The Golem (1920) - full transcript
In 16th-century Prague, a rabbi creates the Golem - a giant creature made of clay. Using sorcery, he brings the creature to life in order to protect the Jews of Prague from persecution.
No contemporary version of "The Golem,
how he came into the world" has survived.
From the exposed negative material,
two original negatives with different
camera positions were assembled.
The Negative A, cut from the best
takes, survives in the Cinematek
(the royal film archive of Belgium.
For the American edition 1921 it had been
heavily altered with changes and cuts.
The current version attempts the best
authentic restoration of the A-negative
to approximate the lost German version.
Missing parts were restored where
possible with the help of a duplicate
of the American circulation copy
of the George Eastman Museum.
Other completions come from a
copy of the Cinematheque francaise,
made from the B-negative.
Most of the original title cards
survive in the A-negative.
Completing titles hail from Gosfilmfond
of Russia, the main title from
the Museum of Modern Art.
Missing titles were rendered in a
neutral font based on a censor card.
The model for the tinting was a
historical Italian circulation copy
of the Fondazione Cineteca Italiana.
The Golem, how he came into the world.
Pictures based on events in an old
chronicle by Paul Wegener, 5 chapters.
Directed by Paul Wegener
Carl Boese[?]
Sets
Hans Poelzig.
Costumes
Rochus Gliese.
Camera
Karl Freund.
Leading players
Rabbi L?w... Albert Steinr?ck
Miriam, the rabbi's daughter...
Lyda Salmonova. Samulus, the rabbi's
assistant... Ernst Deutsch
Rabbi Jehuda, the community elder...
Hans Sturm
The Temple beadle... Max Kronert
The emperor... Otto Geb?hr
his Mistress... Dore Paetzold
Knight Florian... Lothar M?thel
Maiden... Greta Schr?der
Little girl... Loni Nest
The creature, called the "Golem"...
Paul Wegener
Union-Film for UFA.
Chapter one.
The stars reveal to the revered
rabbi L?w, that a terrible misfortune
will befall the jewish community.
"I must speak with rabbi Jehuda - our
people are facing an impending calamity."
"Summon all the community
elders to the temple,
so that they may pray to Jehovah
throughout the night.
The stars foretell disaster!"
DECREE AGAINST THE JEWS.
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.
"Knight Florian - you must deliver our
edict to the jewish quarter immediately."
"Venus is entering the Libran constellation,
and the time now favours the invocation.
I must wrest the crucial life-giving
word from the dreaded spirit Astaroth,
that will bring the Golem
to life and save my people."
"An envoy from the emperor
is waiting outside."
"If there is any compassion within
your young heard, you will accompany
me to the revered rabbi L?w.
He represents the heard and voice
of this jewish community."
"I was the one who drew up
the emperor's horoscope - and
twice I have warned him of danger.
Now - go and tell him that I
have a secret message for him."
End of chapter one.
Chapter two.
"The hour is almost upon us.
The alignment of the stars now
favours the invocation of the spell."
"Can you keep a secret from all mankind?"
Knight Florian arrives with
another message from the emperor.
In memory of your services,
we will grant you an audience.
Come to the Rose Festival at
the castle and amuse us again
with your magic arts.
"Soon my dear, you shall
have a guardian."
This figure named "the Golem"
was created in classical times
by a Thessalonian sorcerer.
If the life-awakening word is
placed in the amulet on his chest,
he will be alive as long as he wears it.
This symbol is called the "shem".
"Who can reveal the crucial word
that will bring the golem to life?"
Necromancie. The art of
bringing dead beings to life.
Astaroth is the guardian of
a life-giving word that will
awaken any and every thing,
whether corpse or man's creation.
Whoever possesses the key of Salomonis
and knows the "Great Spell"
can compel Astaroth to reveal the word
insofar as he awaits an auspicious
constellation of the planets.
"The hour has come!"
"Astaroth! Astaroth appear!
Appear! Name the word!"
"On behalf of the lord of
the spirits - name the word!"
"The word - that terrible life-giving
word. I have snatched it from
the evil, dark powers that be.
I shall now call the Golem to life."
End of chapter two.
Chapter three.
A strange servant.
"That's my new servant."
Golem's first errand.
"This is the rabbi's new servant,
who is unable to speak. He will
come here every day in my stead,
from now on. Please give him
everything on the list
and he will do you no harm."
"I have been invited to the castle
today, so you shall mind the house.
The Golem will accompany me, as I
wish to present him to the emperor."
The Rose Festival.
