USA | 1927 | 94 min
reż|dir Friedriech Wilhelm Murna prod|pro William Fox scen|wr Carl Mayer zdj|ph Charles Rosher, Karl Struss muz|mus Maurice Baron mon|ed Harold D. Schuster ob|cast George O’Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston, Bodil Rosing J. Farrell MacDonald dys|dis British Film Institute

USA | 1927 | 94 min
reż|dir Friedriech Wilhelm Murna prod|pro William Fox scen|wr Carl Mayer zdj|ph Charles Rosher, Karl Struss muz|mus Maurice Baron mon|ed Harold D. Schuster ob|cast George O’Brien, Janet Gaynor, Margaret Livingston, Bodil Rosing J. Farrell MacDonald dys|dis British Film Institute

Hollywood fairytale by expressionism master, shot at the end of silent movie era and one of its greatest masterpieces. First American film by Murnau distinguishable for its lyrical simplicity and perfect construction. A farmer (George O’Brien) is seduced by a temptress from the city (Margaret Livingston). Corrupt to the bone, his mistress talks him into murdering his own wife while having a boat trip on the lake. The man changes his mind at the very last moment and his desperate wife flees to the city. Remorse stricken, he sets off to seek his spouse.

Although the film is set mostly outdoors (both urban and rural) almost all shots were taken in a studio. It allowed the director to control each detail of the composition. The play of light and shadows makes for extraordinary graphic form of the film endowing nearly each shot with theatrical magic.

Awards
1929 Academy Awards – Oscars for Best picture, Best cinematography, Best actress (Janet Gaynor)