F.W. Murnau

F.W. Murnau

director, writer, producer

F.W. Murnau was born on Dec 28, 1888 in Germany. F.W. Murnau's big-screen debut came with Satanas directed by F.W. Murnau in 1919. F.W. Murnau is known for City Girl directed by F.W. Murnau, Charles Farrell stars as Lem Tustine and Mary Duncan as Kate. F.W. Murnau has got 7 awards and 2 nominations so far. The most recent award F.W. Murnau achieved is Online Film & Television Association. The upcoming new movie F.W. Murnau plays is City Girl which will be released on Jan 30, 1930.

F.W. Murnau was a German film director. He was greatly influenced by Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Shakespeare and Ibsen plays he had seen at the age of 12, and became a friend of director Max Reinhardt. During World War I he served as a company commander at the eastern front and was in the German air force, surviving several crashes without any severe injuries.One of Murnau's acclaimed works is the 1922 film Nosferatu, an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula. Although not a commercial success due to copyright issues with Stoker's novel, the film is considered a masterpiece of Expressionist film.He later emigrated to Hollywood in 1926, where he joined the Fox Studio and made three films: Sunrise (1927), 4 Devils (1928) and City Girl (1930). The first of these three is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made.In 1931 Murnau travelled to Bora Bora to make the film Tabu (1931) with documentary film pioneer Robert J. Flaherty, who left after artistic disputes with Murnau, who had to finish the movie on his own. A week prior to the opening of the film Tabu, Murnau died in a Santa Barbara hospital from injuries he had received in an automobile accident that occurred along the Pacific Coast Highway near Rincon Beach, southeast of Santa Barbara. Only 11 people attended his funeral. Among them were Robert J. Flaherty, Emil Jannings, Greta Garbo and Fritz Lang, who delivered the eulogy.Of the 21 films Murnau directed, eight are considered to be completely lost.In July 2015 Murnau's grave was broken into, the remains disturbed and the skull removed by persons unknown. Wax residue was reportedly found at the site, leading some to speculate that candles had been lit, perhaps with an occult or ceremonial significance. As this disturbance was not an isolated incident, the cemetery managers are considering sealing the grave.

  • Birthday

    Dec 28, 1888
  • Place of Birth

    Bielefeld, Germany

Known For

Awards

7 wins & 2 nominations

Online Film & Television Association
2010
Creative
Winner - OFTA Film Hall of Fame
Berlin International Film Festival
2003
Jury Award
Winner - Teddy
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