Sunrise - A Song of Two Humans (1927)
| Director: | F.W. Murnau |
| Actors: | J. Farrell Macdonald, George O'brien, Ralph Sipperly, Arthur Housman, Margaret Livingston, Janet Gaynor, Bodil Rosing, Jane Winton, Eddie Boland |
F.W. Murnau, Germany's finest director, was imported to Hollywood in July 1926. William Fox of the Fox Film Corporation promised and gave him complete artistic freedom. Fox told Murnau to take his time, spend whatever he had to, and make any film he wished to make. The film that resulted was Sunrise, made entirely without studio interference. In 1927-28, Sunrise was awarded a special Oscar for "Unique and Artistic Picture" (the only time the award was ever given). In 1967, Cahiers du cinéma named it "the single greatest masterwork in the history of the cinema."
Sunrise, a psychological thriller from the silent movie era, begins when the pleasant and peaceful life of a naive country Man (George O’ Brien) is turned upside down when he falls for a cold-blooded yet seductive woman from the city (Margaret Livingston). She persuades him to drown his virtuous wife (Janet Gaynor) in order to be with her. This is one of the most moving stories ever told on screen - a tale of temptation, reconciliation, reconsecration, and redemption, told with a lyrical simplicity that gives it the timeless universality of a fable.
| Status: | LongWait |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 91mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (3)
3 Member
Reviews
The Doogster
says
I've seen about 3,000 movies in my life, and this is the best movie I've ever seen. It's absolutely flawless. It has a purity of plot which modern movies could learn a lot from. One of the last movies made before sound was introduced. It took Hollywood decades to reach the level of perfection inherent in Sunrise. Some would say that talkies never reached the level of perfection of Sunrise, to which I agree
Nigel W
says
Not quite the classic I expected but nevertheless an interesting watch. Acting is generally restrained and locales atmospheric. 3.5 stars
bo
says
The best movie I have ever seen. The pinnacle of silent films movement, emotion and pictorial excellence.
I saw this movie 25 years ago, and many parts have remained in my memory ever since.
If you are receptive to silent film, and the images and emotions it evokes, and you are sick of matrizx and that stuff, YOU MUST SEE THIS FLICK!!