Nosferatu (1922)

[Doomhunter]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

I caved in and ordered the BFI release. Looking forward to watch that version for the first time, this is the perfect time for this and I'll probably follow it's viewing with the Herzog remake right after (i've yet to watch the remake since I upgraded to the BFI Herzog box set!).

Which version do you guys prefer, the original one or the 79 remake? I grew up with the remake and I always found the soundtrack so haunting, one of my favorite horror soundtrack now that I think about it. It's such a creepy movie. But when I finally saw the Murnau version in my teenage years, I absolutely fell in love with it. I've yet to watch a version where I was fully satisfied with the music (like i was with Metropolis recently or Carl Davis' score for the Thief of Bagdad for example). I like the Eureka score but i'm hoping the James Bernard score truly does it for me.

If I had to choose, i'd probably say I slightly prefer the original one but the remake is definitely close.

One thing I’d say about Nosferatu ‘79 is that I find the English version is the better version due to some better shots used. In particular the scene where Mr. N does his swooping runs in the plaza after arriving

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

I caved in and ordered the BFI release. Looking forward to watch that version for the first time, this is the perfect time for this and I'll probably follow it's viewing with the Herzog remake right after (i've yet to watch the remake since I upgraded to the BFI Herzog box set!).

Which version do you guys prefer, the original one or the 79 remake? I grew up with the remake and I always found the soundtrack so haunting, one of my favorite horror soundtrack now that I think about it. It's such a creepy movie. But when I finally saw the Murnau version in my teenage years, I absolutely fell in love with it. I've yet to watch a version where I was fully satisfied with the music (like i was with Metropolis recently or Carl Davis' score for the Thief of Bagdad for example). I like the Eureka score but i'm hoping the James Bernard score truly does it for me.

If I had to choose, i'd probably say I slightly prefer the original one but the remake is definitely close.

Hard one. I'd say the 1979 remake is easier to watch, but I really like the BFI 1922 original alot more than I liked the MoC, so it's closer to a tie.

Shadow Of The Vampire is essential after watching these two thou. :-)

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by Doomhunter

One thing I’d say about Nosferatu ‘79 is that I find the English version is the better version due to some better shots used. In particular the scene where Mr. N does his swooping runs in the plaza after arriving

I only watched the german version in full, twice.

I sampled some key scenes in english, but found myself preferring the german version overall.

I may yet give the english a full go one of these days.

I tend to need english subs when I watch movies, and the BFI does not have that for the english version. I have the inferior US release also, and it have subs, so I may sacrifice PQ for subs and sit through the english version.

[fred25_Ca]

So, who owns the rights for Shadow of the vampire? I figured there would be a cheap release from North America but I was surprised to see it had never been released yet. I'm planning a Nosferatu double feature (the BFI 1922 version and the BFI release of the 79 version) and my wife expressed interest in rewatching Shadow of the vampire (she never really liked the 1922 Nosferatu and has yet to see the 79 remake but loves Shadow). Hopefully it's at least streaming somewhere here in Canada.

[Muyfa666]

Doesn't seem to be available digitally in Canada.

SOTV needs a proper english friendly release IMO.

There are of course ways to find it on the net, but I prefer to buy my movies on physical disc.

[Peachfuzz]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

I caved in and ordered the BFI release. Looking forward to watch that version for the first time, this is the perfect time for this and I'll probably follow it's viewing with the Herzog remake right after (i've yet to watch the remake since I upgraded to the BFI Herzog box set!).

Which version do you guys prefer, the original one or the 79 remake? I grew up with the remake and I always found the soundtrack so haunting, one of my favorite horror soundtrack now that I think about it. It's such a creepy movie. But when I finally saw the Murnau version in my teenage years, I absolutely fell in love with it. I've yet to watch a version where I was fully satisfied with the music (like i was with Metropolis recently or Carl Davis' score for the Thief of Bagdad for example). I like the Eureka score but i'm hoping the James Bernard score truly does it for me.

If I had to choose, i'd probably say I slightly prefer the original one but the remake is definitely close.

I love the remake. So much of it hits the right notes for me. Particularly the soundtrack. Very haunting film. I tend to alternate viewings between the English & German versions. Both are good. As for the 1922 original: I prefer the BFI edition (I also have the MoC disc) for the Bernard score, which I'll take over those admittedly nice intertitles any day.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

Doesn't seem to be available digitally in Canada.

SOTV needs a proper english friendly release IMO.

There are of course ways to find it on the net, but I prefer to buy my movies on physical disc.

Damn, that's a bummer. I might have to find an alternative way to get it (i think my folks might have the dvd).

