MovieChat Forums > Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam (1921) Discussion > What does the ending mean?

What does the ending mean?

posted 16 years ago by leftcoasttim
9 replies | jump to latest

Finally completed the troika of classic German silent horror films,
having previously-seen "The Horror Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" and
"Nosferatu" years ago. Just last night saw the restored version
of "Der Golem". Loved Miriam, who was quite the tart with her
over-the-top eye shadow, but her choice in men? Florian the gayem
goyem with his love of flowers and tights? Hmm...not so sure he could
"deliver the goods" for a woman of her passionate wants and needs.
(But as Jerry Seinfeld would say, "...NOT that there's anything WRONG
with that...")
I've been frustrated with modern films not having a true "ending"
that sums things up and closes the story. Yeah, "No Country for
Old Men" is a major violator of that, as was "Cache'" ("Hidden"),
and the feel good Romanian abortion movie of the year, "4-1/2
Months"...But an "old school" flick leaving things unresolved?
So I was rather surprised and disappointed in the ending of "Der
Golem". The little schiksa girl plucks his 5-point star (not the
usual Star of David-type 6-pointer), thereby vanquishing "the monster",
and then the townspeople pick him up and carry him back to the village,
as if he were the high school football quarterback whose last-minute
pass beat St. Vincent's Catholic School. And that's it? What's the
moral? What's the lesson? What's the conditioner Miriam uses to
make her hair so strong?
WHAT KIND OF FRICTACCTA ENDING WAS THAT?
At least you KNOW the villian dies in "Nosferatu", but what of this
Kosher Krusher? Perhaps the producers were planning a sequel:
"Der Golem II; Florian's 'Fabulous' Revenge"!

[–] leftcoasttim 16 years ago

Anyone ever see "The Independent", starring Jerry Stiller and Janene
Garafalo? It's like a mockumentary about an Ed Wood-type B-movie
Director. And at the end of the film, when they list his "credits",
included is the title, "Rock 'n Roll Golem". When I saw that at
the "arthouse theater" in Irvine, CA, I cracked-up. And, no, it
didn't bother me a bit I was the only one who laughed!

[–] serabination 15 years ago

i dont care what people say about this "classic". the golem sucked then and it sucks now.

[–] BillieDove 15 years ago

And that's it? What's the moral? What's the lesson?

You and the people who think like you are responsible for the dumbing down of films and the horrible moral tales we get these days and have been getting from Hollywood for quite a while now.

All I can say, Sir, is believe in yourself, and everything will come to the people who are good deep down inside

We're the heirs to the glimmering world.

[–] emncaity 7 years ago

Definitely hope you've gotten over yourself since then.

[–] mousalope 15 years ago

What does the ending mean? It means a pure Aryan uncorrupted by Hebrew wiles can protect the community from Jewish monsters.

Knight Florian was seduced by the Jewish temptress. The fop unexpectedly turns out to be a man of some courage, but it avails him naught in the face of the dark powers. The blonde innocent Germanic child on the other hand conquers with ease.

Watching this movie I always get the image of young impoverished Adolf Hitler scraping together a few coins, watching it repeatedly, and muttering "that's right" all through the film. And really annoying the people seated around him.

[–] eli_berry 14 years ago

I love you, mousalope. I really do. That reply made my day. It's funny, though, because that antisemitic twist just adds irony to the film. I would have thought that Wegener himself was Jewish, however, and not apt to bash his own people. I never would have pictured that image of Hitler, but that's a good laugh!
Thank you!

[–] boudicca7 13 years ago

Watching this movie I always get the image of young impoverished Adolf Hitler scraping together a few coins, watching it repeatedly, and muttering "that's right" all through the film. And really annoying the people seated around him.

LOL
I just watched this movie and this comment made me giggle

[–] neil-kirton 13 years ago

Perhaps the producers were planning a sequel:
"Der Golem II; Florian's 'Fabulous' Revenge"!

That was actually almost right "Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam" is actually a prequel to an eariler, now lost, film "Der Golem (1915)"
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0004026/
In which:

the golem, a clay statue brought to life by Rabbi Loew in 16th century Prague to save the Jews from the ongoing brutal persecution by the city's rulers, is found in the rubble of an old synagogue in the 20th century. Brought to life by an antique dealer, the golem is used as a menial servant. Eventually falling in love with the dealer's wife, it goes on a murderous rampage when its love for her goes unanswered.

So the Golem couldn't be destroyed at the end of the 1920 film or the 1915 film which showed it being resurrected wouldn't have made sense.

[–] emncaity 7 years ago

I hate you a little bit for being that funny and beating me to the punch. B!tch.