Faust (1926)

Faust (1926): Eine deutsche Volkssage, Directed by F.W Murnau

This 1926 german silent film is a cinematic adaption of Goethe's classic drama.

The Devil makes a bet with the Archangel that he can corrupt the most pious of god's followers. He selects an old doctor/alchemist who has the respect of the people of the medieval city he lives in. The devil unleashes a plague and drives the kind old doctor to despair as he watches the deaths unfold. Driven to seek supernatural help, he falls right into the Devil's clutches. But tragedy and horror are not without meaning and even the devil can outsmart himself.

This story has been told many times and this film version is quite epic. Murnau's famous 1922 Nosferatu was obviously a low budget affair, not so with this film. Special effects abound with impressive matte shots, miniatures, large detailed sets and historical costumes. Emil Jannings is both hilarious and chilling playing Mephistopheles as the trickster/prince of lies that he is, manipulating Faust and causing trouble with his words and with his sword. The leading actress is quite beautiful as well!

When Faust falls in love with a young woman named Gretchen things come to a tragic and painful to watch head. Is he doomed to damnation or can redemption
smash through the lies of Satan?

There are so many powerful and atmospheric images in this, I can hardly recount them all. The most impressive is the large shadow of the Devil towering over a medieval german city, his cape/wings enveloping the small buildings just as he is about to release a plague. The atmosphere is thick, such as the scene of summoning the devil at a crossroads. Also the heartbreaking christmas eve scene with the disgraced Gretchen and her child walking through the blowing, freezing snow;no one willing to give them shelter despite the significance of that holy night.

I guess this not really a horror film but its themes are surely more real in their horror as both the cruelty of mankind and of the universe seem overwhelming. 

Hey, what do you know..its on Youtube! Who the hell needs cable TV?