Nosferatu: The First Vampire Movie Ever Made
The First Screen Adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula
Nosferatu was released in 1922, a silent film about a vampire named Count Orlok was directed by F.W. Murnau. The story itself is an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. The German production company - Prana Film - was unable to get rights to Stoker's novel, so they simply changed the names of the characters and a few minor details in the story. The movie storyline is Stoker's original tale put to film.
For example, Count Dracula became Count Orlok, the title became Nosferatu (which means "bird of death") instead of Dracula, Professor Van Helsing becomes Professor Bulwer. You get the picture.
Actor Max Schreck plays the unforgettable Nosferatu - a terrifying, rat-man-like vampire. I saw Nosferatu as a kid - and even though it was a silent, black and white flick - much different from what I had grown accustomed to - Schreck's portrayal of Nosferatu was very scary. The film includes shadows of Nosferatu creeping up on his victim's - a nice cinematic effect that works to create a feeling of unease and fear in the viewer.
While the film was released and well-received by audiences and critics alike, it proved to be a victory and a defeat for Prana Film. Bram Stoker's estate (on behalf of Stoker's widow) sued the production company for copyright infringement and won - forcing the company into bankruptcy. Nosferatu was a one-hit wonder for Prana Film.
After the ruling of the lawsuit, the court ordered all copies of the film to be destroyed, but copies had already been distributed. More copies were made over the years and can actually now be seen on the Internet as public domain video here.
While Nosferatu was the first vampire movie ever made, it spurred a long line of later films that would change the appearance and charismatic appeal of the vampire. Eventually, Dracula and the vampire legend in general would take on a more romantic and sexual appeal that Nosferatu didn't provide. The movie vampires would begin to be more attractive, more seductive and more alluring - in keeping with the idea of being a predator that lures its prey into its clutches.
This change can be seen widely from 1931's Dracula featuring Bela Lugosi to 1992's remake by Francis Ford Coppola featuring Gary Oldman as the title bloodsucker to today's True Blood vampires.
No matter where the genealogy of movie vampires has brought us today, it's important to remember that ancestor who started it: Nosferatu.
Published by Tammy Lee Morris - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Tammy Lee Morris is a lifelong resident of southern Illinois where she enjoys a quiet life in a rural area. After working for a local newspaper while studying journalism at a local community college, she dev... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a CommentThe original Nosferatu is one of the greatest horror movies ever made. I still can't watch that movie without shivering. If it were not for Nos', there would not be the horror genre that we know of today.
L.
I was fonder of the Herzog remake, but this is still a classic.
I could imagine seeing this as a kid and being creeped out, I watched it in a film class in college and couldn't seem to get around how goofy it seemed to me. I think that your review was spot on. Also it is odd to see it and think that anything provocative grew out of that image. Maybe it was that nose, LMAO.
One of the best ever!
Nicely Written :)
GREAT REVIEW SOUNDS REAL COOL!
I didn't know a lot of this. Great review!
I've seen this, too...and the creepy images of him sneaking up on people gave me nightmares for weeks! A far cry from today's vampire stuff, but still it was frightening.
Most interesting review here. Judging from some of the comments, I bet the movie is hilarious, albeit unintentionally so!
I admire the research you put into this article, but I thought the movie a major disappointment. If they were technically unable to film at night, then they never should have undertaken a vampire movie where all the scenes are in broad daylight. I thought the lead actor played Nosferatu like a monkey hopped up on amphetamines. I noted the film was made in 1922. To think, some poor German paid 8 billion marks to see that tripe.