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Sixteenth-century Prague. Rabbi Loew, spiritual leader of the Jewish community, divines from his astrological tables that a disaster is imminent, and decides to summon the dead spirit Astaroth and build the Golem, a huge clay figure which will serve the man who gives it life.

HORROR. Historical. Sixteeneth-century Prague. A Hebraic legend in which the Rabbi of Prague infuses life into a Golem - a statue of clay - which yearns for love and finally meets its end at the hand of a child. Rl. 1. The Rabbi of the Jews of Prague forsees disaster for his people in the stars and prayers are held at the synagogue to avert it. The Rabbi's predictions ar justified when the Emperor puts his seal to a proclamation banishing them and which is handed to a courier to deliver to the ghetto. Meanwhile the Rabbi and his assistant follow out the directions of an old tome and fashion a figure of clay - the Golem - which, when a mystic word is placed in its breast, will come to life and protect the Jews. Their work is interrupted by the arrival of the Emperors' messenger who meets the Rabbi's daughter (939). Rl. 2. The courier makes love to the Rabbi's daughter who is also loved by the assistant. The Rabbi interrupts the lovemaking and hands to the courier a petition to the Emperor for an interview. He rebukes his daughter when the courier has left. Work on the Golem is started again and an emblem in the form of the Star of David is placed in its breast. Watched by his assistant, the Rabbi calls witchcraft to his aid to find out the magic word which will bring the clay monster to life. He stands in a ring of fire, and separate flames dart round his head, then a face appears, whispers the word, and disappears (2038). Rl. 3. The Rabbi writes the word on a scrap of paper which he inserts in the emblem and replaces it in the Golem's breast; it comes to life. The Golem is employed on domestic duties and receives its first outing when it is taken shopping by the assistant; people flee in terror at its approach. The Rabbi's daughter receives a letter from her lover making an asssignation. At the Emperor's court, the Feast of the Rose is in progress when the Rabbi arrives accompanied by the Golem. The monster creates both amusement and fear and is greatly saddened when a girl shrinks from him (3092). Rl. 4. Whilst the courier slinks off to keep his appointment with the Rabbi's daughter, her father shows the Emperor and his court visions of the early trials of the Jewish people, including a vision of the Wandering Jew. The court laughs, and for this ribaldry, the roof starts falling in. The Emperor begs the Rabbi to save him and he will spare his people; the Golem holds the roof up and the Jews obtain the royal protection. Meanwhile the Rabbi's daughter is entertaining her lover. On their return home the Golem turns in anger upon its master who devitalises it. A trumpet call heralds the Emperor's decree (3790). Rl. 5. The Ghetto rejoices. The Rabbi, filled with compunction for the Golem, is prevented from destroying it by the arrival of his friends with congratulations. A procession is formed by the populace who march to the synagogue to give thanks for their deliverance. The assistant discovers the Rabbi's daughter and the courier together and in a jealous rage brings the Golem back to life and orders it to kill the courier. It does this by hurling him from a tower where he has taken refuge and then directs its attention to the girl; the assistant tries to stop him but is hurled aside. The Golem then runs amok and sets fire to the house. The news is received at the synagogue and the worshippers race to the scene (4546). Rl. 6. The Rabbi is appealed to for help and arrives at the house as the tower collapses; he finds his daughter who has been abandoned by the Golem. The assistant appears and is forgiven. Meanwhile, the Golem knocks down the gates of the ghetto and finds itself in the open country faced by a crowd of children; all flee interror except one little girl whom it delightedly sweeps into its arms. Unwittingly, she plucks the emblem from its breast and its falls, lifeless, to the ground. The populace carry the figure in to the ghetto, the doors closing behind the procession as it moves in (5199ft). Note: The above copy has Italian flash titles; the main title and credits are missing. Note: Viewing copy has English titles.