Our own Michael Pementel recently celebrated the 100-year anniversary of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari here on Bloody Disgusting, widely considered by many (including the late Roger Ebert) to be the first true horror film. In celebration of 100 years of Dr. Caligari, Sotheby’s has just put up for auction 55 rare production photographs taken on the set of the 1920 classic.
With a starting bid of $13,000 for the full collection, the auction is now live on the Sotheby’s website, and online bidding is set to close on Friday, April 3rd at 12pm EST.
The listing details:
This remarkable group of 55 photographs documents many of the psychologically and visually twisted scenes from the 1920 silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, generally recognized as the first true horror film. Robert Wiene directed this tale of an insane, diabolical hypnotist who manipulates a somnambulist to execute a series of murders. Considered the first German Expressionist film, the sets and costume designs mirror the dark narrative through the use of abstract designs and unsettling camera angles which were captured by cinematographer Willy Hameister. The allegorical story referenced contemporaneous political events: Dr. Caligari personified the German government during World War I, while the somnambulist symbolized soldiers who were trained to function as killing machines.
Stills and promotional photographs from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari have rarely appeared at auction. A selection of prints has been located in institutional collections, including Los Angeles County Museum of Contemporary Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Each 100-year-old photograph measures approximately 10 by 13 inches.
You can check out several of the photos below.
