Phantom (1922)

A shiftless young man becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman and yearns to find her again.

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

Cast overview:
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
Wilhelm Diegelmann	...	Literary Editor
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:

woman | one word title | writer | tavern | spendthrift | 

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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:

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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Alternate Versions

In 2003, Flicker Alley, LLC copyrighted a new digital version with English intertitles and a new orchestral score composed, arranged and conducted by 'Robert Israel (II)'. It was produced by Jeffery Masino and runs 117 minutes.

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Connections

Featured in Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood: The Unchained Camera (1995)

User Reviews

expressionist "love story"

A much underestimated movie. I've seen several of Murnau's flicks, and while I am the generally a big fan of his work, this one is actually one of my favorites. In a dreamlike manner it tells a story of main character's obsession with a manipulative and cruel woman. His love and desire makes him lose his senses - to a point where object of his passion becomes like a haunting spectre, a phantom. In some way Phantom is a forecast of another german picture, the famous Blaue Engel. Although the plot in one way or another has become a Hollywood cliche over the years, the movie is dark, strange and compelling. Murnau's depiction of insanity, especially in the final scenes is by itself a milestone of cinema.