WAXWORKS (1924) (Film Commentary by Evelyn C Leeper)

[Philip De Parto]

The following commentary is reprinted with permission from

THE MT VOID
10/17/25 -- Vol. 44, No. 16, Whole Number 2402

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WAXWORKS (1924): Many people think DEAD OF NIGHT (1945) as the
first anthology film, or at least the first horror anthology film.
But the format goes back to silent German films, with 1919's
"Unheimliche Geschichten" and Fritz Lang's 1921 "Der mude Tod".
But perhaps the best known of these early examples is 1924's
WAXWORKS, directed by Paul Leni, and starring Conrad Veidt, Lil
Dagover, and Emil Jannings.

The special effects were quite advanced for the time, with double
and even more multiple exposures. Indeed, some of the scenes had a
very Cubist look. In others, one had to conclude that the city
planner in ancient Baghdad could see into the future and was
heavily influenced by German Expressionism.

There are three stories. The first, about the Grand Vizier,
supposedly inspired Douglas Fairbanks to make THE THIEF OF BAGDAD.
This story takes up half the running time of the film.

The second is about Ivan the Terrible, with Conrad Veidt as Ivan.
Veidt is  very striking, especially his eyes. This talent also
appears in THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (11926).

The Springheel Jack story is very short, and may have been
included to pad out the running time.

I had a choice of two versions to watch. One was the Sinister
Cinema VHS copy we had: an N-th generation transfer, with the text
often unreadable, but in black and white with musical
accompaniment. The other was apparently restored, but colorized,
and silent, and had ads. I chose the second.

Released theatrically 13 November 1924 (Germany), 18 March 1926
(United States).

Film Credits:
<https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014586/reference>

What others are saying:
<https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/waxworks_1926>