F.W. Murnau
Born in 28 December 1888, Bielefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, died in 11 March 1931, Santa Barbara, California
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's best known contribution to horror is his classic masterpiece, Nosferatu, which successfully used German Expressionist techniques, many of which were used in the under appreciated 1926 Faust. Throughout his short career as a filmmaker that spans only twelve years, he is glorified as a pioneer for many film techniques that are still used today. Originally Friedrich Willhelm Plumpe from a family with Swedish ancestry, F.W. Murnau studied art history, philosophy and literature in Berlin before pursuing a career in acting. His move towards acting caused a rift between him and his father causing him to change his name to Murnau and sever all ties, although it is rumoured that it was his open homosexuality that caused the father to denounce his son and cut him off financially. After serving in the military, he began making propaganda films for the German embassy and later returned to Berlin to form a film company.
F.W. Murnau worked closely with screenwriter Carl Mayer and cinematographer Karl Freund to experiment with new techniques in storytelling. Although it is argued by some film historians that many of the cinematic innovations were not from Murnau and although many of his filmography has been lost throughout the years, Murnau is still credited with creating a new visual style that places the camera as an expressive participant in the story. The director intuitively prefers the play of shadows and natural light over symbolic lighting. While most films at the time were shot on a sound stage, Murnau achieved a greater sense of realism by shooting Nosferatu on location and by enhancing the film's scary mood with the use of shadows, stop-action and accelerated motion.
DiMare, Philip C. Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia. Library of Congress, ABC CLIO, LCC: Santa Barbara, California: 2011, p. 753-755
Eisner, Lotte H. F.W. Murnau. Martin Secker & Warburg Limited: London, 1973.
Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau's best known contribution to horror is his classic masterpiece, Nosferatu, which successfully used German Expressionist techniques, many of which were used in the under appreciated 1926 Faust. Throughout his short career as a filmmaker that spans only twelve years, he is glorified as a pioneer for many film techniques that are still used today. Originally Friedrich Willhelm Plumpe from a family with Swedish ancestry, F.W. Murnau studied art history, philosophy and literature in Berlin before pursuing a career in acting. His move towards acting caused a rift between him and his father causing him to change his name to Murnau and sever all ties, although it is rumoured that it was his open homosexuality that caused the father to denounce his son and cut him off financially. After serving in the military, he began making propaganda films for the German embassy and later returned to Berlin to form a film company.
F.W. Murnau worked closely with screenwriter Carl Mayer and cinematographer Karl Freund to experiment with new techniques in storytelling. Although it is argued by some film historians that many of the cinematic innovations were not from Murnau and although many of his filmography has been lost throughout the years, Murnau is still credited with creating a new visual style that places the camera as an expressive participant in the story. The director intuitively prefers the play of shadows and natural light over symbolic lighting. While most films at the time were shot on a sound stage, Murnau achieved a greater sense of realism by shooting Nosferatu on location and by enhancing the film's scary mood with the use of shadows, stop-action and accelerated motion.
DiMare, Philip C. Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia. Library of Congress, ABC CLIO, LCC: Santa Barbara, California: 2011, p. 753-755
Eisner, Lotte H. F.W. Murnau. Martin Secker & Warburg Limited: London, 1973.