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F. W. Murnau, Fox, 1927, after Hermann Sudermann's Die Reise nach Tilsit, scenario by Carl Mayer. A farmer (George O'Brien), tempted by a city woman (Margaret Livingston), takes his wife (Janet Gaynor) on the water. Charles Rosher and Karl Struss photographed; Rochus Gliese's city was forced perspective, with sloping floors, bulbs that shrink toward the back, and children dressed as adults on the terrace. The first Academy Awards gave it Unique and Artistic Picture and cinematography. Released with a Movietone score. National Film Registry, 1989.
In two programmes
The camera is a boat. Murnau moves it through the marsh, onto a tram, and across a room with a force that makes cuts look lazy. The city was built in forced perspective. The tram ride is the moment: two people not speaking while the country turns into a city around them.
Wanting nearly drowns a wife, and then a tram ride into the city and a walk through traffic as if the cars were weather. Murnau's camera moves like a decision. Watch the couple in the church watching someone else's wedding. That is the film's own vow.
Cast & crew
Further reading
- MuseumF. W. Murnau’s Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (opens in a new tab)
- VideoSunrise (1927) - Outtakes with Commentary (opens in a new tab)
- EssaySunrise: A Song of Two Humans (opens in a new tab)
- EssayF. W. Murnau’s Sunrise, the 1927 Masterpiece Voted the 5th Best Movie of All Time (opens in a new tab)
- VideoF W Murnau in Germany and Hollywood (opens in a new tab)
- EssaySunrise (opens in a new tab)
- WebsiteNew York Times Review (1927) (opens in a new tab)
- EssaySunrise: A Song of Two Humans | San Francisco Silent Film Festival (opens in a new tab)
- EssaySunrise: A Song of Two Humans | BFI — British Film Institute (opens in a new tab)
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