This is a list of the most notable films produced in the German Empire until 1918, in year order.
It includes German films from the introduction of the medium to the resignation of the Emperor at the end of World War I. Many of these films laid the groundwork for German Expressionism.
For an alphabetical list of articles on films of the period see :Category:Films of the German Empire.
1890s
Title Director Cast Genre Notes 1895 Akrobatisches Potpourri Max & Emil Skladanowsky Grunato family Documentary Release: Nov. 1 Bauerntanz zweier Kinder Max Skladanowsky Documentary Release: Nov 1 Boxing Kangaroo Max Skladanowsky Mr Delaware Documentary Release: Nov 1 The German Emperor Reviewing His Troops Birt Acres Earliest known footage of Kaiser Wilhelm Opening of the Kiel Canal Birt Acres Early footage of Kaiser Wilhelm Serpentinen Tanz Max Skladanowsky Documentary Release: Nov 1 1896 Leben und Treiben am Alexanderplatz Max Skladanowsky 1897 Apotheose II Max Skladanowsky 1898 Kaiser von Deutschland, der Kaiser von Österreich und der König von Sachsen am Tage der Jubiläumsfeier in Dresden English: The Kaiser of Germany, the Kaiser of Austria and the King of Saxony on the day of the Jubilee Fair in Dresden 1899 German Lancers A parade of the famous Second Guards, one of Emperor William's favorite regiments. When the Bugle Sounds 'Charge' An attack by the famous Second Guards Regiment of Emperor William's Army on the Paradefeld.
1900s
Title Director Cast Genre Notes 1900 Einzug unserer Chinakrieger in Berlin am 16.12.1900 English: The Entry of Our China Soldiers in Berlin on Dec. 16, 1900 (about Boxer Rebellion?) Eine moderne Jungfrau von Orleans Max Skladanowsky English: A Modern Maid of Orleans 1901 Einzug der Königin von Holland mit ihrem Gemahl in Schwerin English: The Entry of the Queen of The Netherlands with her Consort in Schwerin 1902 When Knighthood Was in Flower 1903 Mr. Krebs in seiner senationellen Schleifenfahrt Arthur Robison English: Mr. Krebs in his Sensational Bicycleride Der lustige Ehemann Otto Julius Bierbaum 1904 The Whistling Bowery Boy Oskar Messter Kämpfe vor Port Arthur English: The Campaign for Port Arthur 1905 Eine Fliegenjagd oder Die Rache der Frau Schultze Max Skladanowsky English: Hunting a Fly; Or, The Revenge of Frau Schultze Afrikanische Kriegsbilder War documentary English: African War Pictures 1906 Apachentanz Oskar Messter, Albert Kutzner Henny Porten, Rosa Porten English: Apache Dance (A French dance)Meißner Porzellan Franz Porten, Oskar Messter Henny Porten, Rosa Porten 1909 Prosit Neujahr 1910! Guido Seeber Animated film First animated German film
1910-1912
Title Director Cast Genre Notes 1910 Arsène Lupin contra Sherlock Holmes Viggo Larsen Viggo Larsen, Paul Otto Crime 5 part serial Die geheimnisvolle Streichholzdose Guido Seeber Animated film Available online here Sumurûn Max Reinhardt 1911 Gipsy Blood Urban Gad Asta Nielsen Drama Heißes Blut , Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers Henny Porten Drama English: The Love of a Blind Girl or The Happy Love of a Blind Girl Urban Gad Asta Nielsen Drama Der schwarze Traum. German-Danish co-production Die Suppe Julius Pinschewer partly animated film An advertisement for Maggi-Wuerze Available online here The Traitress Urban Gad Asta Nielsen, Max Obal, Robert Valberg Drama 1912 The Dance of Death Urban Gad Asta Nielsen Drama In Nacht und Eis Mime Misu Disaster English: In Night and Ice; first German Titanic film ever made Das Mirakel Mime Misu Der Nähkasten Julius Pinschewer animated film The Oath of Stephan Huller Viggo Larsen Viggo Larsen, Wanda Treumann Drama Poor Jenny Urban Gad Asta Nielsen Drama Henny Porten Drama English: In the Shadow of the Sea Tanz der Flaschen (Kupferberg Gold) Julius Pinschewer animated film Tanz der Flaschen (Maggi) Julius Pinschewer animated film An advertisement for Maggi-Wuerze Zweimal gelebt Max Mack Eva Speyer, Anton Ernst Rückert Drama
