- Directors: Carl Boese, Paul Wegener
- Writers: Henrik Galeen, Paul Wegener
- Stars: Paul Wegener, Albert Steinrück, Ernst Deutsch
- Run Time: 1 Hour, 31 Minutes
- Link:
Synopsis
Chapter One
Rabbi Low reads in the stars that grave misfortune threatens their community. Miriam, the Rabbi’s daughter is very friendly with his assistant. Low wants to go speak with Rabbi Jehovah about the imminent disaster. Cue an intense prayer montage with lots of chest-beating.
The Emperor signs the “Decree Against The Jews” the next day.
The many serious charges against the Jews can no longer be disregarded, being that they crucified our Lord, wrongfully ignore the Holy Christian holidays, thirst after the goods and lives of their fellow men, and practice the black arts. Hence we decree that all Jews evacuate their quarter, known as the ghetto, before the new moon.
The Knight Florian takes the decree to the Jewish quarter, and they aren’t happy. Rabbi Low says, “The time is favorable for the invocation. From the dreaded spirit Astaroth I must wrest the life-giving word that will bring the Golem to life to save my people.”
Jehovah takes Florian to see Rabbi Low. Miriam likes the look of Florian. Low gives Florian a message, and Miriam and Florian have a drink together.
Chapter Two
Low has the Golem constructed, and the time approaches. Low tells his assistant a secret; he shows him the Golem. Florian and Miriam start with heavy petting while Low and the servant get ready for the ritual. The Emperor invites Low to his castle to watch his magic tricks. Low knows what’s going on between Miriam and Florian, and he doesn’t like it.
We read that the Golem wears an amulet, called a “Shem,” around his neck with a magic word inside. He will live as long as he wears it. They have to learn the magic word from Astaroth. They conjure the demon, and the fireballs start flying. Astaroth appears and tells them the word. Low and the assistant place the word in the amulet, then they place the amulet around the Golem’s neck. The Golem activates and walks around the room. It works!
Chapter Three
They put the Golem to work chopping wood and working around the village. He’s a large. Barrel-chested looking manlike thing with what appears to be wooden hair. They literally send him to shops to pick up food and supplies.
Low takes the Golem with him to see the Emperor at the Rose Festival. Florian writes to Miriam that while her father is away, the two will…. play. The Golem makes a big impression at Court. Low does magic tricks, and the crowd laughs at “The Wandering Jew,” which offends God. The ceiling of the palace collapses, but the Golem saves them all with his super strength.
The Emperor pardons the Jews in gratitude.
Chapter Four
The danger from the Emperor over, Low goes to remove the Golem’s amulet, but the Golem gets angry and attempts to kill Low. Low is too quick and grabs the amulet off, putting the Golem to sleep once more. Low reads more of the book and sees that the Golem will eventually turn against its master. Low plans to destroy the Golem, but is called away for evening prayers. Miriam tells Florian to sneak away while everyone else is at Temple.
Low’s assistant goes to wake up Miriam, realizing she isn’t at Temple. He hears her and Florian together. The assistant wakes up the Golem to break down the door. The Golem does and chases after Florian. He ends up throwing Florian from the roof of the tower. The Golem carries the fainted Miriam downstairs, and he likes her a lot.
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The assistant reaches for the amulet to remove it, and the Golem resists, setting fire to the house.
Chapter Five
Someone comes to the Temple and tells Low that his house is on fire and Golem is on a rampage. The Golem drags the unconscious Miriam down the street by her hair. The whole town starts to burn, and the people expect Rabbi Low to do something about it.
Low finds Miriam, more or less alive. The fire burns out, and the people all thank Low for saving them. The assistant and Miriam cuddle and she promises not to say anything about Florian.
The Golem goes to play with the children as he usually does and picks up one of the little ones. She gives him an apple and pops the amulet from his chest in her curiosity. The Golem falls over, lifeless. The children all come over and sit on his lifeless body like a bench.
Low gives thanks, and everyone is happy.
Commentary
Miriam is quite a slut for being in a film from 1920. She and the assistant got away with it as well!
The buildings and scenery are all very severe and off-kilter, another example of German Expressionism, just as with “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” from the same year. This was the third film of a loose trilogy “The Golem” (1915) and “The Golem and the Dancing Girl” (1917), but this is the only surviving film. This is both a prequel and a remake of the 1915 film.
Although it’s not explicitly anti-semitic, it definitely plays up the other-ness of the Jewish community. They look weird, they act weird, they live in strange-looking cities and do actual magic; they may as well have been from another world.
There are clear precursors here to Frankenstein and a hundred other “killer robot” films.