Despite the title, this is not a remake of the classic German silent movie, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. According to director Roger Kay, it is “one of the most advanced psychiatric studies ever put on the screen”. To the rest of us, it’s arguably a very long Twilight Zoneepisode.
Jane Lindstrom (Glynis Johns) is driving in the countryside when, after emerging from a dark tunnel, her car suddenly breaks down on a lonely stretch of road. She seeks shelter in a large, isolated, ultra-modern mansion owned by a mysterious man named Caligari, who calmly tells her she was expected.
She stays the night, and the next morning, she visits Caligari in his study and is horrified when he shows her pornographic photographs. He also drugs her coffee, and she sleeps until evening.
At dinner, she is introduced to the other guests and learns that she – like them – is now Caligari’s prisoner.
Amongst the other occupants of the house are Christine (Constance Ford), a secretary who appears to be Caligari’s mistress, a valet named David (Lawrence Dobkin), a number of curious guests who seem entirely at home in the odd house – including Ruth (Estelle Winwood) and Martin (J. Pat O’Malley), a young man named Mark (Richard Davalos) who seems to know her but appears only in the evenings, and a doctor named Paul (Dan O’Herlihy) who seems to be the only sane person there.
Jane appeals to him to help her escape, but there is no way out. Caligari’s house has suddenly become the whole world, and she will remain there until he himself gives her permission to leave.
Caligari unnerves her further by peering at her through a ceiling window while she is taking a bath.
The film is largely an account of her mental struggles with Caligari, all seen through her eyes as the mystery mounts.
Director Roger Kay’s biggest faux pas, though, is not giving the audience any clue as to what the film is about.
When the solution finally arrives in the last 10 minutes, it feels like a “cheat” ending. It is only afterwards that the film can be judged retrospectively, and, seen again in the light of the first viewing, it would certainly make much more sense.
Jane Lindstrom
Glynis Johns Caligari/Paul
Dan O’Herlihy Mark
Richard Davalos David/Dr Frank David
Lawrence Dobkin Christine
Constance Ford Martin
J. Pat O’Malley Jeanie the Maid
Vicki Trickett Ruth
Estelle Winwood Vivian
Doreen Lang Bob
Charles Fredericks Jane as a Child
Phyllis Teagardin
Director
Roger Kay
Video
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She stays the night, and the next morning, she visits Caligari in his study and is horrified when he shows her pornographic photographs. He also drugs her coffee, and she sleeps until evening.
Caligari unnerves her further by peering at her through a ceiling window while she is taking a bath.
