The Haunted Castle (1921 film)
| The Haunted Castle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | F. W. Murnau |
| Screenplay by | Carl Mayer[1] |
| Based on | A novel by Rudolf Stratz |
| Produced by | Erich Pommer[1] |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | |
Production company | Uco-Film[1] |
| Distributed by | Decla-Bioscop AG[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | Germany[1] |
The Haunted Castle (German: Schloß Vogelöd, lit. 'Castle Vogelöd') is a silent mystery film directed by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau.
Plot summary
A company of men meet for a hunt lasting several days at Castle Vogelöd, being hosted by Lord von Vogelschrey. Because of the rain they spend their time inside. An uninvited guest shows up: Count Johann Oetsch. He's suspected of having shot his brother Peter a few years ago. This rumour gets nourished by a retired Judge of the District Court. The widow of the murder victim also arrives, along with her new husband, Baron Safferstätt. Another guest is announced: Father Faramund, a friend of the deceased husband.
In the following days, Count Oetsch and the Baroness accuse one another of the murder. Flashbacks show that the Baroness' marriage wasn't harmonious. Her first husband became obsessed by spiritualism. She wished for something evil to happen to him, and their guest Baron Safferstätt shot him. She married the Baron, but they felt empty.
Father Faramund takes his false beard and his wig off, revealing himself as Count Oetsch, who now can justify his innocence. Baron Safferstätt shoots himself. The true Father Faramund comes to the castle.
Cast
Cast adapted from Filmportal.de.[1]
- Arnold Korff as Schlossherr von Vogelschrey
- Lulu Korff-Kyser as Centa von Vogelschrey
- Lothar Mehnert as Graf Johann Oetsch
- Paul Hartmann as Graf Peter Paul Oetsch
- Paul Bildt as Baron Safferstätt
- Olga Chekhova as Baronin Safferstätt
- Hermann Vallentin as Landgerichtsrat a. D.
- Julius Falkenstein as Ängstlicher Herr
- Georg Zawatzky as Küchenjunge
- Robert Leffler as Majordomus
- Victor Blütner as Pater Faramund
- Walter Kurt Kühle as Diener
- Loni Nest as Kleines Mädchen
Production and style
The Haunted Castle was adapted from a novel that Murnau biographer described as "semi-highbrow, semi-commercial" story by Rudolf Stratz published in Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung.[2][3] For The Haunted Castle, director
Eisner noted the film is sometimes incorrectly described as a
Release
The film premiered in Berlin at the Marmorhaus on April 7, 1921.[1] It is one of the earliest known surviving films of Murnau.[7] The film has been released on DVD and Blu-ray as The Haunted Castle.[5][6]
Reception
From contemporary reviews in Germany, Alfred Rosenthal reviewed the film in Deutsche Lichtspiel-Zeitung stating gave a positive review of the film stating it would fill cinemas.[8] Another review in Der Kinematograph praised Murnau stating that he "succeeded in expressing the spiritual and avoiding external sensations." and that the cast was "excellent" specifically noting Lothar Mehnert as Count Oetsch.[9]
From retrospective reviews, a reviewer in
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Schloß Vogelöd". Filmportal.de. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ a b Eisner 1973, p. 101.
- ^ Eisner 1973, p. 120.
- ^ Eisner 1973, p. 27.
- ^ Sight & Sound. Vol. 21, no. 10. October 2011. p. 89.
- ^ a b c Kemp, Philp (November 2016). "Early Murnau: Five Films 1921-1925". Sight & Sound. Vol. 26, no. 11. p. 101.
- ^ Workman & Howarth 2016, p. 236.
- ^ "Schloß Vogelöd" (in German). Filmportal.de. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
- ^ "Schloß Vogelöd" (in German). Filmportal.de. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
Sources
- Eisner, Lotte H. (1973) [1965]. Murnau. University of California Press.
- Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era. Midnight Marquee Press. ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
External links
- The Haunted Castle at IMDb
- The Haunted Castle at AllMovie