When your father arrives at the castle
I will steal away from the festival --
I have bribed the gatekeeper --
place a lamp in the window as a
sign that you are waiting for me.
"He is my servant - and my
creation. He is called Golem.
I cannot say any more than this."
"What form of marvel are you displaying
for us today - you strange illusionist?
Show us more of your great art."
"Let me show you our jewish patriarchs,
o mighty emperor, You may better come
to know and understand our people.
Though to avoid a tragic
disaster, I must request
that none may laugh of speak."
"Ahasuerus, the wandering jew."
"Save me... and I will
pardon your people!"
End of chapter three.
Chapter four.
"The emperor has pardoned all the jews -
we are saved. Awaken our sleeping brethren
with the joyous sounds of the shofar!"
"It is a fact!
The watchman told me himself.
Revered rabbi L?w has returned
from the emperor, bearing the
pardon. Rejoice ye, rejoice!"
If you have brought an inanimate
being to life through magic
beware of your creation.
When Uranus enters the house
of the planets, Astaroth
will reclaim his instrument.
Then the lifeless clay will
turn against its master,
intent on deceit and destruction.
"Golem, your task is completed. Once again
become lifeless clay, so that we may avoid
any vengeance sought by the dark powers."
"Master, master! Revered rabbi L?w!
Jehuda is waiting below with
the elders, to escort you to the
temple for thanksgiving prayers."
"When they are all at the temple,
you can sneak away."
"Miriam has not heard yet.
She is still sleeping."
"I cannot open the door now.
You go on ahead!"
"No, no, I will wait. I want
to go to the temple with you."
"A strange man is in her room.
Drive him away!"
End of chapter four.
Chapter five.
"Your house is in flames.
The golem has gone on a rampage!"
"The demon! The demon has
carried Miriam away. Stop him
or he will destroy everything."
"Save us, rabbi! Recite the fire
spell or we shall all perish!"
"The revered rabbi L?w has saved
our people a second time. Let us
all gather at the gate and thank him."
"Revered rabbi L?w, the people
are all coming. Thank you
for exorcising the fire."
"Can you forgive me? The rabbi's
house lies ruined in ashes,
and every trace of the stranger
has vanished. As no one suspects
anything, I shall remain silent."
"The Golem, the Golem!"
"Where is the Golem?"
"The Golem has forced the gate open!"
"Give all thanks to jehovah.
He has saved his people
for the third time today."
The end.
how he came into the world" has survived.
From the exposed negative material,
two original negatives with different
camera positions were assembled.
The Negative A, cut from the best
takes, survives in the Cinematek
(the royal film archive of Belgium.
For the American edition 1921 it had been
heavily altered with changes and cuts.
The current version attempts the best
authentic restoration of the A-negative
to approximate the lost German version.
Missing parts were restored where
possible with the help of a duplicate
of the American circulation copy
of the George Eastman Museum.
Other completions come from a
copy of the Cinematheque francaise,
made from the B-negative.
Most of the original title cards
survive in the A-negative.
Completing titles hail from Gosfilmfond
of Russia, the main title from
the Museum of Modern Art.
Missing titles were rendered in a
neutral font based on a censor card.
The model for the tinting was a
historical Italian circulation copy
of the Fondazione Cineteca Italiana.
The Golem, how he came into the world.
Pictures based on events in an old
chronicle by Paul Wegener, 5 chapters.
Directed by Paul Wegener
Carl Boese[?]
Sets
Hans Poelzig.
Costumes
Rochus Gliese.
Camera
Karl Freund.
Leading players
Rabbi L?w... Albert Steinr?ck
Miriam, the rabbi's daughter...
Lyda Salmonova. Samulus, the rabbi's
assistant... Ernst Deutsch
Rabbi Jehuda, the community elder...
Hans Sturm
The Temple beadle... Max Kronert
The emperor... Otto Geb?hr
his Mistress... Dore Paetzold
Knight Florian... Lothar M?thel
Maiden... Greta Schr?der
Little girl... Loni Nest
The creature, called the "Golem"...
Paul Wegener
Union-Film for UFA.
Chapter one.
The stars reveal to the revered
rabbi L?w, that a terrible misfortune
will befall the jewish community.
"I must speak with rabbi Jehuda - our
people are facing an impending calamity."
"Summon all the community
elders to the temple,
so that they may pray to Jehovah
throughout the night.
The stars foretell disaster!"
DECREE AGAINST THE JEWS.
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.
"Knight Florian - you must deliver our
edict to the jewish quarter immediately."
