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Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Steven Katz (written by)
Release Date:
26 January 2001 (USA)
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Tagline:
An Unspeakable Horror. A Creative Genius. Captured For Eternity.
Plot:
The filming of Nosferatu is hampered by the fact that the star is taking his role far more seriously than what seems humanly possible. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
Another 12 wins
&
15 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(20 articles)
November 20: DVD alternatives to this weekend’s multiplex offerings
(From FlickFilosopher. 20 November 2009, 2:12 PM, PST)
Nicolas Cage: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 19 November 2009, 11:43 PM, PST)
(From FlickFilosopher. 20 November 2009, 2:12 PM, PST)
Nicolas Cage: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 19 November 2009, 11:43 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Great Performances in a Good Movie
more (312 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| John Malkovich | ... | Murnau | |
| Willem Dafoe | ... | Schreck | |
| Udo Kier | ... | Grau | |
| Cary Elwes | ... | Wagner | |
| Catherine McCormack | ... | Greta | |
| Eddie Izzard | ... | Gustav | |
| Aden Gillett | ... | Galeen | |
| Nicholas Elliott | ... | Paul (as Nicholas Elliot) | |
| Ronan Vibert | ... | Muller | |
| Sophie Langevin | ... | Elke | |
| Myriam Muller | ... | Maria | |
| Milos Hlavac | ... | Innkeeper (as Milos Hlavak) | |
| Marja-Leena Junker | ... | Innkeeper's Wife | |
| Derek Kueter | ... | Reporter 1 | |
| Norman Golightly | ... | Reporter 2 |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Burned to Light (USA) (working title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for some sexuality, drug content, violence and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
92 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Finland:K-12 |
Iceland:12 |
Canada:14+ (Ontario) |
Portugal:M/16 |
Finland:K-3 (re-rating) |
Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Chile:14 |
France:U |
Germany:12 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Malaysia:(Banned) |
Norway:15 |
Philippines:R-18 |
Singapore:R(A) |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:15 |
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Based in part upon a legend that Max Schreck was in reality a vampire which is why he played the role of Orlock/Dracula so well. Some variations of the legend suggest that Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) was the only film Schreck made, though in reality he was already a stage and screen veteran by the time Nosferatu was shot, and would appear in many non-Vampiric roles before his death in 1936.
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Goofs:
Continuity: After they film Gustav entering the castle, he is talking in the doorway with Murnau and Grau. Murnau and Grau then walk into the courtyard where Gustav is already waiting for them.
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Quotes:
F.W. Murnau:
Why would you possibly want to be in a play when you could be in a film?
Greta Schroeder: An audience gives me life. This... thing only takes it from me.
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Greta Schroeder: An audience gives me life. This... thing only takes it from me.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Eisai to tairi mou: (#1.2)" (2001)
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Soundtrack:
Tristan Und Isolde - Overture
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FAQ
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The premise of "Shadow of a Vampire" is simple, what if Max Schreck was really a vampire posing as an actor playing a vampire in the Murnau's masterpiece, "Nosferatu?" Well, the result is both slightly scary and pretty funny. Director E. Elias Merhige and writer Steven Katz create a fairly creepy mood, and inhabit the picture with some real interesting characters.
John Malkovich plays famous silent film director F.W. Murnau. This is perhaps the funniest performance of the bunch, especially when he is giving audible instructions to the "actors" while the camera is rolling. Then, there is Willem Dafoe who plays Max Schreck/ the vampire. It is incredibly fun to watch an almost unrecognizable Dafoe play this oddball, Max Schreck. Unfortunately for Murnau, Schreck starts doing what vampires tend to do... bite people. The original photographer dies along with a few others at the mouth of Schreck. After seeing this movie, it is quite easy to see why Dafoe was nominated for best supporting actor at the Oscars. His performance is worth the price of admission.
This is a film which is hard to classify, sense it is a fictional account of an actual film with real people. Yet this horror-comedy does have its moments of wonderful macabre humor along with great performances to help make it an enjoyable movie. A 7 out of 10. I highly recommend watching this as part of a double feature. First, watch Murnau's original 1922 masterpiece, "Nosferatu", then watch "Shadow of a Vampire." You will appreciate "Shadow of a Vampire" a lot more (or maybe vice versa).