Golem on AllMovie

Henrik Galeen both acted in and directed this first version of the Jewish folk tale. A clay statue is unearthed by workmen who are digging a well. It is bought by Aaron (Galeen), an antique dealer. He also purchases a book from an old professor which explains that if a capsule containing certain magic words is placed in the figure's breast, it will come to life as a creature known as the Golem (Paul Wegener). When Aaron finds out that his daughter, Eleanor (Lydia Samonova), is having an affair with a count, he uses the Golem to keep her from going to a party that her lover is throwing. But Eleanor struggles with the Golem and knocks the capsule out of his breast, rendering him dormant. She goes to the party, and while she is away, the professor shows up and replaces the capsule in the Golem's breast. He comes to life and follows Eleanor to the count's party. The guests are thrown into a panic, and nobody can kill the monster. Only when the capsule is knocked from its breast once again does it stop. the Golem falls to the ground below, smashing into pieces. the Golem would make another appearance in 1920's Der Golem (and again in 1936, 1953, and in several more versions). Galeen and Wegner also co-wrote the screenplay for the 1920 version, which Wegener co-directed with Karl Boese.