In this farce set in a small Mediterranean paradise, an engagement letter promising the Grand Duchess of Russia to a deeply indebted Grand Duke is mysteriously stolen. The Duke’s creditors are poised to seize his land, while the Duchess has other plans with a group of revolutionaries. Written by novelist/screenwriter Thea von Harbou, Murnau's venture into the world of comic irony represents a break from German Expressionism and a move towards a more realistic use of locations and actors.

Live Musical Accompaniment by Pianist Martin Marks and Soprano Ellen Harris
October 8 (Friday) 7 pm
Purchase Tickets in Advance

Faust

Directed by F. W. Murnau
Germany, 1926, b/w, silent, 90 min.
With Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn

To determine whether God or Satan has control over the earth, the two decide to wager on the corruptibility of the soul of Faust, a pious alchemist. Mephisto (Jannings) is sent by Satan to tempt Faust, to trade his soul for eternal youth. Murnau’s sweeping retelling of Dr. Faustus is stunning in its visual brilliance. In production, Murnau made it clear that mise-en-scène was to be the most important aspect of the film, and the metaphorical battle between light and darkness is not just part of the grand narrative, but is also a major inspiration for Faust’s complex visuals.