Express Yourself: Celebrating the Creativity of Expressionist Cinema—a mostly wordless montage

Expressionist Cinema was a short lived, yet highly influential Avant-Garde movement from the early 20th Century. It influenced Science Fiction, Horror films, and Film Noir. For example, without Metropolis, Blade Runner and many other science fiction films would have looked very different.

Mostly, I appreciate the creativity and ingenuity shown in expressing what is normally unseen in reality. The development of special effects, and advanced montage techniques influenced not just Hollywood, but movie making all around the world. At this early stage in motion picture history, many critics and academics felt that movies could never be a true artform, but just mindlesss entertainment for the masses. The advent of Avant-Garde film and Expressionism made those arguments seem ridiculous.

The music that I needle-dropped in is expressionist as well. Mostly Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky, with a dash of a 78RPM record of a German jazz band. Some of it is from the film soundtracks.

Editing & Sound Design ©2024 Bill Wolfer.

Introduction | 00:00 - 00:55
What is Expressionism? | 00:55 - 2:02
The Student of Prague | 2:07 - 3:20
From Morn Til Midnight | 3:20 - 5:05
The Golem | 5:05 - 7:56
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari | 7:56 - 9:08
Destiny | 9:08 - 10:39
Nosferatu | 10:39 - 10:59
Phantom 10:59 - 13:15
Schatten | 13:15 - 13:48
Die Strasse | 13:48 - 14:40
The Last Laugh | 14:40 - 21:36
Variety 21:36 - 24:44
Secrets of a Soul | 24:44 - 25:51
Faust | 25:51 - 37:00
Metropolis | 37:00 - 46:11
Sunrise | 46:11 - 49:08

[this.is.shashwat]

Wow love this. I appreciate your effort for creating this montage