The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Apart from the somewhat clumsy declaration of "now I can cure him!" by the director, I initially had no problem with the twist in the ending of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. But as I read the article by Kracauer, I came to realize to what a frustrating extent the twist in the ending alters the original meaning of the story. Initially, I was annoyed. But, as I thought about it (and Kracauer explained it), I came to realize that, while the twist at the ending altered the exact message of the film, it did not necessarily change its spirit.
Kracauer noted that Wiene threw in the hope of Francis's cure to provide a happier, more easily digestible ending for mass audiences. Ironically, however, I ultimately found this ending more depressing than the original. Authority triumphs, and general madness reigns. While more depressing, the altered ending is nevertheless more bizarrely accurate. While I personally would have loved to have seen corrupt authority demolished by spirited youth, the final ending more accurately reflected the general insanity of post-WWI Germany and the widespread inner-retreat of the population. In this way, the ending shifts The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari from an idealistic ultimatum to a somewhat depressing mirror of reality.