director: Friedrich Porges
years: 1923/ 1924/ 1925
country: Germany
alternative titles: Ein Blick hinter die Kulissen

'Der Film im Film' (The Film in Film: A Look Behind the Scenes) is an educational film about the technological and artistic development of cinematography. The film’s six parts - 'The History of Cinematography,' 'The Thematic Development of Film,' 'The Miracle of Film,' 'The Development of Film,' 'From the Filmstrip to the Finished Film,' and 'Artistic Work on Film' - explore the various realms of filmmaking. The film explores the beginnings of cinematography from the thaumatrope through Muybridge’s series of photographs up to the first cameras and projectors. The individual areas of filmmaking are also all explained, including trick photography, dramaturgic development, costume and props, camerawork, and film laboratory techniques. In the sixth part, various 'behind-the-scenes' shots from the major film studios of the silent era can be seen, including: studio and location shots showing E. A. Dupont and Ernst Deutsch making 'Das alte Gesetz' (The Old Law; E. A. Dupont, 1923), shots of Hanns Schwarz, Harry Liedtke, and Hanni Weisse making 'Nanon' (Hanns Schwarz, 1923), and location shots in Hunnendorf from the making of 'Die Nibelungen' (Fritz Lang, 1922–24) with Fritz Lang, shots from the making of 'Das Wachsfigurenkabinett' (Waxworks; Paul Leni/Leo Birinski, 1923–24) with Paul Leni and Conrad Veidt and shots taken at the studio in Staaken during the filming of scenes from 'I.N.R.I.' (Robert Wiene, 1923) showing the March into Jerusalem and the Sermon on the Mount, with Robert Wiene, Henny Porten, and Asta Nielsen.

Artistic Director: Friedrich Porges.
Technical Director: Stefan Lorant.
Screenplay: Friedrich Porges, Stefan Lorant.
Scientific Advisor: Curt Thomalla.
Director of Photography: Stefan Lorant.
Cast: Lee Parry.
Participants: Ernst Deutsch, Ewald André Dupont, Richard Eichberg (brief appearance), Maria Jacobini, Emil Jannings, Werner Krauß, Fritz Lang, Paul Leni, Harry Liedtke, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau (believed to make a brief appearance during a crane ride), Asta Nielsen, Julius Pinschewer, Henny Porten, Valdemar Psilander, Gennaro Righelli, Hanns Schwarz, Paul Ludwig Stein, Conrad Veidt, Paul Wegener, Hanni Weisse, Robert Wiene.
Production Company: Richard Hirschfeld GmbH, Berlin.
Producer: Richard Hirschfeld.
Initial Distributor: Diana-Film GmbH, Berlin (for East Berlin, Middle and North Germany), Deutsch-Amerikanische Film-Union AG (for the rest of Germany).
Length: 6 acts, 2188 m.
Format: 35mm, 1:1.33.
Picture/Sound: b/w, silent.
Censorship Details: 21 May 1924, no. B.08517, g-rated.
Première: 26 June 1925, Berlin (Richard Oswald-Lichtspiele).

Source notes
Deutsche Kinemathek - Museum für Film und Fernsehen

Fragment available (SDK).