These pages gather films that can be paired with selected chapters and texts from the book. The material is intended to help bring the readings to life. Users looking for better-quality copies of the films below can consult the following lists of German films on DVD:
- Anton Kaes, Michael Cowan, Nicolas Baer, “Weimar Cinema on DVD”
- Katharina Loew, “DVD Editions of Weimar Cinema”
- “German Films of the Silent Era on Home Video”
1927 - 1933
1927
Berlin. Sinfonie der Großstadt / Berlin: Symphony of the Metropolis
Walter Ruttmann (61 min.)
See Ruttmann, “How I Made My Berlin Film,” text no. 207
Ruttmann, “The Absolute Fashion,” text no. 208
1927
Gespensterstunde / The Ghostly Hour
Curt Schumann (4 min.)
See chapter 16, Film as Knowledge and Persuasion
Arthur Lassally, Film Advertising and Advertising Films, text no. 240
Nikolaus, Advertising and Its Psychological Effects, text no. 246
1927
Metropolis (Restored film)
Fritz Lang (150 min. with English subtitles)
See chapter 3, The Time Machine
chapter 9, The Specter of Hollywood
chapter 11, The Mobilization of the Masses
chapter 12, Chiffres of Modernity
chapter 13, The Expressionist Turn
chapter 14, Avant-garde and Industry
chapter 15, The Aesthetics of Silent Film
chapter 18, Technology and the Future of the Past
1927
Siren of the Tropics
Mario Nelpas, Henri Étiévant (4 min.), excerpt with Josephine Baker
See chapter 12, Chiffres of Modernity
Anonymous, The Charleston in One Thousand Steps, text no. 56
Giese, Revue and Film, text no. 181
1928
The Circus
Charlie Chaplin
See chapter 12, Chiffres of Modernity; chapter 9, The Specter of Hollywood
Benjamin, Chaplin in Retrospect, text no. 182
1929
Im Schatten der Maschine
Albrecht Viktor Blum (22 min.)
See Blum, “Documentary and Artistic Film,” text no. 45
1929
Chelovek s kino-apparatom / The Man with a Movie Camera
Dziga Vertov (69 min.)
See chapter 11, The Mobilization of the Masses; chapter 14, Avant-garde and Industry
Anonumous, “Candid” Cinematography, text no. 215
1929
Melodie der Welt
Walter Ruttmann (48 min.)
See chapter 17: Sound Waves
Ruttmann, “The Absolute Fashion,” text no. 208
Ruttmann, “The Isolated Artist,” text no. 213.
Pinschewer, “Film Advertising,” text. no. 237
Ruttmann, “Principles of Sound Film,” text no. 250
1929
Mickey Mouse Plane Crazy
Walt Disney (6 min.)
See chapter 12: Chiffres of Modernity; chapter18, Technology and the Future of the Past
Benjamin, Micky Mouse, text no. 185
Diebold, The Future of Mickey Mouse, text no. 277
1929
Jenseits der Strasse/Beyond the Street
Leo Mittler (54 min.)
See chapter 11, The Mobilization of the Masses
Balazs, Film Works for Us, text no. 164
Pick, Individual and Montage, text no. 170
1929
Hunger in Waldenburg (Trailer)
Phil Jutzi (6:18 min.)
1930
All Quiet on the Western Front (Trailer)
Lewis Milestone (131 min.)
See chapter 8, Image Wars
Kracauer, All Quiet on the Western Front, text no. 124
Tucholsky, Against the Ban on the Remarque Film, text no. 125
1930
Anna Christie
Clarence Brown, with Greta Garbo (2 min. Whiskey Scene in German)
See Chapter 10, Cinephilia and the Cult of Stars;
Kracauer, Garbo, text 61
Brod and Thomas, Love on Film, text no. 154
A.K., Done with Hollywood, text no. 139
1930
Der Blaue Engel / The Blue Angel
Trailer in German
See chapter 9, The Spectre of Hollywood
Chapter 10, Cinephilia and the Cult of Stars
1930
Lichtspiel Schwarz-Weiss-Grau/Lightplay Black White Gray
Lázló Moholy-Nagy (6 min.)
See chapter 14
1930
Menschen am Sonntag / People on Sunday
Robert Siodmak, Billy Wilder, et al. (74 min. English subtitles)
See chapter 10 Cinephilia and the Culture of Stars
Chapter 12, Chiffres of Modernity
Chapter 15 Aeshtetics of Silent Films
1930
Amateur Film from Vienna
Familie Rauchfuss (2 min.) from Stadtfilm Wien
See “Vienna is Filming!,” text no. 148
1930
Roter Wedding / Red Wedding
Documentary Photographs
See chapter 11, The Mobilization of the Masses
1930
Westfront 1918
G.W. Pabst (88 min., with English subtitles
See chapter 8, Image Wars
1932
Kuhle Wampe oder Wem gehört die Welt? / Kuhle Wampe or Who Owns the World?
Slatan Dudow and Bertolt Brecht (73 min., English subtitles)
See chapter 11, “The Mobilization of the Masses”
Brecht, “The Threepenny Lawsuit,” 1931, text no. 171
Ihering, “The Banned Kuhle Wampe,” 1932, text. 172