The Student of Prague

film by Galeen [1926]

Also known as: “Der Student von Prag”

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July 14, 2026

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"The Student of Prague" is a 1926 German silent horror film directed by Henrik Galeen. It is notable for its use of the doppelgänger motif, a concept from German folklore representing a spirit double of a living person. The film combines this theme with elements of the Faust legend. In the story, a student's double succeeds in everything he fails at, ultimately leading to the original's demise. This film is part of the "golden age" of German cinema during the Weimar Republic, a period known for its artistic innovation and Expressionist style.12

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Film design
…Der Student von Prag (1926; The Student of Prague) or Die Nibelungen (1924), there was a baroque beauty of architectural, woodland, and floral settings. The influence of Expressionism can be seen in later cinema in the work of directors Orson Welles and Carl Dreyer and in many gangster movies.
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…Der Student von Prag (1926; The Student of Prague) or Die Nibelungen (1924), there was a baroque beauty of architectural, woodland, and floral settings. The influence of Expressionism can be seen in later cinema in the work of directors Orson Welles and Carl Dreyer and in many gangster movies.
Read More