F. W. Murnau
Biography
F. W. Murnau was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born on December 28, 1888, in Bielefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Murnau was a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s. His films are characterized by atmospheric imagery and innovative use of camera movement. He directed 31 films, with some being lost. Murnau's critically acclaimed film, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, was named the fifth-best film in the history of motion pictures in the 2012 Sight & Sound critics' poll. He died on March 11, 1931, at the age of 42. Murnau's work had a significant influence on the art of cinematic expression.
Career overview
F. W. Murnau was a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s. He was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter, known for his innovative use of camera movement and atmospheric imagery. Murnau's films often employed new concepts of camera and montage usage, which he developed himself.
Murnau's most famous work is the horror film Nosferatu, released in 1922. However, his romantic melodrama Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, released in 1927, is his critically most acclaimed film. This film was named the fifth-best film in the history of motion pictures in the British Film Institute's 2012 Sight & Sound critics' poll.
Murnau's career as a director spanned several years, during which he directed a total of 31 films. His work had a significant influence on the art of cinematic expression, as he used the camera subjectively to interpret the emotional state of a character. Murnau's innovative approach to filmmaking left a lasting impact on the film industry, and his films continue to be studied and appreciated by audiences today.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
34 titles- Synthwave Horror: Nosferatu (2023) Director
- Kitsune (2016) Thanks
- Murnau, Borzage and Fox (2008) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Way to Murnau (2003) as Himself (archive footage)
- Los 5 Faust de F. W. Murnau (2002) as Himself (archive footage)
- Hunting in the South Seas (1940) Director
- Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931) Producer
- Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931) Director
- Tabu: A Story of the South Seas (1931) Screenplay
- City Girl (1930) Director
- The Twelfth Hour (1930) Director
- The Movie City of Hollywood (1928) as Self
- 4 Devils (1928) Director
- Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) as Dancer (uncredited)
- Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) Director
- Faust (1926) Director
- Tartuffe (1926) Director
- The Last Laugh (1924) Director
- The Finances of the Grand Duke (1924) Director
- The Film in the Film (1924) as Self
- Comedy of the Heart (1924) Writer
- The Expulsion (1923) Director
- Nosferatu (1922) Director
- Phantom (1922) Director
- Marizza (1922) Director
- The Burning Soil (1922) Director
- The Haunted Castle (1921) Director
- Journey into the Night (1921) Director
- The Boy in Blue (1921) Director
- Desire: The Tragedy of a Dancer (1921) Director
- Evening – Night – Morning (1920) Director
- The Head of Janus (1920) Director
- Satan (1920) Director
- The Hunchback and the Dancer (1920) Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is F. W. Murnau best known for?
F. W. Murnau is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Harper Valley (1981), Harper Valley (1981), Harper Valley (1981), Sanitka (1984).
When and where was F. W. Murnau born?
F. W. Murnau was born on December 28, 1888 in Bielefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. They passed away on March 11, 1931.
How many credits does F. W. Murnau have?
F. W. Murnau has accumulated over 34 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 2023.
What is F. W. Murnau's background in cinema and television?
F. W. Murnau was a German film director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born on December 28, 1888, in Bielefeld, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Murnau was a prominent figure in the expressionist movement in German cinema during the 1920s. His films are characterized by atmospheric imagery and innovative use of ca...