1910-1919

1910: Charles Ogle appears in the first filmed version of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Two more versions of Robert Louis Stephenson’s story are released, Wrench releases The Duality of Man and Nordisk puts out Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

1911: The first full length movie with a monster is released. Not surprisingly it is Notre Dame de Paris and is filmed by Pathe.

1912: The first full length pure horror movie is released by Gaumont The Vengeance of Egypt, it is also the first film to use the mysteries surrounding ancient Egypt as the basis for a horror film.

1913: The first colour horror movie is released. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde however is seen by few people as it requires rather complex technology to screen. The first film about Lycanthropy The Werewolf is released.

1914: World War 1 breaks out. German filmmaker Paul Wegener releases his hugely influential movie Der Golem, based on ancient Jewish mythology Wegener both directs and stars as the monster of the title. As a result of the war Freed from the influx of American movies and away from their influence German cinema flourishes.

1917: Wegener releases the second Golem film, Der Golem und die Tanzerin The Golem and the dancer.

1918: World War One, ’The War to End All Wars’ ends leaving approximately 20,000,000 people dead and much of Europe in ruins.

1919: The visually stunning expressionist horror movie Das Cabinet des Dr Caligari (the Cabinet of Dr Caligari) starring Conrad Veidt is released with a unique set made up of hand painted backdrops. These twisted dark streets and houses seem to reflect the horror of and desolation of the recently ended war.