#gustavvonwangenheim

[adamwatchesmovies]

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)

Nosferatu is now a hundred years old, which means a quick glance isn’t enough to fully appreciate its importance. Even without the historical context, there’s the brilliant cinematography, and a chilling performance by Max Schrek to keep you mesmerized.

In 1838, Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim) is sent to Transylvania to visit Count Orlok (Schrek) by his employer, Knock (Alexander Granach). While settling the purchase of the house across from his, Thomas realizes the count is a vampire.

Nosferatu is a unique vampire film. It predates the most famous adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (whom this film is an unauthorized adaptation of). This makes it the only movie not influenced by Bela Lugosi’s iconic portrayal. We're used to seeing vampires as humans that survive by drinking blood. Orlok is a creature in his own category. The rat-like teeth, elongated fingers, bat-like ears, unearthly movements, and the way a plague always seems to accompany him say he isn't a man, that might never have been human... but what else could he be? It puts you on edge and Orlok seems to know this. He gleefully looks at anyone who walks within arm’s reach as food, delighting in the fact that no one has ever encountered a force like him before and that, should you be able to wrap your mind around the fact that he is the fabled “Bird of Death”, no one would ever believe you.

Before viewing the film, it's important to know that it was made before synchronizing sound was possible and way before any but the most basic cinematic techniques were invented. This preps you for the title cards, which linger on the screen for a long time (I guess people read a lot slower in 1922), and allows you to appreciate the technical and stylistic innovations. Tinting a scene blue to indicate nighttime and yellow to indicate daylight sounds basic, but would you have thought of doing so back in 1922 when color wasn’t even a thing in movies? How about using stop-motion to have Orlok manipulate his environment? There are little details here and there, like a note given to Knock by Count Orlok that shows a level of sophistication you wouldn’t expect out of some vampire movie made before the self-winding watch was invented. Every other time we see a document, the film cuts to a close-up so that the audience can read what it says, but look at those alchemical symbols. To the audiences of the past, it would’ve been a subtle and clever use of foreshadowing.

While I wouldn’t consider the film frightening, it is effective. The conclusion, in particular. I’m surprised we haven’t seen it done in any other vampire movie since. Like so many black-and-white fantasy films, it perfectly captures the feel of olden magic; the self-contained logic with the seemingly arbitrary but cut-and-dry rules that dictate how this creature who doesn’t belong fits in our realm, and how we (or in this case, Hutter’s wife Ellen, played by Greta Schröder) can fight back against this evil.

As is the tendency with these older films, the pace is a tad slow. Since you already know the basic rules of a vampire, you may find yourself a bit restless while waiting for Hutter to arrive at Orlok’s rotting castle. It’s something you get used to in time and you can’t blame director F.W. Murnau for being a little out of touch with 21st century standards. Nosferatu is a striking experience, a movie that’s unlike any other because of its age. It's creepy and a fascinating piece of history to watch. There’s a lot of great stuff here and to dismiss the film because it’s old, in black-and-white, silent, or foreign would be a grave mistake. Once you see Nosferatu, you’ll never forget it. (English version on Blu-ray, October 5, 2017)

[jamest541975]

#Repost @justafanoffilm with @repostsaveapp ・・・ 99 years ago today, "Nosferatu" premiered in Germany at the Berlin Zoological Garden (March 4, 1922). . Fun fact: The silent horror film was banned in Sweden due to excessive horror. The ban was lifted in 1972. . . . #nosferatu #nosferatu1922 #1922 #20shorror #silenthorror #fwmurnau #maxschreck #gustavvonwangenheim #alexandergranach #ruthlandshoff #wolfgangheinz #horror #horrorfilm #horrorhistory #horrorfilmhistory #horrormoviehistory #thisdayinhorror #todayinhorror #onthisday #onthisdayinfilm #filmhistory #moviehistory #thisdayinfilmhistory #todayinfilmhistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CMBi7h6lr8Q/?igshid=1ic0v96qsdc7g

[vicsage-retroist]

"You have hurt yourself... your precious blood!" - Nosferatu (1922) #maxschreck #gustavvonwangenheim #gretaschröder #fwmurnau #henrikgaleen #bramstoker #vampires #nosferatu #horrorclassic #saturdayfrights #silenthorror #podcast #popculture #horrorcommunity #horrorgeek #horrorpodcast https://www.instagram.com/p/B7S_sD4lWzH/?igshid=18lt6gs0qlvmj

[into-the-sky-under-the-sea]

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This is actually terrifying. Currently Watching: Nosferatu (1922) Directed by F.W. Murnau #Nosferatu #Vampire #Vampyre #FWMurnau #Murnau #CountOrlok #GrafOrlok #MaxSchreck #Dracula #BramStoker #ClassicFilm #Film #SilentFilm #Filmbuff #GretaSchröder #GustavVonWangenheim #AlexanderGranach #HorrorFilm #ClassicHorrorFilm

[josephfrady]

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#nosferatueinesymphoniedesgrauens #1922 DIR #fwmurnau CAST #maxschreck#gustavvonwangenheim #horror #silent #movie #blackandwhite DP #fritzarnowagner (à Rostock, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2ElU8WDT_o/?igshid=1dkkwvll7zgeu

[knitsybitsyspiders]

Finally getting through recorded movies from Halloween. Christmas is a much scarier time of year anyway...right? #nosferatu #maxschreck #alexandergranach #gustavvonwangenheim #gretaschroeder #ghschnell #ruthlandshoff #johngottowt #gustavbotz #maxnemetz #wolfgangheinz #fwmurnau #1923 #tcm