Faust (1926)

F.W. Murnau has often been described as the visual poet of the silent era -- a title he richly deserves. And in this adaptation of the age old legend recorded by Goethe, he unleashes some of his boldest imagery. The opening seems similar to the book of Job where God and Satan are making a wager over the soul of an individual. The Satanic figure, Mephisto, releases a plague on a small village where Faust, an elderly, God-fearing alchemist resides. Mephisto offers Faust a trial run for evil powers, which quickly have Faust so seduced by power that he sells his soul for youth and power. He courts an innocent, young girl who also falls in love with him. The temptations and seductions of evil are demonstrated in broad strokes and with visual potency, leaving some scenes with an unusual power such as when Faust finally recognizes his error and throws himself into the flames that are consumming his love, and holds her. It would certainly have been interesting to see if Murnau's gifts could survive the transition to sound, had he not died around the time when the medium was changing.