F.W. Murnau’s Sunrise (1927) – The story of a country farmer who is beguiled by seductress from the city. The Woman From the City (Margaret Livingston) wants The Man (George O’Brien) to sell his farm and drown his wife, The Woman (Janet Gaynor). He will have to struggle to find what his heart truly desires.
Murnau is a German Expressionist film director best known for the Dracula inspired film “Nosferatu”. Curiously both that film and this one had copyright issues (the former with the Bram Stoker estate and the latter with a previous film called “Sunrise”). The movie won an Oscar at the inaugural Academy Awards (1929) and was one of the first movies with the music and sound effects included on the recorded soundtrack, using the Fox Movietone sound on film system. It’s just one of the innovations that were used here. Unlike many silent films this one makes very limited use of dialogue or narration titles. The story is told almost entirely visually. Murnau’s Expressionist background shines through in the visuals. There is a fairy story quality to the world where The Man and The Woman live. (Yes, those are the only names they are given. There’s no reference to name in the movie itself, only in the credits)
Why I Like It: I always catch myself, when I’m watching movies from this era, being surprised at the stunning detail in the pictures. We tend to think of “high definition” being a modern creation. But the silent movie often displays a stunning clarity and depth of field. It is the visual artistry of the movie that sucked me in.
Why You Will Like It: DEspite the age and predictability of the story there’s something very compelling about what is happening before your eyes. As always there are certain allowances you have to make for the differing acting style of the age and the expressionistic sets may take a moment to settle in for you. What happens on the screen is a fascinating look at a classic story.
Pre-rating system movie.
Rating – **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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