[oddbox83]

SOTV is crying out a proper re-release. I think the old German Blu-ray was actually an upscale? Maybe, maybe not, but when I was looking into it a long while ago now I didn't hear great things.

[Fellini912]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

Hard one. I'd say the 1979 remake is easier to watch, but I really like the BFI 1922 original alot more than I liked the MoC, so it's closer to a tie.

Shadow Of The Vampire is essential after watching these two thou. :-)

This movie is long over due for a blu-ray or 4k

Starring John Malkovich and William Defoe and produced by the man Nicky Cage!

What is holding this bad boy up?

[Galactus123]

What is the best quality black and white version of this movie? I know it had the color filters originally but I think I like the black and white look more.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by Galactus123

What is the best quality black and white version of this movie? I know it had the color filters originally but I think I like the black and white look more.

From memory, the Elite Entertainment DVD. It uses a 1960s reissue print with a specially composed score.

[M A]

Originally Posted by Galactus123

What is the best quality black and white version of this movie? I know it had the color filters originally but I think I like the black and white look more.

Just turn saturation down to 0 on your system and any release becomes black and white

[fred25_Ca]

I received the BFI version this week and while waiting for it I read the Eureka booklet. What an awful compilations of essays, I was so disappointed. There is so much to be said about this movie and that's what they found?
The BFI version also comes with a booklet and just reading the essays' titles is already more promising.
I also just watched the BFI version last night and wow, the score is fantastic. This is going to be my go to from now on. I was hoping Eureka would release Nosferatu on 4k after Caligari but now I think it would be pretty useless since they probably wouldn't include the James Bernard score anyhow.
Any of the extras on either releases worth watching?

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

Any of the extras on either releases worth watching?

Pretty much everything on both!

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

I received the BFI version this week and while waiting for it I read the Eureka booklet. What an awful compilations of essays, I was so disappointed. There is so much to be said about this movie and that's what they found?
The BFI version also comes with a booklet and just reading the essays' titles is already more promising.
I also just watched the BFI version last night and wow, the score is fantastic. This is going to be my go to from now on. I was hoping Eureka would release Nosferatu on 4k after Caligari but now I think it would be pretty useless since they probably wouldn't include the James Bernard score anyhow.
Any of the extras on either releases worth watching?

The Enno Patalas essay in the Eureka booklet is very good, it details the restoration.

[fred25_Ca]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

The Enno Patalas essay in the Eureka booklet is very good, it details the restoration.

That's true, that's actually the only one I enjoyed but it's still a very small portion of the booklet.

[captainsolo]

I'm working on a piece covering the two releases. Essentially I think they're both essential discs.
MOC-Official restoration with Act breaks and German titles fully recreated. Tinting is good though I do kinda prefer the more varied and less deep color tinting on the Photoplay version. The score is very good and largely based on the original score with some new variations. The extras are very good with a top tier must listen commentary, a second very good commentary, feature length Murnau documentary and other great pieces.
Photoplay/BFI-this is a new scan recreating the Photoplay restoration. It does have brand new English titles which isn't exactly as accurate as the MOC version but some restorations take this approach. The tinting as I said above is a bit more varied and I like the visuals better even though it isn't as meticulously cleaned up as the official restoration.
The main draw is James Bernard's score. It grabs you from the opening title and never lets go. THE score for the film nowadays in my book. It has a few flourishes that show Bernard's style and he comes up with a theme for Count Orlok as he did for Dracula. While the other score is base don the original...it doesn't hold a candle to Bernard's.
The BFI has a Christopher Frayling interview and some other extras which go over the same ground as the MOC. The exclusives are two new HD transfers of short films which are loosely tied to Nosferatu or not at all-but amazing to see them transferred and cleaned up a bit.

Both releases are great, inexpensive and have positives of their own. I've thought for some time the MOC discs for Nosferatu and Caligari are in the best BDs of all time group. If I could somehow marry the tinting and Bernard score of the BFI to the MOC presentation it would be perfect for me.

The David Kalat commentary on the MOC is a must listen wealth of information.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by fred25_Ca

So, who owns the rights for Shadow of the vampire? I figured there would be a cheap release from North America but I was surprised to see it had never been released yet. I'm planning a Nosferatu double feature (the BFI 1922 version and the BFI release of the 79 version) and my wife expressed interest in rewatching Shadow of the vampire (she never really liked the 1922 Nosferatu and has yet to see the 79 remake but loves Shadow). Hopefully it's at least streaming somewhere here in Canada.

Metrodome released the UK DVD.

[nekromantik]

BFI release is £18 on amazon atm!
I will see if it drops to 10 on black friday

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by nekromantik

BFI release is £18 on amazon atm!
I will see if it drops to 10 on black friday

That’s quite expensive. It’s been cheaper before.