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German Expressionism Practical
influence on hollywood film noir
classic german expressionist films
UFA (1917 – Present)
The UFA (Universum-Film Aktiengesellschaft) is a film and television production company that unites all production activities of ‘Bertelsmann’, one of the world’s largest media conglomerates.
The original UFA was established in 1917, as a response to the foreign competition in film and propaganda, and was founded by Emil Georg von Stauß. Its purpose was to promote German culture and to enhance Germany’s international image in the years after World War I, but due to a financial collapse in the film industry, the UFA was heading into bankruptcy.
However, in 1927, Alfred Hugenberg, an influential German media entrepreneur and member of Hitler’s cabinet, purchased the UFA, and when the Nazis came into power, films became propaganda for the general public. This process was called Nazification – the process of placing something under Nazi control or influence. If not for promoting Nazi propaganda, the UFA would have gone out of business.
why has ufa managed to stay in business
1918-1930
- germany had been cut off from other countries film imports due to world war 1
- Deutsche Bank was able to instead of the business only making propaganda films he made it so they could make a variety of entertainment films
- during this time period UFA was a leader in German expressionism with The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920)
1927-1933
- In this time period UFA was in big financial trouble as alot of the other film companies in Germany as American films were able to be shown
- In march 1927 Alfred Hugenberg bought the company
1933-1937
- “UFA experienced a new commercial boom in the Nazi era by occupying almost all of Europe, the Nazi regime provided UFA with new sales markets, as well as placing distribution outlets in such “neutral” countries as the United States”
- “UFA’s economic boom made it possible to further expand the so-called “star system,”
1942-1945
- On january 10 1942 all film companies integrated into UFA
source (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFA_GmbH)
the expressionist fine art movement
Expressionism art focused more on emotions and feelings instead of what the subject actually looked like. Some characteristics of expressionism are “jagged, distorted lines; rough, rapid brushwork; and jarring colours.” https://www.britannica.com/art/Expressionism
the wiemar republic
“in 1920s Germany helped give rise to a new genre of cinema called expressionism” Weimar cinema alpha history
in the Weimar period German cinema began to be more expressionistic with exaggerated sets and exaggerated makeup, the films in this period relied on symbolism and imagery to get their point across.
inspiration for makeup
(main man) -joe
-dark under eyes (makeup eyeshadow to hollow out eyes )
-pale white face (for a death look)
dark dried lips (black lipstick on inside of mouth )
black, dark hair/ slicked back
sharp facial structures (to give hollow look)
maybe wrinkles
black eye pencil
still dark above eyes but less extreme
maybe wrinkles in the makeup
the main woman
-small lips with cupid bow (to make lips look small and dainty shiny so lip gloss instead of matt)
-dark above eyes (instead of undereyes )
thin pencil eyebrows (glued over natural eyebrows drawn thin and like a line no harsh arches)
white eye pencil (in eyeline to give innocent and soft look)
soft face (no harsh lines or shadows contour would be soft )
long fake eyelashes (thin and dainty)
long hair? maybe tied back with hair infront (dark hair)
exaggerated eyeliner but soft and doe eyed
The Weimar republic (1918 – 1933) – Task 1
End of WW1 : 1918
After the war the Allies joined to together and formed a treaty as a way to punish Germany, The Treaty of Versailles. Germany was forced to sign the treaty that established peace between all the nations and take responsibility for the war. Germany was crippled financially, socially, and had a reduced militia. This eventually lead to the economic crisis in 1923.
During the years after the war UFA aimed to publicise German culture and improve the public image of Germany which had been stained after the war. German expressionism was completely banned in some countries which limited their ability to reach international audience. The depression that followed during their economic crises was manifested into their films and media – Despair, twisted, distorted
Films released: 1923 Germany
Scene from the 1923 film The Ancient Law directed by E.A -a German silent drama film that follows the story of the son of a Rabbi and the hostility he faces from his father. Supplied By: wikipedia /The_Ancient_Law