The Golem

The Golem: How He Came Into the World is a 1920 German silent film. Paul Wegener is one of the directors and also plays the title role. The subject is similar to Frankenstein. The Golem is created by a medieval rabbi to protect the Jews from Christian persecution, but the Golem rebels against his creator. There is a romantic subplot involving the daughter of the rabbi and one of the Christian knights.

Moria says it is "a good story and Wegener and Carl Boese’s direction is exceptional." 1000 Misspent Hours notes "The Golem is often cited as an influence on James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein, and indeed, there are a number of remarkable parallels."

10/31/2009: The Husband had never seen this so selected it to watch with The Younger Son and me tonight.

5/13/2010: David Bordwell's Website on Cinema has an article.