That F.W. Murnau's long gone "Phantom" was "reconstructed and restored in 2003" from a print held in Berlin's Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv is a cause for celebration - this, along with the more recent announcement of 75 "lost" films turning up in a New Zealand archive, suggests "lost" works will continue to trickle out of archives and attics for the foreseeable future. The reconstructed "Phantom" is very well done; it's obvious they were working from a very satisfying print of the film, as there is little of the deterioration you expect in these old films. They've avoided temptation to enhance the coloring, and tinted the nicely preserved original film in original hues, inserted new intertitles, and added an appropriate Robert Israel score.
Our story begins in then "present" day Germany, with protagonist Alfred Abel (as Lorenz Lubota) and Lil Dagover (as Marie Starke) living in a "happily ever after" home (which dampens much of the coming tension). Wife Dagover lovingly urges Mr. Abel to write the story of his former life. The couple hopes this will help ease ex-convict Abel's painful memories. Then, we have the flashback and, the problems begin Some time ago, Abel is a respected, but lowly city clerk. He lives with haggish old mother Frida Richard, whorish sister Aud Egede Nissen (as Melanie), and dour brother Hans Heinrich von Twardowski (as Hugo).
The introduction of the "little brother" points out another of the film's structural flaws. You expect, since we have a big, obvious "flashback" that the younger man is the younger "Lorenz" - but, this revealed not to be the case when Abel is called to the breakfast table, looking older than he did before the flashback. An unaccredited co-writer, Mr. Twardowski is not on screen much of the time; but, he seems capable, and it might have been a better idea to have him play the main role. Or, they could have dispensed with the opening and have Abel play "Lorenz" as a middle-aged, angst-ridden character. Which, he may be
As it turns out, Abel gets hit by a coach pulled by pretty white horses. Suffering little physical harm, he becomes infatuated with the inhabitant of the carriage, lovely Lya de Putti (as Veronika Harlan). An aspiring poet, Abel becomes involved in a money-lending scheme based on his verse becoming successfully published. Alas, Abel's poems turn out to be worthless, and he ends up in jail (as revealed in the opening sequence). Admittedly, there is some disappointment in "Phantom". This is my fifth Murnau film, and the first one I rate less than "9" on the IMDb scale. Still, it's an excellent piece, and worth the running time.
******* Phantom (11/13/22) F.W. Murnau ~ Alfred Abel, Lil Dagover, Frida Richard, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
Our story begins in then "present" day Germany, with protagonist Alfred Abel (as Lorenz Lubota) and Lil Dagover (as Marie Starke) living in a "happily ever after" home (which dampens much of the coming tension). Wife Dagover lovingly urges Mr. Abel to write the story of his former life. The couple hopes this will help ease ex-convict Abel's painful memories. Then, we have the flashback and, the problems begin Some time ago, Abel is a respected, but lowly city clerk. He lives with haggish old mother Frida Richard, whorish sister Aud Egede Nissen (as Melanie), and dour brother Hans Heinrich von Twardowski (as Hugo).
The introduction of the "little brother" points out another of the film's structural flaws. You expect, since we have a big, obvious "flashback" that the younger man is the younger "Lorenz" - but, this revealed not to be the case when Abel is called to the breakfast table, looking older than he did before the flashback. An unaccredited co-writer, Mr. Twardowski is not on screen much of the time; but, he seems capable, and it might have been a better idea to have him play the main role. Or, they could have dispensed with the opening and have Abel play "Lorenz" as a middle-aged, angst-ridden character. Which, he may be
As it turns out, Abel gets hit by a coach pulled by pretty white horses. Suffering little physical harm, he becomes infatuated with the inhabitant of the carriage, lovely Lya de Putti (as Veronika Harlan). An aspiring poet, Abel becomes involved in a money-lending scheme based on his verse becoming successfully published. Alas, Abel's poems turn out to be worthless, and he ends up in jail (as revealed in the opening sequence). Admittedly, there is some disappointment in "Phantom". This is my fifth Murnau film, and the first one I rate less than "9" on the IMDb scale. Still, it's an excellent piece, and worth the running time.
******* Phantom (11/13/22) F.W. Murnau ~ Alfred Abel, Lil Dagover, Frida Richard, Hans Heinrich von Twardowski