Shadow of the Vampire (2000)

The filming of Nosferatu is hampered by the fact that the star is taking his role far more seriously than what seems humanly possible.

Director:

E. Elias Merhige

Writer:

Steven Katz

Stars:

John Malkovich, Willem Dafoe, Udo Kier

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Malkovich	...	Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
Willem Dafoe	...	Max Schreck
Udo Kier	...	Albin Grau
Cary Elwes	...	Fritz Arno Wagner
Catherine McCormack	...	Greta Schröder
Eddie Izzard	...	Gustav von Wangenhein
Aden Gillett	...	Henrik Galeen
Nicholas Elliott	...	Paul (as Nicholas Elliot)
Ronan Vibert	...	Wolfgang Müller
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

Storyline

Shadow of the Vampire is a film about the making of a German all time classic silent horror-movie from 1922 called Nosferatu-Eine Symphonie des Grauens (Nosferatu-a Symphony of Horror). The production of Nosferatu had to deal with a lot of strange things (some crew members disappeared, some died). This movie focuses on the difficult relationship between Murnau, the director, and Schreck, the lead actor.

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Plot Keywords:

nosferatu | vampire | actor | blood | film within a film | 

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Taglines:

An Unspeakable Horror. A Creative Genius. Captured For Eternity.

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Genres:

Drama | Horror

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, drug content, violence and language

Details

Country:

UK USA Luxembourg

Language:

English German Luxembourgish

Release Date:

26 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Burned to Light

Filming Locations:

Delux Productions, Contern, Luxembourg

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£42,539 (UK) (2 February 2001)

Gross:

$8,279,017 (USA) (30 March 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Saturn Films, Long Shot Pictures, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cary Elwes has now starred in two film interpretations concerning Dracula, the other being Dracula

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Goofs

When the crew are filming the first scene featuring Gustav and Schreck together, just after Murnau says, "No make-up!" Schreck jumps from the the head of the table to the large-backed chair between shots.

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Quotes

Max Schreck: Tell me how you would harm me - when even I don't know how I could harm myself.

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Crazy Credits

Credits end with the sounds of the camera filming and of the phonograph which set the mood for the actors.

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Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

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Soundtracks

"The Flying Dutchman Overture"
Written by Richard Wagner
Courtesy of KPM Music Limited

User Reviews

blew me away

This has got to be the pinnacle of movie making genius. Anyone even remotely interested in suspense, film making, vampires, German Expressionism, or simply in being entertained should make it a point to see this challenging, evocative, thought-provoking and funny film.

Reviewers I've read seemed outraged at the liberties the film took with the premise of Nosferatu. I thought it was an imaginative and extremely compelling take.

John Malkovich, as always, is brilliant, but nothing prepared me for how scintillating Willem Dafoe's Schreck was. The man is amazing.

I'm taking my friends to see it this weekend!