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Amazon.co.uk Review
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
DVD Description
Murnau's last German film features astonishing photography, magnificent art direction, and special effects which retain the power to amaze. Freed from the constraints of psychological narrative, Murnau's mastery of cinematic technique places Faust at the pinnacle of the silent era, its barrage of visceral and apocryphal imagery contrasting with the simplicity and directness of its spiritual theme.
In collaboration with the screenwriter Hans Kyser, Murnau fused Faust's script from German folk legend and the works of Goethe, Gounod, and Marlowe (particularly using the latter's tone). Faust's tale is a classic one of a man who sells his soul to the devil. In an attempt to gain control of the Earth, Mephisto (Emil Jannings) wagers an angel (Werner Fuetterer) that he can corrupt the soul of the elderly professor Faust (Gosta Ekman). As the Horsemen of the Apocalypse ride demonically through the sky, Mephisto towers over Faust's hometown unleashing a plague that spreads amongst its inhabitants. Faust, unable to find a cure for the citizens who are dropping dead around him, renounces both God and science invoking the aid of Satan through a mysterious book that he chances across.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Two FAUSTS For The Price Of One High Quality DVD.,
By Chip Kaufmann (Asheville, N.C. United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Faust - Masters of Cinema series [DVD] (DVD)
For many years F.W. Murnau's FAUST was known to me only through a few stills and a poster. About 15 years ago I came across a public domain video copy which had poor picture quality and Vivaldi's FOUR SEASONS as its soundtrack. Even with these handicaps I could tell that it was something very special and I longed for the day when I might see a better print of the film. A few years ago Kino International released a high quality DVD of FAUST with a newly commissioned score and I was ecstatic as I could now see the film close to the way it must have looked in 1926. Now Eureka has come out with this double DVD set which allows us for the first time to see the film the way Murnau intended. The Kino edition was based on the export version which differs in a number of ways from the original domestic version made available here. The biggest difference is in the way a number of scenes are treated. They are more expanded in the original and have a sharper picture quality than the export version. The ending of Faust and Gretchen ascending to Heaven is missing which seems rather strange as that is key to the film's theme of redemption through forgiveness. Thanks to this set you can view both versions and see the differences for yourself.
The performances especially by Emil Jannings as Mephistopheles and Camilla Horn as Gretchen are remarkable and the various special effects used are outstanding for the time and still have the power to astonish. As I said in an earlier review most silent film buffs think PANDORA'S BOX with Louise Brooks to be the apex of German silent cinema and maybe it is but I cast my vote for FAUST. Murnau was a true cinematic poet, a German Cocteau if you will, and all of his considerable skill as a cinematic storyteller went into the making of this film. Because of FAUST Murnau was brought to America where his next film would be SUNRISE. I have one minor quibble with this otherwise outstanding offering from Eureka. The new harp score for the domestic version lacks the power of Timothy Brock's orchestral score for the export version and although you have the option of using the Brock with the domestic version, it doesn't always match up because of the differences between the two films. Nevertheless if you love German silent cinema in general, Murnau's films in particular or romantic fantasy overall then this edition of FAUST is a must.
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Murnau bring Goethe's classic to life.,
This review is from: Faust (Silent) [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Most people know the director F. W. Murnau for the silent vampire film Nosferatu but few explore his other works. This is a great shame because in many ways Faust is at least the equal of the excellent Nosferatu but has been overshadowed into relative obscurity. Fast flowing and dramatic with excellent acting and superb directing this is definitely one of the greatest of all silent horrors.The story follows that of Goethe's classic two part tragedy - an alchemist turns to the daemon Mephisto(pheles)for the power to help people. The daemon lures Faust into sin with the promise of eternal youth but true love wins out in the end and Faust ascends to heaven. Murnau uses his skill as a director to ensure that the audience is enthralled by the storyline and that the characters are multifaceted and complex. He does this without confusing the viewer and with great subtlety, something has which earnt him much respect over time. The special effects on this film must have been truly groundbreaking for its day. The way that Faust flies over the world on Mephisto's cloak is especially well carried off. In another great scene the giant Mephisto draws his evil wings around the town as if to block out the light of heaven. All in all I would say that this is one of the best films I have ever seen and I feel that it only grows better with repeated watchings. The only real problem with the film is that it is exceedingly moral and a could be seen as a bit "preachy", this may put off non-christian viewers. However, to those who have read the Faust books it is clear that this is because this is essential to the understanding of the god-fearing minds of the characters. I would reccomend this Faust to anyone who is interested in the Silent Era or horror films in general, and if you liked the film I would also reccomend the books.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Murnau Masterpiece,
By
This review is from: Faust - Masters of Cinema series [DVD] (DVD)
This is Murnau at his best, using light and shadow to excellent effect in this movie. This has been described as a moral tale and a horror movie among others but this is really all of those things and a great adaptation of the many different legends on Faust. Murnau shows again how he wants to use cinema as an art form not just for story telling (although it is a great story).
The imagery is very bold and has been accomplished using some innovative techniques for the time including some brilliant special effects. I really enjoyed seeing the references in the film from other sources to this and from this to other artistic works. There is the meeting of the devil at the crossroads which goes back even to the bible but can even be seen in more recent myths (Robert Johnson?). Satan spreading his wings over the town to induce the plague made me laugh because I immediately thought of Black Sabbath's `War Pigs'. There's the lust for youth connection (Dorian Gray?) and the pact with the devil which made me think of bedazzled (Peter Cook version is the best). On top of all this you get some well thought out, interesting and informative extras on the DVD with an excellent and quite comical commentary and both the domestic and export editions of the film. Overall this is a great DVD and if you like Murnau especially then you should like this.
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