Waxworks

Director: Paul Leni Paul Leni

Overview

German filmmaker Paul Leni functioned as both director and production designer for the Caligariesque Waxworks (Das Wachsfigurenkabinett). Using a wax museum as the unifying factor, Leni weaves three separate stories of Evil Incarnate. Emil Jannings stars as middle-Eastern despot Harroun al Raschid; Conrad Veidt is cast as Ivan the Terrible; and Werner Krauss impersonates Jack the Ripper. Of the three, Ivan is perhaps the most odious, especially in his sadistic cat-and-mouse treatment of his victims (it is said that Russian director Sergei Eisenstein patterned his Ivan the Terrible after Veidt's). On the strength of this film, Leni was invited to Hollywood by Universal's Carl Laemmle, and the result was the classic "old dark house" meller The Cat and the Canary. Sadly, most surviving prints of Waxworks are taken from the watered-down, expurgated American released version.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/17/2020
UPC:	0617311687297
Original Release:	1924
Rating:	NR
Source:	Flicker Alley
Region Code:	0
Time:	1:21:00
Sales rank:	22,295

Special Features

Region: ABC Audio commentary track - featuring Australian film and arts critic Adrian Martin. In Search of the original version of Paul Leni's Das Wachsfigurenkabinett - an intrview with Julia Wallmüller (Deutsche Kinemathek) based on her presentation at the premiere of the restored film at Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna 2020. Conversation with Kim Newman - an in-depth interview with journalist, film critic, and fiction writer Kim Newman, discussing the legacy of Waxworks. Rebus-Films Nr. 1 (1926) - courtesy of Kino/Lorber, these Leni-helmed cinematic crossword puzzles were originally presented in German cinemas, before and after the feature presentation, and were split into two parts - a clue and an answer.

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Olga Belajeff	Actor
William Dieterle	Actor
John Gottowt	Actor
Emil Jannings	Actor
Werner Krauss	Actor
Conrad Veidt	Actor

Technical Credits

Paul Leni

Director

Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Waxworks
1. Writer Wanted [6:52]
2. Haroun-Al-Raschid [11:30]
3. Royal Custom [11:11]
4. Baker Of Baghdad [13:47]
5. Ivan The Terrible [9:08]
6. Noble Wedding [11:40]
7. Stolen Bride [10:34]
8. Spring-Heeled Jack [6:25]

Menu

Disc #1 -- Waxworks
   Play Feature - Piano Score By Richard Siedhoff
   Play Feature - Instrumental Score By Ensemble Musikfabrik
   Audio Options
      Stereo Sound
      5.1 Surround Sound
   Subtitles
      German Subtitles: On
      French Subtitles: On
      Italian Subtitles: On
      Spanish Subtitles: On
      Portuguese Subtitles: On
      Russian Subtitles: On
      Arabic Subtitles: On
      Chinese Subtitles: On
   Chapters
   Bonus Features
      Audio Commentary Featuring Film Critic And Author Adrian Martin: On
      In Search Of The Original Version Of Paul Leni's Das Wachsfigurenkabinett: Interview With Julia Wallmüller (Deutsche Kinemathek)
      Conversation With Film Critic And Fiction Writer Kim Newman
      Paul Leni's Rebus-Films Nr. 1