It's almost like you're trying to discourage people from watching them by making them look worse and more dated than they actually are! Please do not do that with silent films from now on! Show them as they are meant to be seen: crisp and clean and restored!

[@Thndrstrike]

Anastasia P I was wondering the same thing myself, wondering how in the world could they look so bad with all the restoration done nowadays. If it really just a filter, than shame on Crash Course

[@stonesofvenice]

It is just a filter. I have seen all of those films. I'm a huge silent film fan. "The Last Laugh" looks especially great in it's restoration today and in the CrashCourse clip it's blurry! The lenses they used to film back then were sharp and extremely high quality. Germans were especially known for their lens technology. There is little difference between the camera lenses they used back then versus the ones today in terms of sharpness. The dust and scratches have almost all been restored or digitally removed in most modern day DVD restored releases. I get that the designers of this series probably thought it looked cute to put those filters over the films but I worry that it further makes people think that silent films are ugly and old hat and not "watchable" by today's standards. And that is a travesty, they are absolutely watchable thanks to digital restorations and most look stupendous even by today's standards.

[@RoboBoddicker]

Yeah, I don't get why they would do that. Maybe they're trying to avoid a copyright strike? :D

[@stonesofvenice]

Copyright shouldn't be an issue because this is an educational video. I know the designers at CrashCourse love putting in little tweaks and quirks in to make their videos unique, but in this case it actually does a disservice to the material. When it comes to videos about film, less is really more! They should take cues from the Nerdwriter1's channel, who always does an excellent job with how to showcase clips.

[@sirBrouwer]

Copydot the restored films might indeed be copyrighted where the original film is not. so it's cheaper to use the original material.

[@ianalvord3903]

Dammit Nick, when you gonna say yes?

[@crashcourse]

I REFUSE! - Nick J.

[@cmw7901]

I learnt a lot from Crash Course!!! Thank you!!! Btw, are admins interested in making courses about Western Art History? I consider it would be a great topic for next course

[@rattis]

Art history in general would be great too! :)

[@DavidAllen-px7gr]

Were these guys trying to be ironic by using Kirby of all characters in an episode about the pure, unhinged terror of German Expressionism? He seems extremely out-of-place, especially with the war helmets [Edit: he's wearing]...

[@spencerandersen271]

Everyone wanted to see Kirby in a Pickelhaube... let's be honest 😂😂

[@ParasaurolophusEwan]

Have you seen matpat's recent Theory? Basically he theorised that Kirby is A reincarnating god of destruction

[@emilyleonard1082]

Thanks for existing Crash Course.

[@henry1690]

Caligari, Metropolis, insanity, art-based films, and Kirby? This one's right up my alley. Also, good job with the video work as always. Glad to see one of my favorite hobbies being analyzed by one of my favorite KZbin channels. Keep up with the good work.

[@annekerkemeijer7000]

I didn't understand much of it, but because there were so many drawings and that kind of things in the video, I did follow the main subject :), thanks!

[@KingsleyIII]

So, what does Kirby have to do with all of this?

[@landinjor]

I'm ready for Crash Course Art History!

[@Ohmahlanta]

Fritz Lang!!! I love German Expressionism!!!! I watched Metropolis for the first time in a theater in Germany with a live pianist. It was an amazing movie and an amazing experience :) Literally a work of art

[@IgneusDei2]

Such a great series. Thanks CrashCourse!

[@ikeorch7]

This is great! I'm watching Metropolis tonight for my class

[@aii5748]

What I learned? Germany expressionist film was very gothic. 😆 Another interesting episode.

[@gilbertramirez6626]

Well Done . Thank you and Merry Christmas.

[@MakeMeThinkAgain]

Great episode. Getting better.

[@billy-lm4xg]

so shutter island is caligari

[@crashcourse]

Yes. - Nick J.

[@johnlemon3809]

Ha, "A hard right to fascism." I get it!

[@EvilAntonio]

I'm kind of upset they didn't mention Dr. Mabuse at all.

[@katarzynaszajkowski8394]

I just watched American Psycho the other day, and now I realize the amount of German expressionism in the film wow

[@TOFKAS01]

The whole "Noir"-genre of the 1940s and 1950s is in fact a result of german expressionism. Philip Marlowe is a german and Barbara Stanwick too.....

