Nosferatu

=**Nosferatu 1922**=



This is the earliest surviving vampire movie. There were, allegedly, two earlier films, a Russian one and French version. These versions no longer exist. [|Murnau's] [|Nosferatu] survives only because copies were in private collections and escaped the court order to destroy the film as the film company had failed to get [|copyright] release from the [|Stoker] estate. It is important as well for the [|special effects] and [|camera-work] that give the film its visually interesting look. e.g. Murnau slightly changed the speed of the camera for these scenes, and the quick, jerky movement of the horses and the carriage looks sinister and unnatural. Also, one of the shots of the coach ride was printed on negative stock, making the branches of the trees look sharply ashen against a deep black sky. As an example of his cinematographical genius, Murnau changed Orlok's costume and the drapery around the coach from their original black to white. With this alteration, the costume and the coach appear black in both the positive and negative shots. The result was an eerie image that appears surreal and subtly out of this world. To more analysis and discussion. This comment is from **Film - The Critics' Choice**. edited by Geoff Andrew 2005. This review is from EMPIRE May 2008.
 * Nosferatu** is an important example of [|German Expressionism] which gives the film its distinctive use of light, shade and architectural angles.