SCHLOSS VOGELOD (aka THE HAUNTED CASTLE)
DVD region 2. Eureka.

From legendary director F.W. Murnau, this is a rather entertaining silent melodrama that holds up surprisingly well. Somewhat misleadingly known in English as The Haunted Castle and shot before Nosferatu and Murnau’s impressive later work, it doesn’t have as much of the impressive visual trickery of his later works, but moves at a cracking pace and despite suffering (retrospectively) from many of the problems that mar silent movies, is still very watchable.

The story takes place in the title castle, where assorted wealthy men have gathered for a hunt, only to have their fun rained off for days. Things take a turn for the unpleasant when uninvited guest Count Johann Oetsch (Lothar Mehnert) turns up. Although acquitted, he is widely held to be guilty of the murder of his bother – and to make matters more awkward, the widow of the murdered man is about to arrive too. However, things are not all that they seem, and through some interesting chicanery, the truth is revealed.

The film manages to have a slow pace without becoming slow moving, as the mystery is unfolded, and Murnau’s direction is effortlessly assured. There are some remarkable visual moments – not least of all a creepy nightmare scene that could be right out of Haxan – and the twist at the finale is a genuine surprise (actually, I guessed it about two minutes before it was revealed, but still…).

Of course, the acting – especially from leading lady Olga Tschechowa – is overly dramatic, the curse of films where the lack of dialogue meant that performances had to be excessively exaggerated. Seen today, many (though certainly not all) of the actors seem ridiculously over the top – but that is unfortunately the case with most silent films. And here, the theatrical nature of the performances actually add to the strange atmosphere of the film.

Long unseen, Schloss Vogelod is a welcome addition to Eureka’s Masters of Cinema series. The DVD comes complete with a rather dry 30 minute documentary about Murnau and a booklet that wasn’t included with the screener but which, if past releases are anything to go by, will be well worthwhile..

DAVID FLINT

BUY IT NOW (UK)