📽️ The Last Performance, 1929
⭐ 4/5
Nov 4, Youtube
Somehow we go from adding a 4th to Erik's polycule to MURDER?? Whoever styled Connie for this movie deserves a big smooch; the heavy makeup, the tails, the white streaks in his hair, the dressing gown -- I'm living for it. But in all seriousness, CV is such an A++ technician as a performer. Truly perfect w/o being inauthentic. Hate that so much footage (& voice over!) was lost.
📽 The Passing of the Third Floor Back, 1935
⭐️ 4/5
Nov 1, Archive.org
Kind & Gentle Character Leaves Lasting Influence On a Bunch Of Difficult People always gets me. Sort of ahead of its time, actually. Connie's measured gestures & restraint are so great. I love the way he really considers & sees everyone in a way they're clearly not seeing each other. Also glad there's not a lot of over-explanation like there usually is in similar movies.
📽️ The Student of Prague (Der Student von Prag), 1926
⭐ 4.5/5
Oct 29, Archive.org
Poor Balduin. He just wanted some money and a hot, rich girlfriend. Instead he got his evil double chasing him around like Michael Myers. Love the creepy mirror effects, the updated score, & the final act. And Connie's giving eyes, he's giving face, he's giving shapes, what more could you ask for? Wish I had seen this years ago.
📽️ The Thief of Bagdad, 1940
⭐ 2/5
Oct 24, Max
Ehhh, I don't know. A lot of people really love this movie. I did not. Apparently there were at least 3 directors so that may account for some of the messiness. And I mean, white actors in brown face are always a tough sell. The 3rd act was partially saved by Rex Ingram and Sabu having some extended screen time. But Connie, although glorious in Technicolor, was largely wasted on this one imo.
📽️ A Woman's Face, 1941
⭐ 4.5/5
Oct 18, Vudu & TCM
Extremely underrated and pretty spicy for a Hays Code era film. Actually had to watch this one twice, it's so good. Visually beautiful and narratively interesting, despite the rushed ending. Joan Crawford's performance is maybe the best I've seen from her. And then there's nasty, nasty Conrad Veidt. He very nearly steals the movie from her. Shocked he didn't get second billing.
#veidttober #conradveidt #awomansface #georgecukor #joancrawford
📽️ The Hands of Orlac (Orlacs Hände), 1924
⭐ 4/5
Oct 17, Archive.org
Visually the most pre-David Lynch Lynchian thing I've ever seen, esp the shots lingering on cavernous rooms before an actor enters. Psychological body horror + crime thriller is a win every time. Makes you wonder if they had this script and were like, "Boy, who do we know who's a Hand Actor? Like the handsiest Hand Actor who ever had a pair of hands?"
#veidttober #conradveidt #thehandsoforlac #silentfilms #robertwiene
📽️ The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, 1920
⭐ 3.5/5
Oct 17, Archive.org
A rewatch. Caligari was my intro to CV in a college film class. As a spooky art student, I was bewitched by his strange and off-putting presence on screen. The film is undoubtedly iconic and important, but the story is just ok at best. Enjoyed the updated score. Would love to see a really great restoration on a big screen some day.
#veidttober #conradveidt #thecabinetofdrcaligari #silentfilms #robertwiene #germanexpressionism
📽️ Eerie Tales (Unheimliche Geschichten), 1919
⭐ 3/5
Oct ?, Archive.org
The version I watched had no soundtrack at all, making for a totally silent viewing experience. It's fun though, love seeing Anita Berber in action, the old school effects, and the three actors in multiple roles. "The Black Cat" and "The Suicide Club" were my favorite sections. As for Connie Content, what can I say, he's stunning.
📽️ The Man Who Laughs, 1928
⭐ 4.5/5
Oct ?, Archive.org
Nothing could have prepared me. Ahead of its time. Production: astounding. Duchess: smokin. Homo the Dog: queer icon. And CV really swings for the fences emotionally and physically, in a good way, despite half his face being frozen in the gnarliest prosthetic grin in film history. But the score was A Lot and there are clowns so a .5 star gets knocked off.
To file under Things No One Asked For: Veidttober (Oct - Dec 2023)
Why? What?
Because I suddenly find myself deep down this cinematic rabbit hole, I'm going to try to watch every Conrad Veidt movie I can find online before the year is out.
No summaries but I'll include a rating, date and where I watched, and brief impressions (will try to keep the thirst to a minimum, but no promises).
E