[@TOFKAS01]

Oh yes, and one version of the Joker from the Batman-comics is a 1:1 copy of a 1920s german actor.

[@a.d.4069]

i m so happy about this video, cus i did a huge project for school about caligari

[@andarted]

9:17 The phrase "Drücken Sie F" is german and mean 'press F'. That refers to a scene from the controversal scene from the game 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare'. It's a scene that is supposed to be sad, a military funeral. The narrativ of the scene suddenly stops and the game blend in the words 'Press F to Pay Respect'. It's was perceived controversal because the simple gamification of such a profound moment. I know, it's an obvious joke for everyone! ...who is interested in Film History, follows modern game culture and speaks german. [I love it, thank's CrashCourse! ♥︎]

[@KhanadaRhodes]

i liked this, but as many said every german word that wasn't "weimar" was mispronounced which was a bummer. i also felt so much focus was placed on what led up to the weimar era that the era itself was barely mentioned. i mean, it was nice seeing films from the 1910s getting a mention, but if time was critical, the focus should've been on films from the weimar republic era. just my two cents. overall though it was great. i love this era of films (got to take a class on them during my undergrad) so anytime i see something about them, i gotta watch it!

[@NattyDread011]

2:45 no need to imagine lol

[@AtomicPeacenik]

I love this series! I can't wait for next episode.

[@Cythil]

would be especially weird of the American Military took over Sony... considering it a Japanese company. But hay. To nationalize companies not actually from you own country is not a new thing. Though generally that is more to gain control of natural resources.

[@rubychopra7137]

I hope they have an episode on Audio Description. That is an art form in itself. My friend has been blind since birth and therefore only listens to audio description. There have been many essays written in the intersection between the visuals, the sounds in the film and the descriptions. It would be a crime to have a series on film and not talk about that.

[@YojnakarNisarg]

yes sir This series is all about films and movies and is created by help of all this team of untrained cameraman but yet amazing because its informative.

[@benjaminwilson9007]

Oh my gosh. Futurama did a reference to Metropolis and Fritz Lang in general.

[@Joe-bg2cj]

Love the rambo

[@Silver-yy5nf]

-Hold on... Is that?.... It's wheezy waiter!

[@qounqer]

Woah woa, "to help Germany pay for the damage they caused during the war" I'm offended.

[@malconley9928]

I clicked over here just for Kirby.

[@mallikia8996]

Madeline Conley lol Kirby was click-bait.

[@malconley9928]

Mallikia, I'm also a big fan of Craig and CC in general. I always love how they integrate popular culture into their explanations of otherwise rather dry topics.

[@dawnfancher9007]

I love the pop culture too, but I find this anything but dry!

[@joeymartinez1866]

How can the history of cinema be dry? Eh, I guess not so much for me and my hopes of being a filmmaker.

[@hermes-stanlvu4116]

there was Kirby wym

[@dewi9611]

You should've​ released this course last year when I took Film Studies :') I learned more in here than in my class.

[@gourabdas9329]

Lady Dew which country is your university in ?

[@cholten99]

Ah. Rotwang the Inventor. My favourite cinema character of all time - "no-one understands my genius!"

[@jamestang1227]

What a Twist!!!

[@MCO18]

There’s nothing like watching German expressionist films while stoned.

[@EmmaBonn96]

I'm very curious to learn how animation became an industry. I hope you cover the early days of Disney.

[@crashcourse]

We will a little bit. - Nick J.

[@EmmaBonn96]

CrashCourse thank you!

[@stephaniemariewhitlock8370]

wheezy talking about metropolis??? *liked*

[@FrankstaPasta]

"Drucken Sie F" omg

[@AM-hz8xm]

Nick, you're such a BUZZKILL.

[@Mrs.Sardonicus]

Please do a series on Music History!

[@kelseymarie4856]

a fun little joke could be the chess pieces in the back proceed through a game of chess throughout the course

[@griffinmaden2577]

I saw the thumbnail and immediately started wondering how Kirby could be related to German impressionism

[@MaytaneVideos]

I mean who would dislike this man, like why?

[@amyliu3022]

This saved me for IB film

[@jarin4847]

why didn't this exist when I was doing HSC 😭

[@phoebe7749]

subterranean homesick alien hahaha I can relate! Metropolis, right?

[@rdcstudios]

If you haven't seen the films mentioned you're missing out!