faust (1926)
The Devil makes a bet with Archangel over the soul of a divine man, Faust. If the devil can successful with his task, he will win control of the earth. When a plague is unleashed on Faust's village, he learns that he may be able to save the land if he makes a deal with the devil. The deal provides Faust with great power and also his youth in return for his soul. When Faust's lover is put to death for the murder of her child, Faust runs into the flames to forever be with his loved one. The film concludes with the devil losing his bet, as the angel points out, eternal love triumphed over hate.
Faust would become Murnau's last German film before heading to Hollywood and one of his most expensive productions. Designed to appeal to the widest international audience, with lavish special effects and popular cast, the film was criticized for straying away from Goethe's play in order to appeal to a wider audience. However lavish and formalized the film was, there were scenes of great realism, including Gretchen's execution. Both Murnau's visual style and Carl Hoffman's camera work have been credited for this impressive and seminal film in silent cinema history.
Director: F.W. Murnau
Writers: Gerhart Hauptmann, Hans Kyser (based on Goethe play)
Cast: Gosta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn
Running Time: 85 minutes (116 minutes for 1997 re-release)
Year: 1926
Studio: Universum Film
Faust would become Murnau's last German film before heading to Hollywood and one of his most expensive productions. Designed to appeal to the widest international audience, with lavish special effects and popular cast, the film was criticized for straying away from Goethe's play in order to appeal to a wider audience. However lavish and formalized the film was, there were scenes of great realism, including Gretchen's execution. Both Murnau's visual style and Carl Hoffman's camera work have been credited for this impressive and seminal film in silent cinema history.
Director: F.W. Murnau
Writers: Gerhart Hauptmann, Hans Kyser (based on Goethe play)
Cast: Gosta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn
Running Time: 85 minutes (116 minutes for 1997 re-release)
Year: 1926
Studio: Universum Film