Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writer:

Henrik Galeen (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

3 June 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife. Silent classic based on the story "Dracula."

Plot Keywords:

Vampire | Real Estate Agent | Obsession | Real Estate | Lust

Cast

Max Schreck	...	Graf Orlok
Gustav von Wangenheim	...	Hutter (as Gustav v. Wangenheim)
Greta Schröder	...	Ellen Hutter, seine Frau (as Greta Schroeder)
Alexander Granach	...	Knock, ein Häusermakler
Georg H. Schnell	...	Westenra - Hutters Freund (as G.H. Schnell)
Ruth Landshoff	...	Lucy, Westenras Frau
John Gottowt	...	Professor Bulwer, ein Paracelsianer
Gustav Botz	...	Professor Sievers - der Stadtarzt
Max Nemetz	...	Käpitän der Demeter
Wolfgang Heinz	...	Matrose 1
Albert Venohr	...	Matrose 2
Eric van Viele	...	Matrose 3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Karl Etlinger	...	(uncredited)
Guido Herzfeld	...	Wirt (uncredited)
Fanny Schreck	...	Krankenschwester im Hospital (uncredited)
Hardy von Francois	...	Arzt im Hospital (uncredited)
Heinrich Witte	...	Wärter im Irrenhaus (uncredited)

Directed by
F.W. Murnau

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Henrik Galeen		writer
Bram Stoker		novel "Dracula" (uncredited)

Produced by
Enrico Dieckmann	....	producer
Albin Grau	....	producer

Original Music by
James Bernard		(1997)
Hans Erdmann
Carlos U. Garza
Timothy Howard		(1991)
Richard Marriott		(1989) (as Club Foot Orchestra)
Richard O'Meara
Hans Posegga		(1989)
Peter Schirmann		(1969)
Bernardo Uzeda		(2006 version)
Bernd Wilden

Cinematography by
Fritz Arno Wagner		(as F.A. Wagner)
Günther Krampf		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Albin Grau

Costume Design by
Albin Grau

Production Companies

• Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal
• Prana-Film GmbH

Distributors

• Film Arts Guild (1929) (USA) (theatrical)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Timeless Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Elite Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Eureka Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Eureka Video (1999) (UK) (VHS)
• Kino Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Arrow Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Dark Vision (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• E-Realbiz.com (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Ventura Distribution (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (2002) (UK) (VHS)
• Catcom Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Divisa Ediciones (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Grapevine Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Navarre Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Madacy Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Siren Visual Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• BijouFlix Releasing (2004) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)
• Delta Expedition (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Delta Music (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (two-disc special edition)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2009) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Atlantic Film (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Foothill Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Grapevine Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood Home Theatre (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Hollywood's Attic (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Kartes Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1977) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Republic Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Yesteryear (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Nosferatu (UK) (USA)
Nosferatu, a Symphony of Horror
Nosferatu, a Symphony of Terror
Terror of Dracula

Runtime:

94 min | USA:81 min | Spain:65 min (VHS version) | Spain:92 min (DVD edition) | 84 min (1994 restored version projected at 20 fps) | UK:88 min (1997 restored version) | Belgium:85 min | Sweden:84 min (DVD version)

Country:

Germany

Language:

German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (DVD rating) (video rating) | Finland:(Banned) (1922) | Finland:K-12 (1987) | Iceland:L | Canada:13+ (Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Czech Republic:U | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:(Banned) | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Spain:T | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Baltic Sea

Company:

Jofa-Atelier Berlin-Johannisthal

Trivia:

There have been different first names for the main characters in different English versions. In a few, Hutter is called "Thomas", in others is "Jonathon". Although Hutter's wife is credited as "Ellen", in some versions she is called "Nina".

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Hutter is going to bed in his room at the inn, a waving arm of a crew member (holding some piece of cloth) can be seen at the far right corner.

Quotes:

Graf Orlok: Blood! Your precious blood!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Soulmates (1992)

My conception of the vampire made celluloid...

I despise most vampire stories. Not even Florence Stoker's dear departed husband could keep me occupied after the first act in Transylvania in "Dracula". The vampire has been so romanticized as an archetype (particularly during the '90s) that I can't but feel that most horror fans have forgotten exactly what made us afraid of these guys to begin with. Murnau's "Nosferatu" is just such a reminder and, because of that, is the only screen version of "Dracula" that I have ever loved.

Though Murnau, in the hopes of dodging the copyright bullet, took many liberties with the novel, he actually shot a great part of the film on location (an unusual practice for the time) in the historical Dracula's old stomping grounds: the Carpathian Mountains in Romania. The town, landscapes, and castles were all for real, not just some fancy studio backdrop. To me, it helps convey the tone of authenticity, as you can believe this story being told. As for Max Schreck, no charming, suave seducer is he. With his bald head, bushy eyebrows, rat-like teeth, pointed ears, nails as long as the fingers they are attached to, emaciated build, and stare that seems to come from the bottom of Hell itself, he is the primal, archetypal image of the vampire of legend.

While some could interpret this tale as a subtext to Nazism or anti-Semetism, at it's core, it's simply the tale of a monster, who brings ruin and death in his wake. That such a tale has managed to survive it's era, considering the obstacles that could have totally removed it from view, is the gain of all who have seen. Eat your heart out, Bela Lugosi.