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Birth and Death
Films Directed by FW Murnau
Films Written by FW Murnau
A Brief Look at FW Murnau
FW Murnau began his film career under the tutelage of Max Reinhardt as an assistant director, after serving in the German army and air force during World War I. Murnau's first film was in 1919 entitled "The Blue Boy". Murnau had his break with the success of his 1921 film "Der Gang in Die Nacht". Some of Murnau's most popular films were "Nosferatu (1922)" and "The Last Laugh (1924)".
An American production company, Fox, hired Murnau to come to American and make films. "Sunrise (1927)" was Murnau's first American film. Murnau's success in American, aside from "Sunrise (1927)", was disappointing and Murnau became frustrated with Fox and the way that Hollywood worked. Murnau died in a car accident a week before the release of his final film, "Tabu (1931)".
Murnau is considered to be one of Germany's greatest directors. Murnau's use of lighting, revolutionary cinematography and camera angles, and his ability to tell a compelling story without sound won him critical acclaim not only in his time, but also throughout the rest of history.
