The Half-Caste

film by Lang [1919]

Also known as: “Halbblut”

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July 21, 2026

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The Half-Caste (original German title: Halbblut) is a 1919 silent film directed by Fritz Lang. It was Lang's directorial debut, marking the beginning of his prolific career in cinema.1

The film's theme is noted as foreshadowing elements found in Lang's later works, such as The Woman in the Window and Scarlet Street. The term "half-caste" itself is considered offensive and refers to a person of mixed racial descent.12

Lang, an Austrian-born director, became known for his visually striking and suspenseful films, often exploring themes of fate and destiny. Before his move to the United States in 1934, he established a significant body of work in German cinema.1

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Fritz Lang
Early life and German films
…his first movie, Halbblut (The Half-Caste), the theme of which foreshadowed such triumphs from his Hollywood period as The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945). In 1920 he began working for producer Erich Pommer at Decla Biscop Studio, which became part of the German filmmaking giant…
Read More
…his first movie, Halbblut (The Half-Caste), the theme of which foreshadowed such triumphs from his Hollywood period as The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945). In 1920 he began working for producer Erich Pommer at Decla Biscop Studio, which became part of the German filmmaking giant…
Read More