Homunculus (film)

Homunculus is a six chapter German science fiction silent serial directed by Otto Rippert and written by Robert Reinert.[1] Other sources list Robert Neuss as a co-writer.[2] The most successful German-made film series produced during World War I, it was theatrically released between August 1916 and January 1917 in six parts running approximately one hour each.

Homunculus
Directed byOtto Rippert
Produced byHanns Lippmann
Written byRobert Reinert
Starring
CinematographyCarl Hoffmann
Release date
August 1916 (1916-08) – January 1917 (1917-01)
Running time
approx. 6h
CountryGermany
Language

The plot is very similar to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, wherein a living creature (called a homunculus) is created artificially in a laboratory and strives to develop emotions like a human being. (Frankenstein had previously been filmed by Thomas Edison in the United States in 1909.)[3] The film was re-released with colored tints and Italian language intertitles in 1920, and it is this print that exists in the George Eastman Museum film archives.[2]

Plot

A scientist creates a living creature called a Homunculus (a Latin word which means little man) in a laboratory, and the creature strives to find love. When it discovers it is unable to feel emotions, it goes on a rampage and starts creating havoc in a nearby German village. Although it looks human, it is a soulless being. The scientist hunts down the creature in an attempt to destroy his creation. The theme of an artificially created being turning against its creator is also similar to the Golem films of Paul Wegener and the silent film versions of Henrik Galeen's Alraune.[3]

Cast

References
  1. Frank, Barbara (1 August 2014). "Stummfilm "Eines der aufwendigsten Projekte"". Rundschau Online. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  2. Bennett, Carl (28 September 2013). "Homunculus (1916)". Progressive Silent Film List. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019.
  3. Workman & Howarth, p. 172.

Bibliography
  • Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Baltimore: Midnight Marquee Press. ISBN 978-1-936168-68-2.
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