1913 Title Director Cast Genre Notes Franz Porten Hansi Arnstaedt biopic English: A Film of Queen Louise; in 3 parts Max Reinhardt Ernst Hofmann, Willy Prager, Wilhelm Diegelmann, Leopoldine Konstantin Fantasy Carl FroelichWilliam Wauer Giuseppe Becce, Olga Engl biopic Der neue Schreibtisch Karl Valentin Karl Valentin Comedy The Other Max Mack Albert Bassermann Thriller Franz Hofer Dorrit Weixler Comedy English: The Pink Slippers Franz Hofer , Maria Forescu The Student of Prague Stellan Rye, Paul Wegener Paul Wegener Horror English: A Bargain With Satan The Weapons of Youth Friedrich MüllerGertrud Gräbner, Conrad Wiene Screenplay by Robert Wiene Where Is Coletti? Max MackHans Junkermann, Madge Lessing, Heinrich Peer Comedy
1914 Title Director Cast Genre Notes The Armoured Vault Joe May Ernst Reicher, Hermann Picha, Fritz Richard Thriller Detektiv BraunRudolf MeinertAlwin Neuß, Friedrich KühneCrime The Firm Gets Married Carl Wilhelm Victor Arnold, Ernst Lubitsch Comedy Die geheimnisvolle Villa Joe May Ernst Reicher, Werner Krauss He This Way, She That Way Robert WieneMax Zilzer, Manny ZienerComedy Der Hund von Baskerville Rudolf Meinert Alwin Neuß, Friedrich Kühne Crime The Iron Cross Richard Oswald Friedrich Kühne, Hedda Vernon, Hanni Weisse Drama Ivan Koschula Richard Oswald Rudolph Schildkraut, Hanni Weisse Drama Little Angel Urban GadAsta NielsenComedy The Man in the Cellar Joe May Ernst Reicher, Max Landa, Olga Engl Thriller Miss Piccolo Franz Hofer Dorrit Weixler, Ernst Lubitsch, Alice Hechy Comedy The Silent Mill Richard Oswald Alfred Abel, Ferdinand Bonn, Robert Valberg Drama Max Reinhardt Alfred Abel, Maria Carmi Fantasy
1915 Title Director Cast Genre Notes Aufs Eis geführt Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch, Albert Paulig Comedy Berlin im Kriegsjahr Carl Wilhelm documentaryThe Canned BrideRobert Wiene Margarete Kupfer, Guido HerzfeldComedy The Dancer Georg Jacoby Leopoldine Konstantin, Bruno Kastner Drama Deutsche Kriegswoche Carl Wilhelm documentaryFluch der Schönheit D.J. Rector Maria Carmi, Hans Mierendorff Drama Der Golem Henrik Galeen, Paul Wegener Paul Wegener Horror Ein Held des Unterseebootes Walter Schmidthässler documentary Laugh Bajazzo Richard Oswald Rudolph Schildkraut, Alfred Abel, Hanni Weisse Drama No Sin on the Alpine Pastures Rudolf Biebrach Henny Porten, Emmy Wyda, Lupu Pick Comedy Photographischer Wettbewerbdocumentary Robert and BertramMax MackEugen Burg, Ferdinand BonnComedy The TunnelWilliam WauerFriedrich Kayßler, Fritzi Massary Science fiction The Vice Richard Oswald Alfred Abel, Rosa Valetti, Arthur Wellin Drama Der Zahnteufel Julius Pinschewer partly animated film An advertisement for Beiersdorfer Available online here Zucker und Zimt Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Matray, Alice Hechy Comedy
1916 Title Director Cast Genre Notes Bogdan Stimoff Georg Jacoby Carl Goetz, Georg Reimers Drama Co-production with Austria and Bulgaria The Confessions of the Green Mask Max Mack Alfred Abel, Reinhold Schünzel Drama Doktor Satansohn Edmund Edel Hans Felix, Marga Kohler, Ernst Lubitsch Comedy Frau Eva Robert WieneErna Morena, Emil JanningsDrama His Coquettish Wife Hubert Moest Hedda Vernon, Erich Kaiser-Titz, Reinhold Schünzel Comedy Homunculus Otto Rippert Olaf Fønss Science fiction 6 part serial The Knitting Needles Hubert Moest, Otto Rippert Erich Kaiser-Titz, Käthe Haack, Olga Engl Comedy Lehmann's HoneymoonRobert WieneGuido Herzfeld, Arnold RieckComedy Leutnant auf Befehl Ernst Lubitsch Harry Liedtke, Max Gulstorff, Ossi Oswalda Drama Die Peitsche Adolf Gartner Ernst Reicher Drama The Queen's Love LetterRobert WieneHenny Porten, Arthur SchröderComedyThe Queen's Secretary Robert WieneKäthe Dorsch, Ressel OrlaComedy The Robber BrideRobert WieneHenny Porten, Friedrich FeherComedy Rose on the Heath