Faust

Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC MURNAU ON DVD
Review: Kino has just released the new DVD stroboscopic light show from the silent German era, "Faust", directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe, or F.W. Murnau. Adding onto his success with "Nosferatu", Murnau and UFA, the giant German studio, decided to spare no expense. There's no CGI here. But there is an impressive use of light, shadow, and wind, that includes a fantasy ride with the devil. The classic Goethe tale from 1926, Faust sells his soul to the devil when he is told: "Go to the crossroads, and call his name 3 times". The smoky,windy,moon-lit set fortells Murnau's "Sunrise", the classic filmed in Hollywood one year later. In 1927, Fox Pictures erected a huge city set on miles of open land, for "Sunrise". It's now covered by condominiums and known as Century City. "Faust" features Muranu's wistful direction, Camilla Horn as young Gretchen, and Emil Jannings as Mephisto. Just one year later, all three would be working in Hollywood. The second half of "Faust" bogs down with Gretchen's problems, and her brother's death. The brother is played by William Dieterle, a future Hollywood director. "Faust" has a large print cut 3 1/2 minutes into the film, and some serious negative print damage in the reel change from 2 to 3. Otherwise, the DVD is rather pristine for an 80 year-old film. F.W. Murnau died in a possibly scandalous car crash in 1931, in Santa Barbara, rushing to the premiere of his last film, "Tabu".

Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC MURNAU ON DVD
Review: Kino has just released the new DVD stroboscopic light show from the silent German era, "Faust", directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe, or F.W. Murnau. Adding onto his success with "Nosferatu", Murnau and UFA, the giant German studio, decided to spare no expense. There's no CGI here. But there is an impressive use of light, shadow, and wind, that includes a fantasy ride with the devil. The classic Goethe tale from 1926, Faust sells his soul to the devil when he is told: "Go to the crossroads, and call his name 3 times". The smoky,windy,moon-lit set fortells Murnau's "Sunrise", the classic filmed in Hollywood one year later. In 1927, Fox Pictures erected a huge city set on miles of open land, for "Sunrise". It's now covered by condominiums and known as Century City. "Faust" features Muranu's wistful direction, Camilla Horn as young Gretchen, and Emil Jannings as Mephisto. Just one year later, all three would be working in Hollywood. The second half of "Faust" bogs down with Gretchen's problems, and her brother's death. The brother is played by William Dieterle, a future Hollywood director. "Faust" has a large print cut 3 1/2 minutes into the film, and some serious negative print damage in the reel change from 2 to 3. Otherwise, the DVD is rather pristine for an 80 year-old film. F.W. Murnau died in a possibly scandalous car crash in 1931, in Santa Barbara, rushing to the premiere of his last film, "Tabu".

Rating:
Summary: Murnau's Best!
Review: Murnau's interpretation of Goethe's brilliant epic is by far his best film. Ever overshadowed by the more popular "Nosferatu," "Faust" shows a creativity and ingenuity rarely seen in film making since. Murnau's genius shines through every shot of the film.

Emil Jannings, a staple of German expressionist film, steals the show as Mephistopheles capturing perfectly the malicious glee which Goethe depicted. Camilla Horn is the perfect tragic figure in the role of Gretchen, amazingly pulling off the character's fall into insanity. Gösta Eckman, though the least memorable of the three, plays Faust well, clearly illustrating his arrogance and intelligence.

It is, however, Murnau himself who truly makes the film shine. From Mephistopheles' unleashing of the plague to Gretchen's wanderings in the snow, every shot is magic. His use of effects far beyond their time is not overbearing but truly effective in illustrating the story. It is honestly his best film, far outclassing the rest.

Kino has done a nice job in its distribution and restoration of the film. The orchestral soundtrack fits the film for the most part and the transfer was done well, leaving a very enjoyable silent film.

I could not recommend this film more.

Rating:
Summary: Murnau's Best!
Review: Murnau's interpretation of Goethe's brilliant epic is by far his best film. Ever overshadowed by the more popular "Nosferatu," "Faust" shows a creativity and ingenuity rarely seen in film making since. Murnau's genius shines through every shot of the film.

Emil Jannings, a staple of German expressionist film, steals the show as Mephistopheles capturing perfectly the malicious glee which Goethe depicted. Camilla Horn is the perfect tragic figure in the role of Gretchen, amazingly pulling off the character's fall into insanity. Gösta Eckman, though the least memorable of the three, plays Faust well, clearly illustrating his arrogance and intelligence.

It is, however, Murnau himself who truly makes the film shine. From Mephistopheles' unleashing of the plague to Gretchen's wanderings in the snow, every shot is magic. His use of effects far beyond their time is not overbearing but truly effective in illustrating the story. It is honestly his best film, far outclassing the rest.

Kino has done a nice job in its distribution and restoration of the film. The orchestral soundtrack fits the film for the most part and the transfer was done well, leaving a very enjoyable silent film.

I could not recommend this film more.

