Faust

Plot

In a cosmic wager between God and Satan, Mephisto makes a bet that he can corrupt the soul of elderly alchemist Faust, who desperately seeks knowledge and power to help humanity during a devastating plague. After failing to find a cure through his scientific methods, Faust summons dark forces and ultimately makes a pact with Mephisto, trading his soul for youth and worldly pleasures. Transformed into a handsome young man, Faust seduces the innocent Gretchen, leading to her ruin and the death of their child when he abandons her. Consumed by guilt and realizing the depth of Mephisto's evil, Faust ultimately rejects his bargain and seeks redemption through Gretchen's suffering. The film concludes with Faust's soul saved by divine intervention and Gretchen's ascension to heaven, demonstrating that love and redemption can triumph over evil.

Historical Background

'Faust' was produced during the height of the Weimar Republic's Golden Age of cinema, a period of unprecedented artistic freedom and innovation in Germany. The country was experiencing hyperinflation and political instability, yet its film industry was producing some of the most influential works in cinema history. German Expressionism, which had begun with films like 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' (1920), was reaching its artistic peak. Murnau's film represented the culmination of this movement, combining Expressionist visual style with increasingly sophisticated narrative techniques. The film's themes of corruption, redemption, and the struggle between good and evil resonated deeply with a German society grappling with the aftermath of World War I and the moral questions it raised. The enormous budget reflected both UFA's ambition to compete with Hollywood and the cultural importance placed on adapting Goethe's iconic literary work for the screen.

Making Of

The making of 'Faust' was one of the most ambitious and costly productions of the silent era. Murnau, coming off the success of 'The Last Laugh' and 'Nosferatu', was given virtually unlimited resources by UFA to create his masterpiece. The production employed over 200 technicians and artists, including the legendary cinematographer Carl Hoffmann. The special effects team, led by Ernst Kunstmann, pioneered techniques that would influence cinema for decades, including complex multiple exposures, forced perspective, and in-camera effects. The transformation sequences required Ekman to be filmed multiple times with different makeup and lighting, then composited together. The massive sets, particularly the town square and Faust's laboratory, were built full-scale and could be reconfigured for different scenes. Jannings, already a major star in Germany, was given creative freedom to develop his interpretation of Mephisto, contributing many of the character's distinctive gestures and expressions. The production was plagued by technical difficulties, with the primitive film stock of the era struggling to capture the complex lighting setups Murnau demanded.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Carl Hoffmann represents one of the most innovative and influential visual achievements of silent cinema. Hoffmann employed groundbreaking techniques including complex multiple exposures, elaborate tracking shots, and revolutionary use of lighting to create the film's supernatural atmosphere. The famous opening sequence with the four horsemen was filmed using forced perspective and miniature models to create an epic scale. The transformation scenes required up to four separate exposures combined in-camera, a technical feat that was nearly impossible in 1926. Hoffmann and Murnau developed a system of using mirrors and prisms to achieve visual effects that would later require optical printers. The lighting design was particularly sophisticated, using chiaroscuro effects to emphasize the moral struggle between light and darkness. The camera movement was unusually fluid for the period, with sweeping crane shots and dynamic angles that enhanced the film's supernatural quality. Each major set had its own lighting scheme designed to reflect the emotional and moral state of the characters.

Innovations

'Faust' pioneered numerous technical innovations that would influence cinema for decades. The special effects team developed revolutionary techniques for creating supernatural transformations, including complex multiple exposures that allowed actors to appear transparent or change form on screen. The film's use of miniature models and matte paintings created epic scenes that were impossible to film practically. The camera department built custom equipment for achieving impossible camera movements, including early versions of crane shots and tracking shots. The makeup department, led by Wolfgang Lenz, created prosthetic effects for the aging sequences that were remarkably convincing for the period. The film's editing techniques, particularly its use of cross-cutting between heaven, earth, and hell, were innovative in their complexity and narrative sophistication. The lighting design employed new types of lamps and diffusion techniques to create the film's distinctive atmosphere. Perhaps most significantly, the film demonstrated how visual effects could serve narrative and emotional purposes rather than mere spectacle, establishing a principle that would guide special effects cinema thereafter.

Music

As a silent film, 'Faust' was accompanied by live musical scores during its original theatrical run. The German premiere featured a specially composed score by Hanns Eisler, though most theaters used their own compiled scores. The original American release used compiled classical music, particularly works by Wagner and Liszt that complemented the film's Germanic themes. Modern restorations have been accompanied by newly composed scores, most notably a 1995 version by Timothy Brock and a 2006 orchestral score by Bernd Thewes. The original cue sheets, which survive in archives, suggest Murnau wanted music that emphasized the film's emotional contrasts, using Wagnerian leitmotifs for the main characters and dissonant modern music for Mephisto's scenes. The film's rhythmic editing and visual composition demonstrate Murnau's sophisticated understanding of how music and image could work together, anticipating techniques that would become standard in sound cinema.

Memorable Scenes

• The epic opening sequence where Mephisto spreads his dark wings over the town, using revolutionary special effects to create a massive, shadowy figure that dwarfs the buildings below
• The plague sequence where Faust desperately tries to save his town, featuring hundreds of extras and disturbing makeup effects that were terrifying for 1926 audiences
• Faust's transformation from old man to young, achieved through multiple exposures and makeup that remains technically impressive even by modern standards
• The famous ride through the skies on Mephisto's magical cloak, which appears as a flowing cape of bats
• The final scene where Gretchen's soul ascends to heaven while Faust is redeemed, featuring beautiful lighting effects and emotional power that still resonates today

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics hailed 'Faust' as a masterpiece of cinematic art. The New York Times called it 'the most ambitious and successful attempt to bring a classic literary work to the screen,' while German critics praised Murnau's visionary direction and Jannings' commanding performance. Some contemporary reviewers found the film's visual effects overwhelming, suggesting they sometimes overshadowed the narrative. Modern critics universally regard it as one of the greatest films of the silent era. Roger Ebert included it in his Great Movies collection, praising its 'breathtaking visual imagination' and emotional power. The film's reputation has grown over time, with contemporary scholars particularly interested in its technical innovations and its role in the development of cinematic language. The British Film Institute ranks it among the top ten silent films ever made, and it consistently appears in lists of the most influential films in cinema history.

What Audiences Thought

Initial audience response was mixed, with many contemporary viewers finding the film's dark themes and disturbing imagery challenging. The plague sequence and Mephisto's supernatural appearances were particularly intense for 1926 audiences. However, the film's spectacular visuals and Jannings' charismatic performance attracted large crowds, especially in major European cities. American audiences were divided, with some finding the German Expressionist style too stylized, while others were captivated by its visual poetry. Over time, as the film gained historical significance, audience appreciation has grown tremendously. Modern audiences, particularly film enthusiasts and students, regard it as a essential viewing experience. The film's restoration and availability on home video and streaming platforms have introduced it to new generations, who continue to be amazed by its technical achievements and emotional depth.

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