The Golem: How He Came into the World
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.
From the archive
he Golem is a silent horror film directed by Paul Wegener and Henrik Galeen, based on the Jewish legend of the Golem. The film is set in 16th-century Prague and revolves around a clay statue brought to life by a rabbi to protect the Jewish community from persecution.The story begins with Rabbi Loew, who creates the Golem from clay to defend the Jewish population against anti-Semitic attacks. The Golem is animated through a magical inscription placed on its forehead.The Golem successfully defends the community, showcasing immense strength and loyalty. At first, its presence helps to alleviate fears and protect the Jews from harm. However, as the Golem becomes more sentient, it struggles with its identity and purpose. Its immense power begins to pose a threat to the very people it was created to protect.The Golem's actions lead to chaos in Prague, ultimately spiraling out of control. Struggling with its own nature and the manipulation by those around it, the Golem becomes a tragic figure.Eventually, Rabbi Loew realizes that the Golem must be stopped. He removes the inscription, which leads to the Golem's destruction, restoring peace to the community, but at the cost of a powerful protector.The film explores themes of creation, responsibility, and the consequences of unchecked power, making it a landmark in the history of horror cinema. It is noted for its expressionist style, which adds to the eerie atmosphere surrounding the Golem's tale.
Why this is free to watch
The Golem: How He Came into the World (1920) is hosted by the Internet Archive as a public-domain or openly licensed work, which means its copyright has expired, lapsed, or was released by the rights holder. The uploader declared an explicit licence, linked in the source panel. Nitrate streams the file directly from the Archive and hosts no video itself.
- Director
- Carl Boese
- Starring
- Paul Wegener, Albert Steinrück, Lyda Salmonova, Ernst Deutsch, Hans Stürm, Max Kronert, Otto Gebühr, Dore Paetzold
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