Steamed Hams but it's a German Expressionist Film

A man's attempt to impress his employer with a home-cooked meal goes awry. Inspired by The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

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Gedämpfter Schinken

ein Film von
Tyrone Deise

die hauptrollen
Kelly Money
Jason Smith

maskenbildner
Jenn Kess

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Shot as part of the WNDX One Take Super 8 in Winnipeg, Canada. (2021)

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#steamedhams #simpsons #silentfilm

[MrGared]

Ah yes, _The Cabinet of Superintendant Chalmers_ is one of my favorite German expressionist films too.

[nian]

This left me speechless. This is the farthest point this meme can take us, you perfected it

[quillquickcard]

It's really uncanny how much tension this adds to the whole scene

[valjean]

They made us watch this first year or film school. Most of the students didn't get it but it changed my life. Truly a masterpiece and treasure from the ancient days of silent films.

[kingsnivy]

This film steamed hams also known as "Der Burgerbetrug" is a film long thought to have been lost with only promotional images existing. The film was long thought to be destroyed during WW2 after the director's own home was destroyed in a fire caused by a bomb. it wasn't until 2005 where a badly damaged copy was found at an abandoned church in Argentina was found by local explorers. The film went through restoration process and was released to the public in 2007. The film itself is an artistic statement on the class system many societies use, how we as people always try to make those higher than us happier without thinking about our own well-being. The film remains a cult masterpiece and holds up as being one of the best expresssionist films of the time and today.

[Luxbecca]

The short film gem "Gedämpfter Schinken", an expressionist classic, is thought to have its origins in 1920s Berlin and is suspected to be an experimental film that was supposed to be part of a movie collection called "Der Rektor". As far as research goes, "Der Rektor" was never finalized, though "Gedämpfter Schinken" was highly thought to have been acted out and recorded in front of a small live audience of theater enthusiasts.

The footage was thought to be lost during the second World War and only a newspaper clipping from a local Berlin paper dated 1924 was proof for its existence. In 1979 a theater intern discovered the remnants of "Gedämpfter Schinken" during a deep spring cleaning in a small Berlin-Kreuzberg theater. Efforts to restore the footage were only midly successfully and only a 3:15min clip remains.

Movie experts still debate its meaning. And though the names of the actors, as well as the director have been lost to time and efforts to identify them still remain unsuccessful, "Gedämpfter Schinken" has grown to be one of the most fascinating pieces of early cinema.

[j.marston]

The lighting on German Chalmers makes him look badass honestly.

[NA-AN]

Hmm, ahh, yes. The Mans willingness to abandoned his integrity over merely impressing his employer shows the ways a strictly classed base society can cause those to abandon their morals for petty favour from their superiors.

This is a joke obviously but still, it kinda rings true in a highly specific, bizarre way. And, Amazing video, best steamed ham video ever.

[TheStockwell]

Elvis impersonators are *so* 20th century. This film guarantees that Werner Krauss tribute artists are going to be the next big trend. 🐧

[BernardFreeman-rs]

Man this is so impressive. Down to every little detail like the simple “yes” not getting its own title card like they actually would do in these old silent films

[elduderino]

It's interesting. At 2:55 You can really tell in the final moments Skinner's ultimate fear manifest in his shaking. Does the fear come from the immediate situation or the foundation of lies he has now built this relationship upon. Truly a masterpiece.

[cornerspider]

I watched this after finishing The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari, and I cannot put into words how much this video made me laugh! It looks so authentic, exactly what I needed at 3am

[newtybot]

It always brings me joy to see people understand that Chalmers doesn’t actually yell “Seymour” in that scene, and that it’s actually part of the song

[maskmaster]

The amount of effort that went into this STEAMED HAMS MEME is unreal. My goodness. Period appropriate hats off to you, sir.

[HamsterVormFenster]

As a German, I was gonna point out that "gedampft" would've been less ambiguous for the title but then I realised the ambiguity actually works in favour here: "gedämpft" also means subdued or muted - not in the sense of something being imperceptible but simply less perceptible, less but still clearly there. I don't have a background in expressionist films but I do think this double meaning fits the film quite well: the visuals as well as the audio are muted, the mood is subdued, the comedy aspect is pushed into the background in favour of Art Appreciation... considering these things, the title is actually quite perfect. Was this on purpose?

[ohwormc]

This is literally art, and I'm not joking- the dedication to replicating the German expressionist style with the set design is wonderful

[riprubbler]

My favorite kind of humor is taking something really silly and twisting it in a very sophisticated way. This is the pinnacle of that and I have nothing but respect for you creating this! Especially with such prowess!

[DonoVideoProductions]

I have to commend especially the color grade, texture, and contrast of this. It has that gauzy, almost out of focus, high-contrast look of old film. Plus, the fingers-on-a-chalkboard violin music bed is the perfect amplifier of the tension in this scene. One would be hard pressed to know this was not found archival footage until the thj bs up at the end. Fantastic!

[alexeyeliseev]

"Seymour, the house is on fire!"
"No, mother, it's just the Kristallnacht"

[texnb]

"Tyrone, I don't use the word "Übermensch" very often, but you are the greatest Übermensch in the Weimar Republic." - Herr Lionel Hutz