Faust poster & wallpaper

Camilla Horn, Emil Jannings, Eric Barclay

Faust sells his soul to Mephistopheles, who eventually returns to collect it.

Flixster Users

90% liked it

4,309 ratings

Critics

94% liked it

18 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: F.W. Murnau

Release Date: December 5, 1926

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: June 5, 2001

Stats: 220 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage Mephisto Faust Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage Ekman and Jannings The summoning
Upload a Photo |

View All Faust Photos (6)

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (220)

  • Sleaze
    November 20, 2008
    Sleaze
    A prime example of that old chestnut "they don't make them like they used to". Pretty much flawless on every level and the type of film they should force modern directors to watch before letting them near their multi-million dollar budgets. Highly recomended
  • Stinger839
    February 12, 2008
    Stinger839
    For people who can still appreciate something made in the prior century (and those numbers are dwindling), Murnau's vision of "Faust" begins with what was at the time a revolutionary visual, and still today is a provacative and effective image. There are any many variations on Fa...( read more)ust, and I like the plot details of this one the best. The Faust and Mephistopheles are well acted; I particularly like the facial expressions of this Faust.
  • pier007
    August 18, 2007
    pier007
    F.W Murnau's crafty direction and Emil Jenning's disturbing charm gives us a plunge into men's most dark ambition, sin and redemption.
  • mustardnoize
    July 29, 2007
    mustardnoize
    Unbelievably great visual style. The opening scene is one of the best in cinema.
  • ElCochran90
    October 23, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926)


    Director: F.W. Murnau
    Country: Germany
    Genre: Fantasy / Horror
    Length: 116 minutes

    ...( read more)view¤t=murnau_faust01.jpg" target="_blank">Photobucket

    F.W. Murnau is officially one of the greatest filmmakers of all time and is one of the directors that majestically created and popularized the horror genre in German filmmaking just after the films Des Student von Prag (1913), Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari (1919) and Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) were created, giving birth to the beautiful and extraordinarily artistic German Expressionism. Murnau directed this astonishingly unique feast to the senses just after he had incredible cinematographic success with one of the greatest dramas ever made: Der Letzte Mann (1924).

    Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926) has a very simple story, which starts to become very complex at some point. It tells the story of the war between God and Satan for ruling over Earth, so both decide to wager on the soul of an alchemist named Faust. After Faust burns his books out of desperation and disappointment for being unable to stop death during a plague, Satan sends Mephisto to tempt Faust in many ways, including an insight into treating the plague and giving him one day of youth.

    Many unbelievable events take place in this movie but the most outstanding aspects of the film are its visual style and its direction. I never imagined that a horror film of the 20's would be so daring and religiously controversial at actually showing physical forms of God and Satan in the first 10 minutes of the film. I was speechless. I sort of disagree with that kind of decision, but yet again the visual style of the representations of Good vs. Evil is unparalleled. The cinematography is also spectacular and I have to accept the fact that some special effects achieved to create particularly scary imagery and sequences, which is certainly awesome and lives up to the genre of horror.

    The acting was decent, and who else could brilliantly portray the character of Mephisto if not Emil Jannings, one of the most respected and recognized actors in classic silent cinema? The character of Faust is the living representation of the struggle that even non-religious people have to face everyday. Life in the actuality consists of constant decisions, most of them involving a particular moral degree. He also represents what the heart desires, like physical youth in a failed and unsuccessful old alchemist, and love, and how the mind can rule over our emotions in a cruel way. It is true that emotions should not govern over reason, but our conscience constantly tries to act as a benign mediator according to some decisions made by our mind, and that is where ethics come to play. That's why Faust is a very complete and interesing character. The pace of the film is fantastic and the film will keep you guessing constantly what will the ending will be like. Can Good really triumph over Evil? This film is a brilliant essay on faith and religion. Whether you believe in God and Satan, Heaven and Hell or not, this silent masterpiece will blow you away in any different ways. Topics like temptation, love, life and death are also trated. This film has everything a cinema critic coul ever hope for.

    Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926) has definitely passed the test of time and keeps leaving several critics of several generations totally amazed, and so was I. Although this is not Murnau's best film in my opinion, it is definitely for several people I know, who prefer it even over Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922). The musical score was pretty decent as well and the camera work is exquisite. This is a filmmaking succesful achievement in both cinematographic and technical aspects. A gem not to be missed and a giant German treasure, Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926) is a feast for the senses and a spectacle to watch, not mentioning a masterpiece in its genre, which should be really amazing if seen on a big screen with a live orchestra.

    96/100
  • dirbyade
    September 9, 2009
    dirbyade
    FAUST Big Screen Presentation!!!

    FAUST with a LIVE SCORE performed by Cabeza de Vaca Arcestra.

    Art Theatre of Long Beach
    2025 EAST 4TH STREET ~ LONG BEACH, CA 90804 ~ 562.438.5435

    FRIDAY 9/11/09 MIDNIGHT
  • CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    September 5, 2009
    CHILIcheeseDONUTSwithTUNAonTOP
    This classic tale tells of an alchemist named Faust who conjures Satan to give him power to help his village. Then it gets out of hand when Satan screws him over (who'd uh thunk it?). In terms of the filming techniques this is similar to Golem in some respects, both should be vie...( read more)wed for an interesting comparison.
  • DoctorXQuinzel
    June 27, 2009
    DoctorXQuinzel
    Interesting, a neat watch
  • ahhh1989
    May 21, 2009
    ahhh1989
    F.W. Murnau's greatest film, by far.
  • sharonmaltby1
    April 2, 2009
    sharonmaltby1
    Beautiful imagery. Murnau at his best. Loved the music too! Glad I've got it on DVD!

View All Faust Reviews

Critic Reviews

January 20, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I sometimes feel, in this age of expert CGI, that I am being shown too much -- that technique is pushing aside artistry and imagination. The world of Faust is never intended to define a physical unive... full review

View more Faust reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • dirbyade
    September 9, 2009
    dirbyade


    FAUST Big Screen Presentation!!!

    FAUST with a LIVE SCORE performed by Cabeza de Vaca Arcestra.

    Art Theatre of Long Beach
    2025 EAST 4TH STREET ~ LONG BEACH, CA 90804 ~ 562.438.5435

    FRIDAY 9/11/09 MIDNIGHT
Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Official Trailer

View Larger Faust Trailer

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • The Devil & Daniel Webster (All That Money Can Buy)
    The Devil & Daniel Webster (All That Money Ca... (100%)
  • Destiny (Der müde Tod)
    Destiny (Der müde Tod) (67%)
  • The Golem (Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam)
    The Golem (Der Golem, wie er in die Welt kam) (100%)
  • Fantasia
    Fantasia (100%)

More Movies like Faust

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

Faust : Watch Free on TV

Faust Trivia

  • what movie, starring chad faust and matthew marsden, is about a young witch driven to murder to claim her true love before she can return to the grave?  Answer »
  • Who directed the 1926 film Faust  Answer »
  • In the original Phantom of the Opera movie, what opera is the Opera House doing (what opera does the Phantom force Carlotta from to give the main female role to Christine)?  Answer »
  • Of these choices, which were all directed by silent film master F.W. Murnau.  Answer »
More Faust Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Faust. Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All Faust Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add Faust to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?