Rating:
Summary: faust
Review: on one level this is a supreme accomplishment in visual imagination and a special effects extravaganza. it brims over with overwhelming, powerful, sublime images. the world really seems veiled under an evil spell. sinister sense of doom pervades through every valley, seeps thru every crack.
human intellect, will, imagination, and even hope all seem helpless against or easily tricked by the temptations of worldly glory. murnau's use of images is allegorical, illustrating how the inner sanctum of the human soul is easily reached by the sharp yet seductive claws of darkness. it is bleak and tragic, showing us how we are either damned by being denied what we most desire and for what we would sacrifice to attain that which is denied us. the saddest yet the most beautiful thing in the movie is its view of death, that perhaps only death can liberate us from this life, as a moment of realization, acceptance, and resignation. indeed, is there anything more meaningful in this life than to die with final illumination of the self, the meaning that resolves all contradictions?

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous film but leave the sound off
Review: This film is ripe for reassessment as among the best silent films ever made and a true work of art. Unfortunately, most silent films are rarely seen outside of a small group of silent film enthusiasts. Murnau's earlier film "Nosferatu" is an exception, mainly because horror genre fans brought it to the attention of a wider audience. So "Nosferatu," a relatively immature low-budget work, receives all the attention, while "Faust," in every way beyond it, is not nearly so well-known simply because it doesn't fall neatly into a genre.

"Faust" features a stylish dream-like atmosphere punctuated with stunning special effects and lush visuals. Of course, this will not be to everyone's taste. Those looking for realistic straightforward storytelling may find it tedious or silly. I would say that "Faust" will appeal to fans of surreal "cult" films, ones that create their own unique allegorical world, such as "Brazil," "Dark City," "The City of Lost Children," "Being John Malkovich," "Metropolis," and the films of Jean Cocteau. In fact, the general atmosphere of Faust is most similar to Cocteau's "Beauty and the Beast" -- the young version of Faust reminds me of the Prince the Beast becomes. On a slightly lighter note, "Faust" should also appeal to fans of cult television shows like "The Avengers," "The Prisoner," and "Twin Peaks." I would even expect it to appeal to fans of classic Disney animation.

For a silent film of its day, the picture quality on "Faust" is very good. There is some slight unrepaired damage early on, but the picture quality becomes increasingly pristine as the film progresses. Of course, its certainly not as good-looking as a modern film nor those few silent films where the original negatives survive, but its certainly far better looking than "Nosferatu," where only a single so-so print survived. I think most people will be pleasantly surprised at just how good this looks. If the film ever finds the audience it deserves, enough to justify a thorough clean-up with modern digital techniques, I imagine that this film could look even more spectacular. The soundtrack consists of an excellent orchestral score.

Silent films being a cult in themselves, its doubly hard when their subject is also of mainly cult appeal. I hope "Faust" can break out of the straightjacket of silent films. It deserves to be ranked not just as among the best silent films, but as a classic film period.

Rating:
Summary: Try This Even if You Don't Usually Like Silent Films
Review: This film is ripe for reassessment as among the best silent films ever made and a true work of art. Unfortunately, most silent films are rarely seen outside of a small group of silent film enthusiasts. Murnau's earlier film "Nosferatu" is an exception, mainly because horror genre fans brought it to the attention of a wider audience. So "Nosferatu," a relatively immature low-budget work, receives all the attention, while "Faust," in every way beyond it, is not nearly so well-known simply because it doesn't fall neatly into a genre.

"Faust" features a stylish dream-like atmosphere punctuated with stunning special effects and lush visuals. Of course, this will not be to everyone's taste. Those looking for realistic straightforward storytelling may find it tedious or silly. I would say that "Faust" will appeal to fans of surreal "cult" films, ones that create their own unique allegorical world, such as "Brazil," "Dark City," "The City of Lost Children," "Being John Malkovich," "Metropolis," and the films of Jean Cocteau. In fact, the general atmosphere of Faust is most similar to Cocteau's "Beauty and the Beast" -- the young version of Faust reminds me of the Prince the Beast becomes. On a slightly lighter note, "Faust" should also appeal to fans of cult television shows like "The Avengers," "The Prisoner," and "Twin Peaks." I would even expect it to appeal to fans of classic Disney animation.

For a silent film of its day, the picture quality on "Faust" is very good. There is some slight unrepaired damage early on, but the picture quality becomes increasingly pristine as the film progresses. Of course, its certainly not as good-looking as a modern film nor those few silent films where the original negatives survive, but its certainly far better looking than "Nosferatu," where only a single so-so print survived. I think most people will be pleasantly surprised at just how good this looks. If the film ever finds the audience it deserves, enough to justify a thorough clean-up with modern digital techniques, I imagine that this film could look even more spectacular. The soundtrack consists of an excellent orchestral score.

Silent films being a cult in themselves, its doubly hard when their subject is also of mainly cult appeal. I hope "Faust" can break out of the straightjacket of silent films. It deserves to be ranked not just as among the best silent films, but as a classic film period.

Rating:
Summary: Watch it in spite of the score
Review: This is an amazing silent film from the German Expressionist movement. Emil Jannings is great, but the visual design steals the show! Director Murnau produces a world of darkness and mystery. Watch Faust's fantasy ride with the devil and you realize this may have been the inspiration for some of Disney's classics -- especially the Night on Bald Mtn. segment of Fantasia. I'm excited to recommend this forgotten gem from a great director who was lost too early. The DVD is from superb source materials (as is the case with most of David Shepard's work), but the sound track is weak. Most of it is tolerable, but there are moments when it really creaks. I hate to say it, but the orchestra doesn't sound like it tuned up before recording. Get it anyway!