The Jewish savant Rabbi Löw once created a giant man of clay, golem, and gave it life. After Rabbi Löw's death the golem became for the oppressed Jews a symbol of protection against pogroms. At the court of Emperor Rudolf II, chamberlain Lang tries through intrigues to control the Emperor and obtain power. To do this he needs the golem, and therefore his people make their way into the Jewish Ghetto to look for it. They do not hesitate to use force and they also imprison a number of Jews including Rabbi Jakub. The Emperor's lover, Countess Stradová, wants to obstruct Lang's plans. Thus she attempts to reach the imprisoned Rabbi Jakub, who is the only one who knows where the golem is to be found. Before she succeeds, Lang finds the golem and revivifies it. But it is he who is the one punished by the golem for his violence to a defenceless people. After the prisoners are freed Rabbi Jakub makes a secret sign and the golem disappears.
The French filmography of Julien Duvivier took as his theme the novel by Gustav Meyrink only. The film was shot only in a French version. A co-produced film, whose main capital share was ensured by the Czech producer. The première took place in Paris in cinema Le Paris on Champs Elysées. Under the opening credits, watercolours of Prague by Jaroslav Šetelík are used.
císař Rudolf II.
komoří Lang
Golem
rabín Jakub
komtesa Kateřina Stradová
rabínova žena Rachel
madame Benoitová, společnice Stradové
Trignac
šéf policie Bedřich
Toussaint
Daniel, odcházející obyvatel ghetta
alchymista
dvorní šašek
hvězdář Keppler
kardinál
katův pacholek
katův pacholek
obyvatel ghetta
Gustav Meyrink (Golem /Der Golem/ – román), Jiří Voskovec (Golem – divadelní hra), Jan Werich (Golem – divadelní hra), anonym (Golem – staropražská legenda)
František Říha, K. Meisner
Willy Ströminger (fotograf)
Amalaine Diabová (2003), Anna Kareninová (dramaturgie 2003)
Filmprint (2003), Filmové laboratoře Barrandov Studio (2003)
Orchestr F.O.K. (Music Conducted by Josef Kumok)
Golem
Golem
The Golem
Le Golem
film
featuretheatrical distribution
drama
Czechoslovakia
1936
1935—1936
start of filming 28 October 1935
end of filming 18 January 1936
date of censorship 02/1936
withdrawal from distribution 11 November 1938
premiere abroad 6 February 1936 (kino Le Paris, Paříž, Francie)
premiere 14 February 1936 /unsuitable for youths/ (kina Adria /2 týdny/ a Lucerna /2 týdny/, Praha)
feature film
101 min
2 860 meters
35mm
1:1,37
black & white
sound
Tobis – Klang
Czech, French
French
Czech
Czech