Phantom (1922)

Lorenz Lubota is a city clerk with no direction in life. One day on his way to work he is run over by a woman driving a chariot and he is immediately infatuated with her. His life begins to... See full summary »

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writers:

Gerhart Hauptmann (based on the novel by), Thea von Harbou (adapted for the screen by),

Stars:

Alfred Abel, Frida Richard, Aud Egede-Nissen

Cast

Credited cast:
Alfred Abel	...	Lorenz Lubota
Frida Richard	...	Lubotas Mutter / Lubota's Mother (as Frieda Richard)
Aud Egede-Nissen	...	Melanie Lubota
Hans Heinrich von Twardowski	...	Hugo Lubota (as H.H. v. Twardowski)
Adolf Klein	...	Eisenwarenhändler Harlan
Olga Engl	...	Harlans Frau / Harlan's Wife
Lya De Putti	...	Veronika Harlan / Mellitta (as Lya de Putti)
Ilka Grüning	...	Baronin / Baroness
Grete Berger	...	Pfandleiherin Schwabe / Pawnbroker Schwabe
Anton Edthofer	...	Wigottschinski
Karl Etlinger	...	Buchbinder Starke / Bookbinder Starke (as Karl Ettlinger)
Lil Dagover	...	Marie Starke
Heinrich Witte	...	Amtsdiener / Clerk
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gerhart Hauptmann	...	Himself in Opening Credits

Storyline

Lorenz Lubota is a city clerk with no direction in life. One day on his way to work he is run over by a woman driving a chariot and he is immediately infatuated with her. His life begins to spiral out of control as he searches for this girl and tries to win her heart.

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Plot Keywords:

aunt | one word title | family relationships | civil servant | ex convict | 

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

13 November 1922 (Germany)

Also Known As:

The Phantom

Filming Locations:

Bioscop-Atelier, Neubabelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Uco-Film GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

125 min 117 min (TCM print) 145 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was considered lost for a long time but is now available in good condition.

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Goofs

When Lorenz'a Aunt Schwabe reads his letter of termination, she is wearing gloves, but the close up of the letter shows a bare hand holding it.

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Crazy Credits

In the opening credits Lya De Putti only appears credited as Mellitta. The "actress" who plays the role of Veronika Harlan appears credited only as "x x x".

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Connections

Featured in Das Erbe der Nibelungen (2011)

User Reviews

An errie drama, but not the best of Murnau's films

The story of a man Lorenz Lubota (played by Alfred Abel) who chases a woman Pfandleiherin Schwabe (Grete Berger) who keeps escaping him and is, virtually, like a phantom. This drama is not as potent as Murnau's other attempts at heart wrenching dramatic cinema (such as TABU and SUNRISE). Much like SUNRISE this film suffers from a running time that could, easily, be cut in half. There are not as many interesting elements in this story as, say, THE HAUNTED CASTLE or FAUST. But still it is worth a look for any of Murnau's dedicated fans. It includes Murnau's usually study of human suffering and torment, and his supernatural imagery (a ghostly horse carriage, and a leaning city- much like Weine's CAL