Faust: Eine Deutsche Volkssage (1926)
Genre: Drama / Horror
Duration: 85 minuten / 116 minuten (gerestaureerde versie)
Alternative title: Faust
Country:
Germany
Directed by: F.W. Murnau
Stars: Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings and Camilla Horn
IMDb score:
8,1 (18.167)
Releasedate: 13 October 1926
Faust: Eine Deutsche Volkssage plot
"The Voice of the Tempter."
In an effort to gain dominion over the Earth, the devil Mephisto makes a bet with an angel that he can destroy the soul of a kindly old professor, Faust. He does this by sending a devastating plague to his village, for which Faust cannot find a cure, causing him to lose his faith in God. Then he finds an old book with instructions on how to summon Mephisto.
Actors and actresses
Faust
Mephisto
Gretchen Marguerite
Gretchens's Mother
Valentin
Erzengel
Marthe Schwerdtlein
Duke of Parma
Duchess of Parma
Farmboy (uncredited)
Reviews & comments
arno74
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- 8700 messages
- 3342 votes
Well-known classic that I still had to go. The film contains many genres, besides horror, these include drama, fantasy and romance. It is again a very solid film by Murnau, with a great approach, with very nice cinematography and beautiful effects. The story - the devil makes a bet that he will succeed in winning the soul of Faust, a good man - immediately produces a dark tension and struggle. The first half is very strong, then the horror element ends up in the background and it becomes more of a (romantic) drama. 3.5*
Translated from Dutch · View original
baspls
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- 4118 messages
- 1673 votes
After Nosferatu, Faust is the second film I see by FW Murnau. Murnau received an unlimited budget for Faust.
Satan and the Archangel Gabriel make a bet. If Satan manages to drive all the good out of Faust, the earth is his.
Faust is beautifully recorded and visually stunning. I especially liked the scenes with Satan and the archangel. Also reminded me a lot of the Disney movie Fantasia. Besides Fantasia, Pinocchio undoubtedly also sought inspiration from Faust. Unfortunately, those scenes are very short. Furthermore, there are also a number of beautiful sets and the images of plague-ravaged Germany were certainly not wrong.
The movie was quite long, about 2 hours, which is a long time to watch a film with a blurry and blocky image. Maybe I shouldn't have watched a public domain version of the movie either. The story is a bit chaotic in the middle, but then recovers to suffer until the tragic end.
Nosferatu was more my kind of horror film anyway, with the make-up and the brilliant shadow work. The story of Faust appeals to me less. Still, it was nice to see this old German folktale worked out in a beautiful silent.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31191 messages
- 5473 votes
My 4th film by FW Murnau that stood out especially for its progressive cinematography and special effects. In the 1920s, many filmmakers struggled to make the step from stage to screen. Also for actors, of course. Murnau is already taking a few steps forward with his visual approach. The basis is a variation on the opera with the necessary drama and the story about Faust, which (sometimes less clearly) was later filmed even more.
I am more surprised than fascinated by this film. Visually there are absolutely beautiful things to see, but for a large part of the film the drama takes the upper hand and it is less accessible than, for example, Ben-Hur from the year before or the jokes of Keaton, Chaplin and Lloyd. The film itself is very outdated, which is not illogical after almost 100 years. But the beautiful effects make up for a lot and ensure that this is quite enjoyable.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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