h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Paul Wegener's Golem films - A853111
Author: Stephen P. - U34696

Paul Wegener's 1920 film The Golem is a classic of German silent horror films. Here you can read about all three of Wegener's Golem movies.

This is a short but good article, more or less ready for the EG. I spent some time in Prague years ago, and the Golem was a pretty big thing over there. I didn't really know the legend itself, but my host at the time said that it was animated by a 'hot ball' placed in its skull. Do you know anything about this?

FM

Traditionally a tablet to be placed into the mouth of the Golem, with the true name of God written thereon.

I knew reading Tom Holland and that book about John Dee would come in handy one day.

Great piece, btw. I keep hoping that at least the first of these films will surface on DVD in the same way that Metropolis and Nosferatu et al have.

Fascinating, Stephen. Literally the only thing I could think of adding would be maybe a pronunciation of the word 'Golem', which I always pronounced to rhyme with 'Sol', but I now understand it to rhyme with 'hole'.

Apart from that, I think it covers all the bases.

Just a little side note that may be worth adding, Rabbi Judah Low is actually buried in Prague's Only surviving Jewish cemetery.

Even today people leave stones on the grave (flowers are not allowed) as a mark of respect.

The reason the cemetery survived the Nazi regime is that Hitler wanted to preserve Prague's Jewish Quarter as a Museum to a Lost Race.

Thanks. I hadn't heard of these other ways of bringing a Golem to life - interesting.
I've always pronounced the first syllable to rhyme with hole. Otherwise people might think I was talking about Gollum.
Your comments are much appreciated.

Stephen

Excellent entry.

You sometimes spell the name 'Low' and sometimes 'Loew' - I think 'Loew' is correct. According to google he is also called the Maharal.

As you say, there are inevitably different versions of the legend.

The Shem is the ineffable Name of God, which these superstitious people reckoned had magic powers when suitably invoked.

>Hitler wanted to preserve Prague's Jewish Quarter as a Museum to a Lost Race

And then the Communist regime said they wanted to preserve Prague's Jewish Quarter as a tribute to the Jews, but in truth it was a cynical attempt at anti-Nazi propaganda.

I used the two different spellings deliberately. I have seen it spelled both ways in accounts of the legend, but in the title cards to the 1920 Der Golem it is spelled Loew. Which is definitive, if anyone can tell after so long, remains to be seen.
A note about the cemetery: Paul Wegener wanted to shoot scenes for The Student of Prague in the old cemetery but was refused, so he had to construct his own in a nearby wood. I wonder if he first heard the Golem legend while standing by the Rabbi's grave?

Stephen

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Stephen

As I picked this entry, I thought I'd give my congratulations. Well done, Stephen P.

Thanks!

Stephen

Hi Stephen,

I've been given your fabulous entry to subedit, and I'm nearly finished with subbing. The result is at A866892. If you spot something that needs attention, please drop me a note.

SchrEck Inc.

Thanks
Stephen