History Film / TheCabinetOfDrCaligari

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Francis may have given the Doctor a wicked idea which the Doctor will then proceed to try on everyone in the asylum. The statement of "Now I can cure him" means that Francis would be the first test subject.

* AndYouWereThere: Most of the characters turn out to have real-world counterparts hanging around the asylum.

* DerangedAnimation: Despite being live-action, it's more stylized than your average cartoon

* ExecutiveMeddling: [[TropesAreNotBad A benevolent example.]] The TwistEnding was originally the idea of a studio exec, and it makes the movie ''much'' more interesting and uncomfortable. Apparently after screenings, a man would come out and ''reassure the audience'' that everything was going to be alright.
** The benevolence of the example is somewhat suspect, as WordOfGod stated that the film was supposed to represent what [[WorldWarOne people in power could force others to do against their will]], [[ShellShockedVeteran leaving them unresponsive shells]] who were a [[BrainwashedAndCrazy slave to the whims of those in power]]. Many historians view the changed ending as a sign that the audiences of the time weren't comfortable with the idea of questioning authority, even if that authority was corrupt and instigated them to do horrible things - a [[WorldWarTwo foreboding]] [[ThoseWackyNazis portent of]] [[JustFollowingOrders things to come]].

The film was deals with dangers of hospitals in World War I when "malingering" soldiers were confined in hospitals under their manipulative doctors. Within a larger context, it also deconstructs the self-justifying narratives that were beginning to take hold in Germany and eventually lead to the rise of Nazism.

* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Dr. Caligari. [[spoiler: Actually a deconstruction of this trope, since the character turns out to be a fairly harmless psychiatrist, and Francis is perceiving him as a DiabolicalMastermind.]]

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Creator/DougJones, of ''Film/PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Creator/DougJones also had a small role in TimBurton's ''Film/BatmanReturns'', a movie that owes a ''lot'' to the German Expressionist style.)

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Doug Jones, of ''Film/PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Creator/DougJones also had a small role in TimBurton's ''Film/BatmanReturns'', a movie that owes a ''lot'' to the German Expressionist style.)

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Doug Jones, of ''Film/PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Doug Jones also had a small role in TimBurton's ''Film/BatmanReturns'', a movie that owes a ''lot'' to the German Expressionist style.)

Silent [[GermanExpressionism expressionism]] horror film made in 1920 Germany, starring Werner Krauss as the titular mad doctor and Conrad Veidt (the bad guy from ''Film/{{Casablanca}}...'' oh, and [[TheManWhoLaughs the original]] [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker Joker]]) as the fortune-telling sleepwalker Cesare [[ItIsPronouncedTropay (pronounced "cheh-ZAR-ay")]], who lives inside the cabinet.

Silent [[GermanExpressionism expressionism]] horror film made in 1920 Germany, starring Werner Krauss as the titular mad doctor and Conrad Veidt (the bad guy from ''Film/{{Casablanca}}...'' oh, and [[TheManWhoLaughs the original]] [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker Joker]]) as the fortune-telling sleepwalker Cesare [[ItsPronouncedTropay (pronounced "cheh-ZAR-ay")]], who lives inside the cabinet.

Silent [[GermanExpressionism expressionism]] horror film made in 1920 Germany, starring Werner Krauss as the titular mad doctor and Conrad Veidt (the bad guy from ''{{Casablanca}}...'' oh, and [[TheManWhoLaughs the original]] [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker Joker]]) as the fortune-telling sleepwalker Cesare [[ItsPronouncedTropay (pronounced "cheh-ZAR-ay")]], who lives inside the cabinet.

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Doug Jones, of ''Film/PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Doug Jones also had a small role in TimBurton's ''BatmanReturns'', a movie that owes a ''lot'' to the German Expressionist style.)

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Doug Jones, of ''Film/PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set.

-> '''Alan''': ''How long shall I live?''\\

Silent [[GermanExpressionism expressionism]] horror film made in 1920 Germany, starring Werner Krauss as the titular mad doctor and Conrad Veidt (the bad guy from ''{{Casablanca}}...'' oh, and [[TheManWhoLaughs the original]] [[SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker Joker]]) as the fortune-telling sleepwalker Cesare, who lives inside the cabinet.

* [[spoiler: AllJustADream]]
* [[spoiler: AndYouWereThere: Most of the characters turn out to have real-world counterparts hanging around the asylum.]]
* ArtShift: The parts that [[spoiler: Francis is imagining]] have the famously psychotic set design, some of which are twisted version of battlefields in World War I.

* ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow: Cesare wears black makeup underneath his eyes. Notably, it's absent in the final scene [[spoiler: where he appears as a harmless mental patient.]]

