Paul Leni(1885-1929)

Expressionist German director, whose work influenced Eisenstein in Russia, as well as Hollywood film makers at Universal and RKO in the 1930's and 40's. A master at Gothic horror, he began as a stage designer for Max Reinhardt and Leopold Jessner. Directed films from 1913, as well as doubling up as art director, using stylized sets and accentuated contrasts between light and shade. His most famous films were Le cabinet des figures de cire (1924) in Germany, and - during his spell at Universal from 1927-28 - the definitive classic haunted house mystery, La volonté du mort (1927).