Though it may not have been the first vampire movie, Nosferatu is certainly the most famous from the early silent film genre.
Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror) was filmed in 1921 and released in 1922 (first released in the U.S. in 1929). It was obviously based on Bram Stoker's Dracula novel, with a few changes here and there. Director F.W. Murnau was unable to secure the rights to the Dracula story, so he attempted to work around the law by changing the names of the characters and twisting the story a bit --- but not so far that anyone familiar with Stoker's novel couldn't see the obvious connections.
As a movie, Nosferatu is dark and gloomy which brings a consistent level of edge-of-your-seat suspense throughout the entire film. Murnau artistically paints his scenes using long, distorted shadows as his medium; and patiently takes his time showing us the face of the Count, creating within the viewer a feeling of impending horror gradually building to its final realization as we look upon the face of the vampyre.
That face, the face of Count Orlok, is the first noticeable difference between this version of Dracula and all the films which followed. Orlok is UGLY, both inside and out. This is no wolf in sheep's clothing, no devil masquerading as an angel of light. This is not a monster that charms his victims into embracing evil; but a hungry beast that pursues its prey acting more upon instinct like the wild animal which he has become.
Another change is the connection between Nosferatu and the plague. Orlok's kills are interpreted by the locals as a health epidemic rather than the work of a vampyre. And with Orlok's arrival came rats and disease which has led some film reviewers to suggest actor Max Schreck was made-up to resemble a rat with his long face and nose, his multiple jagged teeth (rather than the standard elongated canines), his pointy ears and his long, taloned fingers.
Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror) was filmed in 1921 and released in 1922 (first released in the U.S. in 1929). It was obviously based on Bram Stoker's Dracula novel, with a few changes here and there. Director F.W. Murnau was unable to secure the rights to the Dracula story, so he attempted to work around the law by changing the names of the characters and twisting the story a bit --- but not so far that anyone familiar with Stoker's novel couldn't see the obvious connections.
As a movie, Nosferatu is dark and gloomy which brings a consistent level of edge-of-your-seat suspense throughout the entire film. Murnau artistically paints his scenes using long, distorted shadows as his medium; and patiently takes his time showing us the face of the Count, creating within the viewer a feeling of impending horror gradually building to its final realization as we look upon the face of the vampyre.
That face, the face of Count Orlok, is the first noticeable difference between this version of Dracula and all the films which followed. Orlok is UGLY, both inside and out. This is no wolf in sheep's clothing, no devil masquerading as an angel of light. This is not a monster that charms his victims into embracing evil; but a hungry beast that pursues its prey acting more upon instinct like the wild animal which he has become.
Another change is the connection between Nosferatu and the plague. Orlok's kills are interpreted by the locals as a health epidemic rather than the work of a vampyre. And with Orlok's arrival came rats and disease which has led some film reviewers to suggest actor Max Schreck was made-up to resemble a rat with his long face and nose, his multiple jagged teeth (rather than the standard elongated canines), his pointy ears and his long, taloned fingers.
If there really was a plague in Bremen in 1838 (and I have yet to confirm or dismiss that) Murnau's fictional interpretation of this event elevates the Dracula story from myth to historical legend.
SPOILER ALERT!
Perhaps the most subtle and yet most important change Murnau made to the Dracula story involves how Count Orlok meets his demise. Rather than a stake through his heart, head cut-off and mouth stuffed with garlic; Orlok is seduced by the charms of the beautiful Ellen Hutter (the "Nina Harker" character).
Having read in The Book of the Vampires that "Only a woman can break his frightful spell--a woman pure in heart--who will offer her blood freely to Nosferatu and will keep the vampire by her side until after the cock has crowed" Nina opens the windows of her house, inviting Nosferatu to feast upon her, and patiently awaits his arrival. Nosferatu accepts her invitation, drinking freely and deep thus guaranteeing both Ellen's as well as his own death.
In Ellen's act of self-sacrifice reverberate the words of Jesus Christ: "There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends...". This, by the way, is just one example of the spiritual symbolism in this movie as well as the greater Dracula myth which parallels Judeo/Christian doctrine.
My special edition of Nosferatu, with ongoing commentary by myself and Skull Shaver, can be viewed online at 320 x 240 resolution in The Sanctuarium
SPOILER ALERT!
Perhaps the most subtle and yet most important change Murnau made to the Dracula story involves how Count Orlok meets his demise. Rather than a stake through his heart, head cut-off and mouth stuffed with garlic; Orlok is seduced by the charms of the beautiful Ellen Hutter (the "Nina Harker" character).
Having read in The Book of the Vampires that "Only a woman can break his frightful spell--a woman pure in heart--who will offer her blood freely to Nosferatu and will keep the vampire by her side until after the cock has crowed" Nina opens the windows of her house, inviting Nosferatu to feast upon her, and patiently awaits his arrival. Nosferatu accepts her invitation, drinking freely and deep thus guaranteeing both Ellen's as well as his own death.
In Ellen's act of self-sacrifice reverberate the words of Jesus Christ: "There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends...". This, by the way, is just one example of the spiritual symbolism in this movie as well as the greater Dracula myth which parallels Judeo/Christian doctrine.
My special edition of Nosferatu, with ongoing commentary by myself and Skull Shaver, can be viewed online at 320 x 240 resolution in The Sanctuarium
It can also be downloaded at 640 x 480 res from VEOH.com
If you would like to see the original silent version (without the running commentary/jokes), you can view or download it from archive.org
Note: This movie is in the public domain.
If you would like to see the original silent version (without the running commentary/jokes), you can view or download it from archive.org
Note: This movie is in the public domain.
1 comments:
Great post. Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your post.
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