A German Expressionist fever dream, this silent epic pits a despairing soul against cosmic evil in a visually stunning battle for redemption, painting the screen with shadows and light.

Faust

Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage

"The Voice of the Tempter."

13 October 1926 Germany 116 min ⭐ 7.9 (373)

Director: F. W. Murnau

Cast: Gösta Ekman, Emil Jannings, Camilla Horn, Frida Richard, William Dieterle

Drama Fantasy Horror

The Duality of Human Nature Redemption Through Love The Corrupting Influence of Power Knowledge vs. Experience

Faust - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details

Easter Eggs

Influence on Disney's "Fantasia"

The iconic opening scene of "Faust," featuring the gigantic Mephisto spreading his dark wings over a town, was a direct visual inspiration for the "Night on Bald Mountain" segment in Walt Disney's 1940 animated feature, "Fantasia." The depiction of the demon Chernabog looming over the mountain is strikingly similar to Murnau's composition.

Prohibition Reference in the U.S. Version

Murnau filmed slightly different scenes for the version of the film intended for American audiences. In one scene, Gretchen's aunt offers Mephisto a drink. In the German version, he rejects it, complaining of heartburn. In the U.S. version, he rejects it because it contains alcohol, a direct and ironic reference to the ongoing Prohibition in the United States at the time.

🥚

View Full Movie Analysis