* [[spoiler: MurderTheHypotenuse]]

* NoNameGiven: [[spoiler: Apparently Dr. Caligari renamed himself and Cesare after the legendary 17th century doctor and somnambulist he wished to emulate. We never learn what Dr. Caligari and Cesare's original names were.]]

* OnlySaneMan: [[spoiler: Oh, no you're not.]]

* [[RoomFullOfCrazy Scenery Full of Crazy]]: Dr. Caligari hallucinates the phrase "DU MUSST CALIGARI WERDEN" (YOU MUST BE CALIGARI) appearing all over the scenery once he gets the inspiration to mimic the legendary Dr. Caligari.

* SelfFulfillingProphecy: It's easy to predict when someone will die if [[spoiler: you go and kill them.]]

* TalkativeLoon: [[spoiler: Francis, although we don't realize it till the end. This trope is also the final fate of poor Jane.]]
* [[spoiler: TheKillerInMe: It's very subtly implied that Francis is the real killer.]]

* TwistEnding: [[spoiler: It's AllJustADream and [[TomatoInTheMirror Francis is crazy.]]]] Also, supposedly the TropeMaker for the film medium.

The film was made to metaphorically express the dangers of hospitals in World War I when "malingering" soldiers were confined in hospitals under their manipulative doctors.

* MindScrew: The ''sets'' are MindScrew incarnate. In fact, if you compare actual World War I photos to some scenes, you'll find that some of the movie scenes are twisted version of WWI battlefields.

* AllJustADream
* AndYouWereThere: Most of the characters turn out to have real-world counterparts hanging around the asylum.
* ArtShift: The parts that Francis is imagining have the famously psychotic set design some of which are twisted version of battlefields in World War I

* DerangedAnimation: despite being live-action, it's more stylized than your average cartoon

* ExcessiveEvilEyeshadow: Cesare wears black makeup underneath his eyes.
* ExecutiveMeddling: [[TropesAreNotBad A benevolent example.]] The TwistEnding was originally the idea of a studio exec.
** Not all that benevolent, at least in terms of the film. After that TwistEnding, a man would come out after the film ended and ''reassure the audience'' that everything was going to be alright.

* FridgeBrilliance: There's a very good chance that Francis killed Alan, and that's why he's in the nuthouse.

* IJustKnew: in the remake (subverted: [[spoiler: he only knows because he's imagining the whole thing]])

* KubrickStare: The anonymous attempted murderer gives one from his cell.

* MindScrew: The ''sets'' are MindScrew incarnate. In fact, if you compare actual World War I photos to some scenes, you'll find that some of the movie scenes are twisted version of WWI battlefields
* MorallyAmbiguousDoctorate: Dr. Caligari.

* NoSneakAttacks: Averted, as Cesare's victims are killed in their sleep. His, too
* OnlySaneMan: Oh, no you're not.

* SayMyName: "Caligari!"
* SelfFulfillingProphecy: It's easy to predict when someone will die if [[spoiler: you go and kill them]]
* ShadowDiscretionShot: Cesare's murder of Allan.

* TalkativeLoon: Francis, although we don't realize it till the end.

* TwistEnding: It's AllJustADream and [[TomatoInTheMirror Francis is crazy.]] Also, supposedly the TropeMaker for the film medium.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/caligari.jpg]]

Silent [[GermanExpressionism expressionism]] horror film made in 1920 Germany, starring Werner Krauss as the titular mad doctor and Conrad Veidt (the bad guy from ''{{Casablanca}}...'' oh, and [[TheManWhoLaughs the original]] [[TheJoker Joker]]) as the fortune-telling sleepwalker Cesare, who lives inside the cabinet.

The film was made to metaphorically express the dangers of hospitals in World War I when "malingering" soldiers were confined in hospitals under their manipulative doctors.

This film is best-known for its extremely messed-up set design: all the angles are crooked, the shadows are ''painted onto the sets'', and it's all made out of paper. More notably, some sets are twisted versions of World War I battlefields.

In addition to being the first psychological thriller, this movie also received one of the first-ever {{viral marketing}} campaigns for a movie: before its premiere, German streets were plastered with posters that read "Du mußt Caligari werden!" ("You must become Caligari!"), without telling you anything about the fact that they tied in to a movie.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy: Cesare

* NoEnding: "Now I can cure him." The End.

This film is in the public domain and may be viewed in its entirety at [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrg73BUxJLI&feature=fvw YouTube]].

--> '''Alan''': ''How long shall I live?''\\

* SayMyName: "CALIGARI!"

This movie is frequently homaged by music videos (see Rob Zombie's "Living Dead Girl" as well as "Otherside" of the RedHotChiliPeppers). In 2005, it received an indie remake starring Doug Jones, of ''PansLabyrinth'' fame, which digitally imposed the new actors onto the original set.

* MadScientist: Caligari