Franz Hofer Lya Ley, Fritz Achterberg Drama Rübezahl's Wedding Rochus Gliese, Paul Wegener Paul Wegener, Lyda Salmonova Drama Shoe Palace PinkusErnst LubitschErnst Lubitsch, Guido HerzfeldComedy The Sin of Helga Arndt Joe May Mia May, Frida Richard Drama Ein Tag bei der Armee Boehm-Ermollidocumentary Tyrannenherrschaft – Aus Polens schwerer Zeit Franz Porten English: Tyrannical Overlords – From Poland's Dark Time The Uncanny House Richard Oswald Werner Krauss, Reinhold Schünzel, Lupu Pick Mystery Released in three parts Under the Spell of Silence Hanna Henning Reinhold Schünzel, Olga Engl Drama Vengeance Is MineRudolf MeinertHans Mierendorff, Marie von Buelow Crime The Wandering LightRobert WieneHenny Porten, Bruno DecarliDrama Werner Krafft Carl Froelich Eduard von Winterstein, Erika Glässner, Reinhold Schünzel Drama The Yogi Paul Wegener, Rochus Gliese Paul Wegener, Lyda Salmonova Drama
1917 Title Director Cast Genre Notes Badeleben im dritten Kriegsjahr an der Ostsee William Karfiol documentary Berliner Leben im dritten Kriegsjahr Frühling 1917 documentary Ein Boxkampf mit John Bull Julius Pinschewer Animated propaganda film Available online here The Diamond Foundation Johannes Guter Ernst Reicher, Marija Leiko, Frida Richard Crime Dornröschen Paul Leni Mabel Kaul, Harry Liedtke, Käthe Dorsch Fairy tale Dr. Hart's Diary Paul Leni Heinrich Schroth, Käthe Haack War FearRobert WieneBruno Decarli, Conrad VeidtHorror Ernst Lubitsch Harry Liedtke, Emil Jannings Comedy English: The Merry Jail Frank Hansen's FortuneViggo LarsenViggo Larsen, Lupu Pick Western Germany and Its Armies Today documentary Compilation of war films edited together for export The Giant's Fist Rudolf Biebrach Henny Porten, Johannes Riemann Drama Hans Trutz in the Land of Plenty Paul Wegener Paul Wegener, Lyda Salmonova, Ernst Lubitsch Fantasy Hilde Warren und der Tod Joe May Written by and starring Fritz Lang Imprisoned SoulRudolf BiebrachHenny Porten, Paul BildtDrama Jan Vermeulen, the Miller of Flanders Georg Jacoby Fred Immler, Leo Lasko War John Bull Julius Pinschewer Animated propaganda film Available online here Let There Be Light Richard Oswald Bernd Aldor, Hugo Flink Drama Followed by three other parts Life Is a Dream Robert WieneEmil Jannings, Bruno DecarliDrama The Lord of Hohenstein Richard Oswald Bernd Aldor, Rita Clermont, Lupu Pick Drama The Lost Paradise Bruno Rahn Mady Christians, Erich Kaiser-Titz Drama The Love of Hetty Raimond Joe May Mia May, Bruno Decarli, Heinrich Peer Drama Die Marokkodeutschen in der Gewalt der FranzosenWaldemar Heckerdocumentary The Man in the MirrorRobert WieneMaria Fein, Bruno DecarliDramaThe Marriage of Luise RohrbachRudolf BiebrachHenny Porten, Emil JanningsDrama Mountain Air Rudolf Biebrach Henny Porten, Paul Hartmann, Reinhold Schünzel Comedy The Onyx Head Joe May Max Landa, Leopoldine Konstantin Crime The Path of Death Robert Reinert Maria Carmi, Carl de Vogt, Conrad Veidt Drama The Picture of Dorian Gray Richard Oswald Bernd Aldor Drama The Princess of NeutraliaRudolf BiebrachHenny Porten, Paul BildtComedy The Ring of Giuditta Foscari Alfred Halm Emil Jannings, Harry Liedtke, Erna Morena Drama Das Säugetier Robert L. Leonard Animated propaganda film Available online here The Sea Battle Richard Oswald Emil Jannings, Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt War The Spy Karl Heiland Ferdinand Bonn, Ellen Richter, Conrad Veidt Spy drama Steadfast Benjamin Robert WieneArnold Rieck, Guido HerzfeldComedy Unusable Georg Jacoby Adele Sandrock, Grete Diercks Drama Wedding in the Eccentric Club Joe May Harry Liedtke, Kathe Haack, Bruno Kastner Drama When Four Do the SameErnst LubitschOssi Oswalda, Emil JanningsComedy/Drama When the Dead Speak Robert Reinert Maria Carmi, Carl de Vogt, Conrad Veidt Drama When the Heart Burns with Hate Kurt Matull Pola Negri, Hans Adalbert Schlettow Drama
1918