Movie Parliament
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • This House
  • Articles
  • Foreign Affairs
    • Cannes 2017
    • Cannes2016
    • 2016 Oscars Predictions
    • 2015 César Awards
    • 2014 César Awards
    • 2014 French Bloggers Awards
    • Top10 2014
    • 2013 César Awards
    • 2013 Cannes Coverage
    • European Film Awards 2012
    • (50) Films of Summer
    • 2012 Cannes Coverage
    • 2011 César Awards
    • 2011 Cannes Coverage
  • Film History
    • Classic Films
    • Cult Movies
    • Foreign Masterpieces
  • Awards
    • Awards Decade 2011-2020
    • Awards2020
    • Awards2019
    • Awards2018
    • Awards2017
    • Awards2016
    • Awards2015
    • Awards 2014
    • Awards 2013
    • Awards 2012
    • Awards 2011 >
      • FYC - Best 2011 Film
  • Top 50 of the Decade
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
    • 2005
    • 2004
    • 2003
    • 2002
    • 2001
    • 2000
  • Summer Movie Wager
  • 2018 Most Anticipated

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

11/15/2012

15 Comments

 
Picture
About 6 months ago, I decided to divide the Film History page here at Movie Parliament into three sections: Classic Films, Cult Movies and Foreign Masterpieces.

Consequentially, I now find myself having to categorise each film I review for the History Page. Sometimes this is more difficult than at other times: “Big Trouble in Little China” is obviously a cult favourite, it isn't foreign (bar the occasional Chinese outcry) and it most definitely isn't a Classic film. My thought process behind categorising “Sunrise” was increasingly more complex.

The film was directed by the German filmmaker F.W. Murnau, who had come to fame in pre-Nazi Germany by making such silent-era classics as “Faust”, “The Last Laugh” and “Nosferatu”. Murnau, along with many other German filmmakers, moved to America. There, he continued to make films in his trademark visual style. A distinct follower of the German Expressionist movement , a visual sense born out of directing for the stage, his sets were framed in shadows, the plots were unusually dark and depressing. It was because of the immigration push from German directors into America, that Film Noir ultimately came to be.

Murnau directed “Sunrise” as if he were directing a German Expressionist film on a Hollywood budget. And yet, there is something very American to the film. After the first act of the film, in which a rural farmer is seduced by a woman from the city, which in turn results in him attempting to kill his wife, the film's story takes a sudden turn. We merely follow the married couple as they walk through the city. They rediscover their love for each other, as she learns to forgive him. All of this comes as a surprise, a pleasant turn of events, made all the more effective by the dark set-up in the first act.
George O'Brien (playing “The Man”) and Janet Gaynor (“The Wife”) make for one of the most effecting on-screen romances in all of film history. Their journey through the big, bad city works not only as a social commentary, but also as a simple delight. Murnau manages to break away from his gloomy oeuvre and reinvents his approach for Hollywood cinema, changing the landscape of film in the process. His pioneering work with miniatures and image overlays stands out in particular. He might not have known at the time, but his work on “Sunrise” was influential to many future Hollywood directors, key amongst these is Billy Wilder. Sadly, Murnau died a few years later, victim of an unfortunate car crash, but his legacy certainly lives on.
15 Comments
oregon marijuana laws link
6/16/2013 10:00:12 pm

A song of two humans is an amazing American movie. It got high rating, 8.3 out of 10. If you are a classic movie lover, then you should watch this. Thank you for the movie reviews that you given above. Keep sharing and good luck.

Reply
best education systems link
8/4/2013 07:27:36 pm

You have no interest in diversity. You just want the whole city to be exactly the same.

Reply
just here link
12/15/2013 06:59:57 pm

as everyone can see it has a good educational incline

Reply
microsoftsupportnow.com link
8/29/2013 08:49:52 pm

I have heard of this movie form my parents and they have said that it was a pretty classic. We had a CD of it with us, but recently misplaced it when we shifted to our new house.

Reply
online summarizing tool link
9/13/2013 08:15:39 pm

The article is clearly written and every point is factual and is no-nonsense. I have surf the internet looking for topics such as these and it is here where I find it written and stated well.

Reply
term paper writer link
9/19/2013 03:20:30 pm

I am looking for a term paper writer who can write impressive and best term papers for me this college term. I am an avid sportsperson and there is no time to devote to boring writing tasks. The papers shouldn’t cost me a fortune. Can you help me?

Reply
godaddynatalia.co link
10/3/2013 06:36:23 pm

I admit with your Blog and I will be back to examine it more in the future so please keep up your work.

Reply
writing dissertation link
10/26/2013 02:43:19 am

I really like this post. It is very interesting topic and the author is really clever and broadminded person. I would like to read another post this author with great pleasure.

Reply
farewell speech to friends link
11/2/2013 06:42:31 am

Amazing ... As a writer knowledgeable in their subject! Read everything and everyone!

Reply
smart window tinting link
11/18/2013 04:58:51 pm

This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it

Reply
f link
12/15/2013 09:31:01 pm

http://support.ascendanthr.com/entries/23669375-What-are-the-Benefits-when-Buying-Instagram-Followers-and-Likes-

Reply
dissertation writer link
12/20/2013 10:49:08 pm

Amazing ... As a writer knowledgeable in their subject! Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it. I like to read and write article or blogs, mainly I read all blogs, it is my habit to collect information where ever I can.

Reply
Charlotte link
1/28/2014 11:31:54 pm

Excellent post.The post is written in very a good manner and it entails many useful information for me. I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept.

Reply
oyster-card link
2/25/2014 12:25:06 pm

This is a very informative introduction. I hope you will keep us update about environmental conversation.

Reply
Yacon Capsules link
4/24/2014 09:54:25 pm

OH nice thanks for nice sharing :(

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Index
    Classic Films
    Cult Movies
    Foreign Masterpieces

    RSS Feed

    Minister for History,
    Leonhard Balk

    Articles on film movements in cinema's past. Reviews and analysis of the classics, cult favourites and foreign masterpieces.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.