Nosferatu (1922)

Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife.

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writers:

Henrik Galeen (screen play), Bram Stoker (based on the novel: "Dracula")

Stars:

Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, Gustav von Wangenheim

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Max Schreck	...	Graf Orlok
Gustav von Wangenheim	...	Hutter (as Gustav v. Wangenheim)
Greta Schröder	...	Ellen - seine Frau (as Greta Schroeder)
Georg H. Schnell	...	Harding - ein Reeder (as G.H. Schnell)
Ruth Landshoff	...	Ruth - seine Schwester
Gustav Botz	...	Professor Sievers - der Stadtarzt
Alexander Granach	...	Knock - ein Häusermakler
John Gottowt	...	Professor Bulwer - ein Paracelsianer
Max Nemetz	...	Ein Kapitän
Wolfgang Heinz	...	1. Matrose
Albert Venohr	...	2. Matrose
Eric van Viele	...	Matrose 2

Storyline

Wisbourg, Germany based estate agent Knock dispatches his associate, Hutter, to Count Orlok's castle in Transylvania as the Count wants to purchase an isolated house in Wisbourg. They plan on selling him the one across the way from Hutter's own home. Hutter leaves his innocent wife, Ellen, with some friends while he is away. Hutter's trek is an unusual one, with many locals not wanting to take him near the castle where strange events have been occurring. Once at the castle, Hutter does manage to sell the Count the house, but he also notices and feels unusual occurrences, primarily feeling like there is a dark shadow hanging over him, even in the daytime when the Count is unusually asleep. Hutter eventually sees the Count's sleeping chamber in a crypt, and based on a book he has recently read, believes the Count is really a vampire or Nosferatu. While Hutter is trapped in the castle, the Count, hiding in a shipment of coffins, makes his way to Wisbourg, causing death along his way, ...

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | self sacrifice | bite mark | dracula | gothic | 

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Taglines:

A thrilling mystery masterpiece - a chilling psycho-drama of blood-lust.

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Genres:

Fantasy | Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Release Date:

3 June 1929 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nosferatu

Filming Locations:

Orava Castle, Oravsky Podzámok, Slovakia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal,Prana-Film GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 65 min (video) 92 min (DVD) 84 min 88 min (1997 restored) 84 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is included in "1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die", edited by Steven Schneider.

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Goofs

When Hutter sits down on the bed at the inn to read the book about Nosferatu the Vampire, a piece of paper can be seen appearing and then disappearing in the lower left corner of the screen.

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Quotes

Knock, ein häusermakler:

• of course, it will cost you some effort... a little sweat and... perhaps... a little blood.

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Alternate Versions

In 1993 Jeff Forrester / USA Networks produced NEW copyrighted versions of mainstream silent films w/ EXCLUSIVE scores & NEW inter-titles. All but one were in black & white. There were 7 in total. They were aired on the SYFY (SCI-FI) Channel during the Christmas holiday in 1993 as part of SCI-FI Channel's Silent Cinema Marathon. It was hosted by renowned film critic Jeffrey Lyons & was taped @ the AMERICAN MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE in Astoria, NY. These particular versions have NEVER been available in ANY home video format. Their whereabouts are currently unknown. They were distributed by JORDEXX TELEVISION, INC.

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Connections

Featured in Stairs (1986)

User Reviews

Still remains one of the most visually harrowing movies of all time

I want you to go back, way back, before CGI effects, box office predictions, acid trip movies, black and white, even sound, we had silent films. We've of course remember them, but how many of us have really seen one? I happen to love them though, my film appreciation class made me run out and get as many silent films as possible, one of the most memorable silent films of all time is Nosferatu. A film that still to this day remains one of the most harrowing movies of all time. Say what you will about how far special effects have come into today's movies, but the silent film really made this movie into the true horror story that has memorable images and still gives me nightmares.

Thomas Hutter is an employee at a real estate firm in a city called Wisborg, living with Ellen, his wife. His employer, Knock, receives a mysterious letter. Knock decides to send him to visit Count Orlok in the Carpathian Mountains to finalize the sale of a house. Hutter leaves his wife with his good friend Harding, and Harding's sister Ruth, before embarking on his multiple-month journey. He goes on the trip and he is soon picked up by Count Orlok's coach, which is driven by a strange specter that hides its face, and moves at an unnatural speed. At his arrival at the castle, whose doors open by themselves, he is welcomed by Count Orlok. His grotesque facial features hidden at this stage by his hat, Orlok initially appears to be a mere eccentric gentleman. Hutter has dinner at the castle; Orlok refuses to eat and silently reads a letter. A bell rings at midnight and a startled Hutter cuts his thumb. Count Orlok tries to suck the blood out of the wound, but stops at Hutter's horror, who then falls asleep in the parlor after a conversation with Orlok. Hutter wakes up to an empty castle with fresh wounds on his neck, he's oh so doomed at this point.

The very first vampire movie of all time, when F.W. Murnau couldn't get the rights to Dracula, he created actually one of the most memorable horror movies of all time. Seriously, if you have never seen this movie, try to find it, and if you dare say that the image of Orlok waking up and rising out of his coffin doesn't scare the ever loving daylight out of you, I'm going to go all Clockwork Orange on you, tape you to a chair put toothpicks in your eye lids to keep them open and you're going to watch this in the dark. This movie is a true classic and will always remain one of the scariest movies I have ever seen.

10/10