"Venus is entering the Libran constellation,
and the time now favours the invocation.
I must wrest the crucial life-giving
word from the dreaded spirit Astaroth,
that will bring the Golem
to life and save my people."
"An envoy from the emperor
is waiting outside."
"If there is any compassion within
your young heard, you will accompany
me to the revered rabbi L?w.
He represents the heard and voice
of this jewish community."
"I was the one who drew up
the emperor's horoscope - and
twice I have warned him of danger.
Now - go and tell him that I
have a secret message for him."
End of chapter one.
Chapter two.
"The hour is almost upon us.
The alignment of the stars now
favours the invocation of the spell."
"Can you keep a secret from all mankind?"
Knight Florian arrives with
another message from the emperor.
In memory of your services,
we will grant you an audience.
Come to the Rose Festival at
the castle and amuse us again
with your magic arts.
"Soon my dear, you shall
have a guardian."
This figure named "the Golem"
was created in classical times
by a Thessalonian sorcerer.
If the life-awakening word is
placed in the amulet on his chest,
he will be alive as long as he wears it.
This symbol is called the "shem".
"Who can reveal the crucial word
that will bring the golem to life?"
Necromancie. The art of
bringing dead beings to life.
Astaroth is the guardian of
a life-giving word that will
awaken any and every thing,
whether corpse or man's creation.
Whoever possesses the key of Salomonis
and knows the "Great Spell"
can compel Astaroth to reveal the word
insofar as he awaits an auspicious
constellation of the planets.
"The hour has come!"
"Astaroth! Astaroth appear!
Appear! Name the word!"
"On behalf of the lord of
the spirits - name the word!"
"The word - that terrible life-giving
word. I have snatched it from
the evil, dark powers that be.
I shall now call the Golem to life."
End of chapter two.
Chapter three.
A strange servant.
"That's my new servant."
Golem's first errand.
"This is the rabbi's new servant,
who is unable to speak. He will
come here every day in my stead,
from now on. Please give him
everything on the list
and he will do you no harm."
"I have been invited to the castle
today, so you shall mind the house.
The Golem will accompany me, as I
wish to present him to the emperor."
The Rose Festival.
When your father arrives at the castle
I will steal away from the festival --
I have bribed the gatekeeper --
place a lamp in the window as a
sign that you are waiting for me.
"He is my servant - and my
creation. He is called Golem.
I cannot say any more than this."
"What form of marvel are you displaying
for us today - you strange illusionist?
Show us more of your great art."
"Let me show you our jewish patriarchs,
o mighty emperor, You may better come
to know and understand our people.
Though to avoid a tragic
disaster, I must request
that none may laugh of speak."
"Ahasuerus, the wandering jew."
"Save me... and I will
pardon your people!"
End of chapter three.
Chapter four.
"The emperor has pardoned all the jews -
we are saved. Awaken our sleeping brethren
with the joyous sounds of the shofar!"
"It is a fact!
The watchman told me himself.
Revered rabbi L?w has returned
from the emperor, bearing the
pardon. Rejoice ye, rejoice!"
If you have brought an inanimate
being to life through magic
beware of your creation.
When Uranus enters the house
of the planets, Astaroth
will reclaim his instrument.
Then the lifeless clay will
turn against its master,
intent on deceit and destruction.
"Golem, your task is completed. Once again
become lifeless clay, so that we may avoid
any vengeance sought by the dark powers."
"Master, master! Revered rabbi L?w!
Jehuda is waiting below with
the elders, to escort you to the
temple for thanksgiving prayers."
"When they are all at the temple,
you can sneak away."
"Miriam has not heard yet.
She is still sleeping."
"I cannot open the door now.
You go on ahead!"
"No, no, I will wait. I want
to go to the temple with you."
"A strange man is in her room.
Drive him away!"
End of chapter four.
Chapter five.
"Your house is in flames.
The golem has gone on a rampage!"
"The demon! The demon has
carried Miriam away. Stop him
or he will destroy everything."
"Save us, rabbi! Recite the fire
spell or we shall all perish!"
"The revered rabbi L?w has saved
our people a second time. Let us
all gather at the gate and thank him."
"Revered rabbi L?w, the people
are all coming. Thank you
for exorcising the fire."
"Can you forgive me? The rabbi's
house lies ruined in ashes,
and every trace of the stranger
has vanished. As no one suspects
anything, I shall remain silent."
"The Golem, the Golem!"
"Where is the Golem?"
"The Golem has forced the gate open!"
"Give all thanks to jehovah.
He has saved his people
for the third time today."
The end.