Shot in the UFA studios with a big movie star in the lead and all the special effects and production design resources any blockbuster of its time could wish for, FW Murnau's 1926 Faust represents a step up from his better-known Nosferatu. Oddly, Faust is a less familiar film than the vampire quickie and this release affords fans a chance to see what Murnau can do with an equally major fantasy story. Adapted neither from Marlowe's play Dr Faustus nor Goethe's verse drama, the script scrambles various elements of the legend and presents a Faust (Gosta Ekman) driven to... summon the Devil by despair as a plague rages through the town, desperate to gain enough learning to help his neighbours. When this deal doesn't quite work out, because he is stoned by townsfolk who notice his sudden fear of the cross, Mephisto (Emil Jannings) offers Faust instead renewed youth and an opportunity to seduce a famously beautiful Italian noblewoman and then to return to his home village and get involved with the pure Gretchen (Camilla Horn). Like most versions of the story, it's episodic and some sections are stronger than others: the great stuff comes in the plague and initial deal sequences, though it picks up again for the tragic climax as Gretchen becomes the central figure and suffers horribly, freezing in the snows and burning at the stake. Jannings' devil, a gruesomely humorous slice of ham, is one of the great silent monster performances, reducing everyone else to a stick figure, and Murnau faces the challenge of topping his Nosferatu imagery by deploying a battalion of effects techniques to depict the many magical journeys, sudden appearances and transformations. On the DVD: Often seen in ragged, incomplete prints projected at the wrong speed, this is a decently restored version, running a full 115 minutes with a complete orchestral score. The original materials show some of the damage to be expected in a film of its vintage, but the transfer is excellent, displaying the imaginative art direction and camerawork to superb advantage. Aside from a nicely eerie menu, the sole extra is a full-length commentary originating in Australia: written by historian Peter Spooner but read by narrator Russell Cawthorne (who mispronounces the odd name). This provides an interesting wealth of background detail, such as Murnau's attempt to cast Hollywood's Lillian Gish as Gretchen, and delivers a balanced assessment of the film itself. --Kim Newman [show more]
It is perfectly understandable if the idea of watching a silent movie is rather off-putting to the modern casual viewer. There are many reasons as to why this might be, such as the exaggerated performances or unnatural speed of movement, which make it difficult to relate to the characters. Some of the plots can drag or be too abstract, and then there's the unfortunate but obvious lack of sound. And while there are many silent movies out there that are highly respected and considered masterpieces by film historians and movie buffs, I would always without question recommend Murnau's 1926 movie "Faust" to anyone who has never seen a silent movie before. Here, the story neither drags nor is particularly abstract, and even some of the acting is rather good. Though, with "Faust" being a "fairy tale" of sorts, you can't expect a complete lack of cartoony performances.
The story is based on the German folk legend about a doctor who sells his soul to the Devil, after having lost his faith in both God and science, due to his inability to cure his fellow citizens from a plague. Soon after the pact is made, he realizes that selling his soul was a mistake, and sets off on a journey in order to win it back. A chance meeting with a local girl called Gretchen, however, will prove disastrous.
Another reason why Murnau's "Faust" is worth watching is because it is a visual feast of technical achievement. With its stunning photography, iconic images, gothic style and expressionistic sets, groundbreaking special effects at every turn, and fast-moving plot, this is surely one of the most accessible silent movies that exist. The visuals simply take over to the point of it being irrelevant that there is no sound, except for a music score of course.
Most of the cast is great, but stand out performances are from Emil Jannings who manages to be both scary and at times funny in his portrayal of the Devil. As the innocent Gretchen we see Camilla Horn in her first acting role, who is able to deliver a heart-wrenching performance. And finally, Yvette Guilbert who plays Gretchen's aunt, is simply hilarious!
However, despite there being several humorous moments in the film, it has to be pointed out that this is a very dark story and movie, both visually and in its mood! There is plenty of death and despair at regular intervals, though nothing too extreme since the film has a PG rating.
Eureka's release of a remastered 1080p transfer of this movie on Blu-ray comes with original German intertitles and optional English subtitles. There is a full length audio commentary, and three different music tracks, a harp score, a piano score, and an orchestral score. Further extras include a 53 minute making-of documentary, an alternative version of the entire film, a video comparison of the two versions, a 20 minute video discussion, and a 44 page booklet with essays and photographs. A DVD copy is included as well.
On Blu-ray, this is the best and most detailed that the film has ever looked, when compared to previous releases. The sheer volume of bonus material that comes with the Blu-ray/DVD package, leaves nothing left to be desired. If I had to criticize something, it would be that the print still contains too many scratches and dust particles, which could have been removed digitally. Other than that, I think it's obvious that I highly recommend this particular release of "Faust".
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F.W. Murnau's classic silent version of the German folk story. Faust (Gosta Ekman) is an alchemist and scholar who becomes an unwitting pawn in a wager made between the demon Mephisto (Emil Jannings) and the Archangel Michael (Werner Fuetterer). Mephisto sends a plague upon Faust's village, and Faust manages to find a cure, but only after entering into a terrrible bargain which could see his soul damned forever. Mephisto then tempts Faust with eternal youth and the love of the beautiful Gretchen (Camilla Horn), but the scholar continues to struggle with his fate.
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