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Nosferatu
Special Edition
review by Anthony D.
Not Rated
Running Time: 90 minutes
Starring Max Schreck, John Gottowt,Alexander
Granach,Ruth Landshoff, Greta Schröder,Gustav von
Wangenheim
Written by Henrik Galeen
Directed by F. W. Murnau
Retail Price: $24.99
Studio: Image
Features: Commentary by film historian Lokke Heiss,
Special Effects Scene Breakdown, NosferaTour; a comparison
of location photography
Specs: 1.33:1 Standard Black and White, Dolby Digital
5.0, Dolby Digital 2.0
Forget Bela Lugosi. Forget Christopher Lee. Forget Reggie
Nalder. Forget Frank Langella. Forget Gary Oldman. Prepare
yourself for Max Schrenk, the original Count, in the seminal
tale of Dracula: "Nosferatu." Max is the first film
incarnation of Bram Stoker's legendary Count, and a more
terrifying and moving rendering has yet to be filmed. Freely
adapted from Stoker's novel (much to the anger of his
widow), "Nosferatu" has only changed the names from Stoker's
novel, but kept the principal plot the same. In 1838, in
Bremen, a real estate agent, Hutter, leaves his young wife,
Ellen, to conduct a business transaction for the
Transylvanian Count Orlock. Orlock has been in touch with
Hutter's employer, Knock in order to purchase the abandoned
house across the street from the newlyweds. The
correspondences between Orlock and Knock are missives
written in a secret hieroglyph, not in any language known to
man. Of course, Count Orlock is not just any man, he is
"nosfertu:" the undead, who rises from his coffin nightly to
feast on the blood of humans. This Count, like Stoker's
Dracula, is also a shape-shifter, taking the form of hyena,
and commanding obeisance from rats and other creatures of
the night. Upon seeing a minature portrait of Hutter's
beautiful wife, Orlock falls in love with her neck. The
snake-like Orlock, standing ghoulish and ghastly as he
towers above all others, drives young Hutter to the brink of
madness, before taking his valuable coffins full of
Tranvanian earth to the ship. Following Stoker's novel as an
outline, Orlock commands Knock from afar to wait for his
arrival. Orlock's arrival by boat is a harrowing sequence
for any age, as he preys upon the hapless crew, leaving no
survivors. A plague is believed to be the cause of the
phantom ship's arrival, as townspeople also begin to fall
under the spell of the nosferatu. According to ancient
legend though, there is one simple cure for this specific
plague: an innocent young woman must give herself freely to
the vampire, keeping him off his guard until the sun rises
with the crowing of the cock. Will Ellen be able to make the
ultimate sacrifice for the community? If she does, will
Bremen be safe again?
Although it is an highly unauthorized filming of the
Stoker novel, certain aspects remain entirely faithful to
the source: Knock substitutes as a mad, bug-devouring
Renfield; the Count can hold sway over peoples' minds from
far away; the villagers insist on warning young Hutter (the
novel's Jonathon Harker) against travelling to the Count's
castle, which like the novel is perched precariously on a
mountain top near a secluded pass. Historically speaking,
there is nothing equal to F. W. Murnau's brilliant study in
horror, though. Image has delivered the goods with an
intriguing package, fully restored, properly timed, with
features rivaling any Criterion title just in time for the
release of an independent film "Shadow of the Vampire,"
loosely based on the events surrounding the filming of
"Nosferatu."
"Nosferatu" marks one of the few silent classics
available on DVD at the proper framing and timing; presented
full-frame, and running at eighteen frames per second, with
subtle color tinting used throughout. Everything seems to be
in perfect order, with such brilliant clarity that only the
digital medium can provide. Shadows play a major role in the
tale, and the level of blacks achieved (whether through the
original camera work, or through the frame tinting) is to be
commended. Though the film is still marred by age, there are
no instances of artifacts that make it unbearable to watch,
rather they only add to the vampiric experience. Title
cards, newly written for this edition, are always legible,
and linger on the screen long enough for the viewer to read.
Shades of red, blue and amber enhance the pleasure of
"Nosferatu,' and are used cautiously and with deliberation;
never showing signs of bleeding or chroma noise.
While viewing "Nosferatu," I opted for the Dolby Digital
2.0 organ score, and I was very excited as my subwoofer
constantly kicked in time and time again. The score is
atmospheric and appropriate. There is a subtle use of sound
cues, kept at a minimum, of which the tolling of a clock is
highly memorable. The organ score is robust and well-placed
across the front soundstage, though with the Dolby Digital
encoded, the room is filled with music. (Another audio
option is the Dolby Digital 5.1 track featuring the work of
"The Silent Orchestra," billed as a jazz, new age and
or/classical combo performing an impromptu newly
commissioned score. Contemporary in tone, and bearing little
resemblance to an actual film score, this track serves only
those who are not interested in the historicity of silent
cinema.)
"Nosferatu's" special features alone speak volumes.
Starting of with a rather dry, though at all times,
fascinating audio commentary by film historian, Lokke Heiss
which gives the listener insight into the world of German
Expressionism Film Makers and the production of "Nosferatu"
including short biographical sketches of the major players.
A short special effects scene is borken down for the viewer
in another of the features, and a well-produced
"NosferaTour" is a disc highlight, as it shows the film's
locations in comparable present-day photographs, with
narrative information. It boggles the mind to see these
actual locations, still virtually unchanged after such a
long passage of time, with the rare exceptions being those
that fell victim to bombings in World War II and the sole
street that is unrecognizable now due to urban growth and
remodelling.
Film scholars as well as film fanatics will not be
disappointed in purchasing this delightful package.
"Nosferatu" has never looked this well on any previous video
edition, and we should all hope to look this good when we
reach "Nosferatu's age. It is an amazing feat that
"Nosferatu" still exists in any way, shape or form, let
alone be such a treat for the eyes and ears. I'm not a big
fan of silent movies, having usually seen them running at
the wrong amount of frames per second; but when screened
properly "Nosferatu" manages to entertain in addition to be
an historical document. "Nosferatu" has survived
destruction, spanned nearly a century and has influenced
many future film-makers. This is a stunning testament to the
power of the medium of film, and though oft-imitated, this
one proves that's there's life in the old boy yet.
 (5/5, NOT included in
final score)
 (4/5)
(5/5)
(4/5)
(5/5,
NOT an average)
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