F.W. Murnau, born December 28, 1889, Bielefeld, Germany
Moved to California in 1926 - he made three silent films for Fox Studios before forming his own company
—died March 11, 1931, Hollywood, California, - from injuries in an Automobile accident
His most famous film is Nosferatu, which was featured earlier this month.
Films by German directors are an important part of post World War One German Culture, from the groundbreaking silent classics of the Weimar Republic to the movies of Leni Reisenthal in celebration of Nazi rule, beloved by Goebels, to modern Oscar winners, I am pleased to see German Literature Month XIII now welcomes posts on Films by German Directors
German Literature Month is hosted by Lizzy’s Literary Life
https://lizzysiddal2.wordpress.com/2023/09/22/announcing-german-literature-month-xiii/
The movie was F.W. Murnau American film debut. It starrs George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor, and Margaret Livingston. The story was adapted by Carl Mayer from the short story "The Excursion to Tilsit", from the 1917 collection with the same title by Hermann Sudermann.
The film tells the story of a simple farmer (George O'Brien) who lives a quiet life with his wife (Janet Gaynor) in the countryside. However, his peaceful existence is disrupted when he meets a seductive city woman (Margaret Livingston) who tempts him to murder his wife and escape with her to the city.
Murnau uses a variety of innovative filmmaking techniques to create a truly unforgettable cinematic experience. The film's use of symbolism, expressionist lighting, and dreamlike sequences is groundbreaking and visually stunning.
Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans was nominated for five Academy Awards, and it won three: Best Unique and Artistic Production, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Janet Gaynor, and Best Cinematography. The film is often considered to be one of the greatest silent films ever made, and it continues to be praised for its beauty, its originality, and its emotional power.
Sunrise is a visually stunning film that uses a variety of techniques to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Murnau's use of shadows, light, and close-ups is particularly effective, and the film's sets are also very impressive. The film's score, which was one of the first to be synchronized with the film's action, is also very memorable.
I will next watch his Faust.
I wonder if there are books about these early films which would add to your experience of them, or whether, because they're films, it's simply more likely that you'd find films about other films.
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