22 October 2011

Sunrise (1927)

by guest writer

Sunrise (1927) caught F.W. Murnau travelling from Germany to the US to make the first film for Fox Film Corporation. Murnau was hailed in America as a genius and presented a high interest for William Fox, who was seeking to lend art-house prestige to his studio in the mid 20’s. The director was given almost unprecedented freedom and control over his first project for Fox. Sunrise was to be based on a story by the German dramatist, Hermann Sudermann. Adding to his drawing on a German literary source other elements like European staff members (especially scenarist Carl Mayer and set designer Rochus Gliese), Murnau came closer to his vision for the film. Other two important members of  this wonderful team included cameramen Charles Rosher and Karl Struss, who also received Academy Award for Cinematography that year in honor of their work.

If we leave aside the transcontinental team and the European visual tropes, we obtain a movie narrative that bears traces of German Expressionism. On the other side, Sunrise seems consonant with American traditions of melodrama: story focused on domestic life, prurient concern with adultery, quasi-Manichaen structure of good vs. evil, assignment of value to female innocence. Nevertheless, the film transcends its standard melodrama roots and turns towards a more eccentric style. One thing is for certain: Murnau directed his first product in the US blending continental and Amercian sensibilities.

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9 Responses to Sunrise (1927)

  1. Shin wrote on
    --> 23 October 2011 at 9:16 am

    What a lovely post Ada! I can’t wait to watch this movie…and your writing is always a pleasure to read! It’s so great to catch up with all your posts that I missed. Last week was such a rush for me with so much work from both my job as well as with school that I was blogging at 2 AM in the morning! Thank you for leaving me great comments and I really appreciate them! xoxoxoxoo

    • classiq wrote on
      --> 23 October 2011 at 1:09 pm

      @Shin
      I am glad you like the film features, Shin, but all the credit belongs to my guest writer. It’s Classiq’s contributor’s series. 🙂

  2. Audrey Allure wrote on
    --> 23 October 2011 at 5:02 pm

    Sounds really interesting! Definitely intrigued to check it out.

  3. Susu Paris Chic wrote on
    --> 23 October 2011 at 11:26 pm

    I haven’t watched a movie in too long… I loved the post on Natalia! She is such a sweetheart. So are you, btw!

  4. Meghan @ Wishful Thinking wrote on
    --> 23 October 2011 at 11:33 pm

    Sounds (and looks) like an incredibly intruiging movie. I am totally captivated by the first image! Hope you had a wonderful weekend Ada!

  5. Alexa wrote on
    --> 24 October 2011 at 8:05 am

    Oooh I am so intrigued now, Ada. Really want to see this. Hope you had a lovely weekend! xo

  6. Nicole wrote on
    --> 24 October 2011 at 10:17 am

    Your posts are always so interesting! Thanx Ada
    xxxx

  7. amourette wrote on
    --> 24 October 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Sounds interesting! I will have to check it out.