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Themes present in both movies:  THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI AND THE BLUE ANGEL

Expressionism

Expressionist depicted reality as a root of ‘inner sickness’, which was one of the major components in Nihilism. Expressionist were among the latest generation to inherit the ‘sickness’ of the past, which spangled from the trauma of the First World War. “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is an expressionist film that focuses on “distortions” to depict the inner states of being. The narrator, Francis convinces its viewers that Dr. Caligari was a murderer. Surprisingly, at the end of the movie, the viewer’s realize that Francis accusations towards Dr.Caligari are false and he is actually a patient in the asylum with Dr. Caligari taking care of him. In a sense, the Expressionist main goal is to manipulate the universal reality of the expected outcome to a very inverted and unexpected outcome in the film. The same is depiction is present in the movie “Blue Angel”, Professor Rath a respectable intellectual professor feared and praised by his society; whose teachings involve staying away from the ‘Sickness’ of the world becomes rooted in them through his  lustful desires for a woman. Results, in an unexpected outcome in the downfall of his career. This brings him shame, dishonor, mockery and his unexpected death.

Fate and Destiny.

 The idea that one can become locked into the things of life, and may have no choice in the outcome of his/her life. The idea that tomorrow might be worse than today, was what the generations after World War I endured. In “The Cabinet of Dr.Caligari” Cesare says to the main character’s young friend “At dawn tomorrow you die” shows how people couldn’t tell their fate for the next day. In the “Blue Angel” Professor Raff wanted to bring out the best in his student but turned out to be a disappointment due to his lust in the beauty of a woman. He lost his fate for a better tomorrow and that of his student too. He changed the direction of both his destiny and the destiny of his students all by his irrational desires.

Betrayal

  In “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” Cesare betrays Francis by not killing Jane; falling in love with her and helping her escape. In the “Blue Angel” Professor Rath, was betrayed by Lola publicly humiliating him in the presence of those who once respected him. At this moment he becomes insane and died broken- hearted.

     All these are part of Nihilism, in a sense, that it show the ‘Sickness’ and destruction of an individual an a mockery of real life events as paralyzing the image of modern society.