German filmmaker F.W. Murnau was one of the greatest and most influential directors of the 1920s, helming such masterpieces as Nosferatu (1922), The Last Laugh (1924), and Sunrise (1927). This release features the Blu-ray debuts of two of his lesser-known films. Despite the title, The Haunted Castle (1921)—the earliest surviving Murnau film on disc—is neither horror film nor ghost story. It’s a psychological drama and tepid murder mystery that plays out in a magnificent country manor like a chamber piece. Murnau’s visual approach is mildly expressionistic with stately acting that evokes the theatrical tradition rather than the lively cinematic style he would perfect over the next decade. But he deftly sets up the complicated relationships and fills in backstory with limber crosscutting between various conversations, and he creates great dramatic tension and an ominous mood in the stillness of his compositions. The Finances of the Grand Duke (1924)—which couldn’t be more different—is a lighthearted espionage thriller set in an island nation with a charming "benevolent dictator" who is about to have his entire country repossessed as an industrialist enlists a group of shaggy anarchists to overthrow the government. Scripted by Fritz Lang collaborator Thea von Harbou and photographed by expressionist master Karl Freund, the film feels more like a romantic Ernst Lubitsch lark than the dark expressionism that made Murnau’s reputation. But both movies show the master filmmaker developing the skills that would later flourish in some of the greatest masterpieces of the silent era. Featuring musical scores composed by Neil Brand and Ekkehard Wölk, extras include audio commentary on Finances by film historian David Kalat. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
The Haunted Castle / The Finances of the Grand Duke
Kino Lorber, 159 min., not rated, Blu-ray: $29.99 Volume 34, Issue 3
The Haunted Castle / The Finances of the Grand Duke
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