Nosferatu (1922) Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (original title)

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writer:

Henrik Galeen (screen play)
(more)

Release Date:

3 June 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife. Silent classic based on the story "Dracula."

Plot Keywords:

Nosferatu | Castle | Vampire | Obsession | Self Sacrifice

Cast

Max Schreck	...	Graf Orlok / Nosferatu
Gustav von Wangenheim	...	Hutter (as Gustav v. Wangenheim)
Greta Schröder	...	Ellen Hutter - seine Frau (as Greta Schroeder)
Alexander Granach	...	Knock - ein Häusermakler
Georg H. Schnell	...	Harding - Hutters Freund (as G.H. Schnell)
Ruth Landshoff	...	Annie - Harding's Frau
John Gottowt	...	Professor Bulwer - ein Paracelsianer
Gustav Botz	...	Professor Sievers - der Stadtarzt
Max Nemetz	...	Kapitän der Demeter
Wolfgang Heinz	...	Zweiter Kapitän
Albert Venohr	...	Matrose 1
Eric van Viele	...	Matrose 2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karl Etlinger	...	(uncredited)
Guido Herzfeld	...	Wirt (uncredited)
Loni Nest	...	Child at Window (uncredited)
Fanny Schreck	...	Krankenschwester im Hospital (uncredited)
Hardy von Francois	...	Arzt im Hospital (uncredited)
Heinrich Witte	...	Wärter im Irrenhaus (uncredited)

Directed by
F.W. Murnau

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Henrik Galeen		screen play
Bram Stoker		novel "Dracula" (uncredited)

Produced by
Enrico Dieckmann	....	producer
Albin Grau	....	producer

Original Music by
James Bernard		(1997)
Hans Erdmann
Carlos U. Garza		(1998)
Timothy Howard		(1991)
Richard Marriott		(1989) (as Club Foot Orchestra)
Richard O'Meara		(2000)
Hans Posegga		(1989)
Peter Schirmann		(1969)
Bernardo Uzeda		(2006)
Bernd Wilden		(1998)

Cinematography by
Fritz Arno Wagner		(photographed by) (as F.A. Wagner)
Günther Krampf		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Albin Grau		(costumes by)

Art Department
Albin Grau	....	art director: sets

Music Department
James Fitzpatrick	....	music contractor (1997)
Joanna Seaton	....	vocalist (2002)
Art Zoyd	....	performer (1988)

Other crew
Robert Gray	....	translator: English intertitles

Production Companies

• Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal
• Prana-Film GmbH

Distributors

• Centraal Bureau voor Ligafilms (1922) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Film Arts Guild (1929) (USA) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (USA) (TV)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Timeless Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Eureka Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Eureka Video (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Kino Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Arrow Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Dark Vision (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• E-Realbiz.com (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Ventura Distribution (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (2002) (UK) (VHS)
• Catcom Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Divisa Ediciones (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2004) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Delta Expedition (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Music (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• FilmAnnex (2006) (worldwide) (all media)
• Eureka Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD) (Masters of Cinema)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Transit Film (2007) (Germany) (DVD) (restored version with original score)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2009) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Rocket DVD (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Walking Shadows (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• New Star (2012) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• UBFilm.com (2012) (USA) (all media)
• Orlando Eastwood Productions (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Foothill Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Home Theatre (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood's Attic (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Kartes Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Yesteryear (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Cineteca del Comune di Bologna  film restoration (2002)
• Kinograph Inc.  English intertitles translated by (2002)

Also Known As:

"Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens" - Germany (original title)
"Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror" - International (English title) (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:81 min | Spain:65 min (VHS version) | Spain:92 min (DVD edition) | 84 min (1994 restored version projected at 20 fps) | UK:88 min (1997 restored version) | Belgium:85 min | Sweden:84 min (DVD version)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Spain:T | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) (video rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1922) | Finland:K-12 (1987) | Iceland:L | Canada:13+ (Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Czech Republic:U | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:M | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Netherlands:18 (1931)

Filming Locations:

Baltic Sea

Company:

Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal

Trivia:

Count Orlok is only seen blinking one time on screen (near the end of part 1).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Orlok has loaded the crates onto the cart, he climbs into the last one and the lid "levitates" into place. This magic trick is achieved by stop-motion animation, but the cart horses do not hold their position and shatter the illusion (their heads jerk about completely unnaturally while the lid is in motion).

Quotes:

Graf Orlok:Is this your wife? What a lovely throat.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Films to Keep You Awake: A Real Friend (2006) (TV)

"Is that your wife? What a lovely throat!"

As I'm sure it is the case for many cinema fans, my respect and admiration towards this production widely excels the enjoyment I had while watching it. "Nosferatu" is a milestone from every possible viewpoint and it's one of those very few movies I think everybody should view at least once (although it actually requires repeated viewings…) It is the very first version of Bram Stoker's legendary vampire tale and easily the most copied film in the history of cinema. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the story of young estate agent Jonathan Harker traveling to Transylvania where he acquaintances the eccentric count who feeds on blood and controls the ones he has bitten, but THIS is the original version. Shot by F.W. Murnau (who also made the equally essential titles "Faust" and "Der Januskopf") and made unforgettable by Max Schreck in his performance as the Count. And, even though this film is over 80 years old, Schreck's image is still as nightmarish as it can be. No visual or make-up effect could ever surpass the simple appearance of Max Schreck! The fact that this film is still very powerful therefore almost entirely depends on his unworldly character. "Nosferatu" is beautiful poetry, difficult to watch at times, but very rewarding. The sexual undertones as well as the shock-aspects have surely dated by now, but they're still present, and – as I mentioned before – they only increase my respect for Murnau and his crew. A definite must see, just make sure you're in the right mood.