The Golem: How He Came Into the World

Widely recognized as the source of the Frankenstein myth, the ancient Hebrew legend of the Golem provided actor/director Paul Wegener with the substance for one of the most adventurous films of the German silent cinema. Suffering under the tyrannical rule of Rudolf II in 16th century Prague, a Talmudic rabbi (Albert Steinruck) creates a giant warrior (Paul Wegener) to protect the safety of his people. Sculpted of clay and animated by the mysterious secrets of the Cabala, the Golem is a seemingly indestructible juggernaut, performing acts of great heroism, yet equally capable of dreadful violence. When the rabbi's assistant (Ernst Deutsch) takes control of the Golem and attempts to use him for selfish gain, the lumbering monster runs rampant, abducting the rabbi's daughter (Lyda Salmonova) and setting fire to the ghetto. With it's remarkable creation sequence (a dazzling blend of religion, sorcery and special effects) and the grand scale destruction of it's climax, the Golem was one of the greatest achievements of the legendary UFA Studios, and remains and undeniable landmark in the evolution of horror film.

Director: Karl Boese
Director: Paul Wegener
Producer: Andrew Stevens
Producer: Chris Foss
Producer: Daniel Grodnik
Producer: James Shavick
Actor: Fritz Feld
Actor: Lathar Menthel
Actor: Lyda Salmonova
Actor: Ernst Deutsch
Actor: Otto Gebuhr
Actor: Duane Jarvis
Actor: Eric Drew Feldman
Actor: Hanns Sturm
Actor: Jason Carter
Actor: Joseph Pope
Actor: Ralph Carney
Actor: Albert Steinruck
Actor: Paul Wegener